SCHOOLS & EDUCATION
Introducing the German Language School Conference (GLSC) The GLSC was originally founded by representatives of German language schools in Connecticut, New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania with the support and encouragement of the German Consulate General New York. The goal was and is to provide an organization for the sharing of experiences and best practices geared to the unique needs of language schools, particularly in the field of heritage language education. Since its founding, the GLSC has grown to include the majority of German language schools across the U.S. and is the only national organization dedicated to the needs of these schools.
What’s a German Language School and how effective are they? GLSC member schools are community-based language schools that typically operate as Saturday schools, but some offer after-school classes during the week as well. GLSC schools foster German language education in the U.S. by preparing students for the German Language Diploma (Deutsches Sprachdiplom or DSD) conducted and evaluated by the Zentralstelle für das Auslandsschulwesen (ZfA) in Bonn. This diploma certifies that a student’s command of the German language is sufficient for study at a German university. However, in addition to the DSD, many
of the students of the GLSC’s member schools also participate in the National German Exam administered by the American Association of Teachers of German. Here, our students outperform their non-German language school peers on each level of this exam. In 2018, the total mean score on level II was 11.4 points higher for German language school students, 16.6 points higher on level III, and 19.9 points higher on level IV.
Are the schools for kids only? In many schools parents can take separate adult classes at the same time as their children to learn or brush up on their German.
The Annual Conference of the GLSC The GLSC’s Annual Conference in November is dedicated solely to the needs, issues, and concerns of the community-based German language schools, their teachers and administrators. The all-day conference offers participants five separate strands of workshops: for pre-K and elementary grades, for teachers of adults, high school and advanced students, testing and test preparation, as well as best practices and organizational and administrative topics.
For more information and locations in your area visit www.germanschools.org/member-schools or scan the QR code.
German School Brooklyn Welcomed Heiko Maas The German School Brooklyn, founded in 2014 by local Brooklyn mom, Kathrin Nagle together with Muriel Plag from Schulexpert (www.Schulexpert.com) welcomed Minister Heiko Maas this past September. Minister Maas was greeted by 180 kids and a staff of 35 which shows the extraordinary growth this young school has experienced in 4 short years. Mr Maas honored the school by handing over the official PASCH certificate - GSB is now an accredited German School Abroad. Mr. Kehlenbeck from the Central Agency for German Schools Abroad (ZfA), hand-delivered the PASCH certificate for the occasion. 38 | HEIMAT abroad | FALL 2018
