We offer classes for toddlers, children, teens, and adults. We offer separate classes for German speakers and for those who are learning to speak the language.

Children's Classes meet Saturdays, 4:30–6:00 PM:

(*) Kindergarten class currently merged with DaF 1 class.
(+) DaF 2 class currently merged with Deutsch 2 class.

Adult Classes meet weekday nights:

 (*) DaF Advanced Adults class currently not offered.

Student diversity

Our students vary widely in age and come with different language backgrounds, abilities, and motivations. Our curriculum is designed to accommodate these differences, and we take great care to assign students to those classes that will give them the best learning opportunities.

The age span in children's classes seldom exceeds two or three years. Children progress at different rates. Sometimes, in the best interest of the student, they will be advised to repeat a class level for their maximum benefit.

Our classes serve children ranging in age from toddlers to early teens, both German beginners as well as bilingual children seeking to develop literacy skills. In addition, we also offer classes in German as a foreign language for adults.

The classes are taught mainly by parent volunteers who are native speakers or who possess native-like German fluency. The class sizes are small.

All language classes are conducted in German. As the students learn the language, they will also become familiar with social and cultural practices in the German-speaking countries in Europe. Throughout the year, school-wide events are held which bring all of the students together to perform in German and to celebrate some of these countries' unique holidays.

Classes for children with mixed language skills

Nursery school and Kindergarten (ages 2 through 5) for children with mixed language skills. The children experience German through games, songs, crafts, and stories, and they have fun learning.

Munchkins (3 and 4 year olds, mixed language skills)

Regardless of their language skills all children are introduced to the German language in a playful manner. By celebrating special events and holidays together (e.g., birthdays, St. Martin, Nikolaus, Karneval) the children become familiar with elements of German culture. In this way German- and American-speaking children learn more and more German together.

Kindergarten (5 and 6 year olds, mixed language skills)

The instruction is conducted in German, with an emphasis on oral language skills. The children will learn basic vocabulary pertaining to the topic of the day. Non-German speaking children will pick up German and its culture through their active participation within a German speaking environment. The presentation and practice of the language is activity-based, age appropriate, and the children will have fun while learning German.

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Kurse für zwei- und mehrsprachige Kinder
(Classes for bilingual and multilingual children)

Die DSSLI bietet Deutschunterricht für zweisprachige Kinder an. Die Betonung liegt hier vor allem auf der Weiterentwicklung der Lese- und Schreibfähigkeiten. Hör- und Sprechfähigkeiten werden weiterhin durch interaktive Übungen gepflegt. Später wird auch mehr und mehr die deutsche Grammatik behandelt und darauf geachtet, dass richtige grammatikalische Strukturen in Wort und Schrift gebraucht werden. Die Kinder der fortgeschritten Gruppe lesen Kinderromane und außerdem werden kulturelle, geographische und historische Themen betont.

Die Kurse Deutsch 1 bis 4 sind für Kinder gedacht, die Deutsch verstehen und möglichst fließend sprechen. Ziel ist es, ihre zuvor gelernten Lese- und Schreibfähigkeiten vom Englischen ins Deutsche zu übertragen. Der Unterricht geht von der deutschen Lauttabelle über Arbeitsblätter, Wortspiele und aktuelle Lesestücke bis hin zu Diktaten und freien Schreib- und Grammatikübungen, sodass die Sprachfähigkeiten der Kinder kontinuierlich weiterentwickelt werden. Außerdem werden regelmäßig Sachthemen mit in den Unterricht eingeflochten, um Abwechsung in den Unterricht zu bringen und den Wortschatz zu erweitern. Zudem werden die Kinder sich mit zum Thema passenden Kurzgeschichten und Kinderromanen sowohl im Unterricht als auch zu Hause beschäftigen, um ihr Leseverständnis zu verbessern und ihren Wortschatz auf natürliche Weise zu erweitern.

Die Kinder werden nach Alter und Sprachkenntnissen in die verschiedenen Stufen eingeteilt. Schriftliche Hausaufgaben werden regelmäßig erteilt, und Kinder und Eltern sollten sich verpflichten, diese auch zu bearbeiten, um Fortschritte zu gewährleisten.

Deutsch 1:

Voraussetzungen: Die Kinder sind 7 Jahre alt (im 1. oder 2. Schuljahr) und verstehen Deutsch.

Ziele: Mündlicher Sprachgebrauch, erstes Schreiben und Lesen einfacher Texte.

Deutsch 2:

Voraussetzungen: Die Kinder sind mindestens 8 Jahre alt (im 3. Schuljahr), sprechen Deutsch und können einfache Texte lesen und schreiben.

Ziele: Weiterentwicklung der Lese- und Rechtschreibkenntnisse, erste Grammatikregeln und kleine Lektüren, Geographie und kulturelle Themen.

Deutsch 3 und 4:

Voraussetzungen:  Die Kinder sind mindestens 9 Jahre alt (im 4. Schuljahr), sprechen fließend Deutsch, haben gute Kenntnisse im Lesen und Schreiben und besitzen Grammatikgrundlagen.

Ziele: Vertiefung der Schreibkenntnisse, Lernen schwierigerer Rechtschreib- und Grammatikregeln, Lesen von Jugendromanen, Behandlung historischer Themen.

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German as a foreign language (DaF)

Non-German-speaking students (ages 7 and up as well as adults) are taught in separate classes that emphasize building vocabulary and learning grammar through speaking, reading, writing, and participation in activities in which they can practice their skills interactively.

The DSSLI language program focuses on natural acquisition of language in an interactive, fun environment. The classes adhere to a standard routine, which incorporates listening and speaking, singing and crafts, games and physical activity, and story-time. Students interact with and learn German culture as they build their language skills. Our language instruction is designed to be culturally authentic, with hands-on activities to engage the learner’s interest and attention. Activities are fun and creative and also involve use of the new language in higher-level thinking skills.

Instructions and class activities are conducted primarily in German, with emphasis on oral language development. Children with minimal prior exposure to German will acquire basic communication skills and general vocabulary as appropriate for the topics presented. They will also be exposed to enriched thematic and cultural content while having fun interacting in German with peers. Simple worksheets with reading and writing practices will be provided to reinforce skills throughout the week.

DaF—Kids 1, German as a secondary language for children:
Level 1—Beginners

Children with no previous German language experience will learn basic skills through stories, language games, projects, and simple language drills. Beginning listening and understanding, speaking, and writing skills will all be exercised in a low-pressure, fun environment that encourages confidence and the enjoyment of the language.

DaF—Kids 2, German as a secondary language for children:
Level 2—Intermediate

As the children progress, they will move up to DaF Kids 2. Sometimes, older children can join this class successfully, due to their more advanced learning skills (reading, writing, and note taking). It is not uncommon that the most advanced and most motivated learners, after two or three years of German, are able to move "laterally" into the Deutsch 2 (or 3) class.

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DaF—Adults Beginner, German as a secondary language for adults:
Level 1—Beginners

The participants of this course are adults without any or with very little knowledge of German. The class meets once a week for 90 minutes. The main goal of the course is for the students to develop communication skills in order to be able to discuss general topics orally and in writing.

We mainly use the first part of the three-volume language series Themen Neu by the German publisher Huber. The package contains a textbook, an exercise book, and a CD for self-study purposes.

The book contains ten units, and each unit is built around a particular topic. Over the course of a school year, we have roughly 40 lessons, which allows us to cover substantial work on approximately five units.

We work with a socalled communicative method to systematically develop reading, listening, speaking, and writing skills to build the most important general vocabulary and basic grammar used in real-life situations.

Since the class meets only once a week, homework assignments and preparations for class on a regular basis are essential.

Besides working on the units from our book we do miscellaneous activities such as singing, cooking demonstrations, games, and dramatic enactment to make learning more fun. These activities create a warm informal pressure-free environment in the classroom.

DaF—Adults Intermediate, German as a secondary language for adults:
Level 2—Intermediate

This course is a revision and extension of GSL Level I. It is also available to students who have acquired a basic knowledge of German elsewhere. The focus here again is on communicative skills: speaking, writing, reading, and listening. Topics in German Level II are, for example, inquiring about places in a city, being sick, going to the pharmacy, giving presents for a special occasion, etc.

We will continue using the book Themen Neu I and extend it with some units from Themen Neu II, incorporating similar hands-on activities as in Level I.

The course is taught in German. The emphasis is on speaking and on having fun.

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