Heritage Language Programs - German
German Language School of West Michigan
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Address: 4748 Blue Grass Dr. SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49546
Web address: http://www.germanlanguageschool.us
Contact person:
Name: Ralf Scharnowski
Title: Director
Email: scharnowski@comcast.net
Languages/dialects taught: German
Grades taught: PreK-12
Program Description
Purposes and goals of the program: The German Language School of West Michigan is a parent initiative promoting the German language and culture in the Grand Rapids area. The school offers children the opportunity to learn the German language in a formal classroom setting and provides a network for families to expand their knowledge of German culture and engage in cross-cultural exchanges.
Type of program: Immersion, partial immersion, bilingual program, foreign language program, Saturday academy (classes meet on Saturday afternoons during the school year).
Program origin: It was founded in the year 2004 by a parent initiative.
Parents
Parents’ expectations for the program: Provide children with a fun opportunity to learn and maintain German language skills in a group of similar aged children.
Students
Students:
• First-generation immigrants, 33%
• Second-generation immigrants, 33%
• Non-ethnic background, 34%
Countries of origin: Germany and the United States
Total student enrollment: 15 students
How the program identifies heritage speakers: Students are grouped into two groups; fluent speakers and non-fluent speakers. The fluent speaker group is split into further subgroups based on level of language skills and age. Teachers interact with the students to determine the students’ skill level. The interaction includes an evaluation of both written and oral skills. The process is informal.
Percentage of students who complete the program: 75%
Possible reasons for student withdrawal: Time conflicts and insufficient parental interest in having child commit to program
Students’ attitudes toward the language varieties they speak: Students show a combination of excitement and disinterest. They are generally excited about their second language; However, US cultural influences can result in a lack of desire to continue working on improving or maintaining second language skills. Also, spending part of Saturday in class can be difficult after spending the week at school.
Instructors
Number of instructors in the program: 5
Languages in which instructors are proficient: German and English
Proficiency level: Native or professional German speakers
Credentials: Doctorate in German, Sociology; Chemistry credentials; BS in Biology
Professional development opportunities instructors have: Self improvement. There are not organized development opportunities.
Professional development opportunities instructors need: Curriculum planning and development; access to teaching resources
Additional comments: All teachers and parents of students volunteer.
Instruction
Total contact hours per week: 1.5
Times per week: 1
Student grouping: Non fluent, fluent beginners, fluent intermediate and fluent advanced
Hours devoted to language teaching: 75% of the time
Hours devoted to culture teaching: 25% of the time
Language skills
Heritage language skills: Listening, speaking, reading, and writing
Levels of language proficiency reached by the end of the program: The goal is fluency in German reading, writing, and speaking.
Culture
Aspects of culture taught: Geography, history, festivals, customs, folktales, songs, rhymes, social and cultural norms, cultural appropriateness, and literature
Methodologies
Methodologies and instructional strategies used in the program: Language immersion when possible and focus on fun in the classroom
Materials
Textbooks: Deutsch Mobil, Klett Verlag and Loewenzahn U. Pusteblumen, Schroedel Verlag
Other materials used for instruction: German audio, video, games, and literature
Technology used for instruction: Audio and visual presentation
Assessment
Assessments used to evaluate students’ progress: Teachers’ observations
Articulation
Connections with other institutions: Colleges
How the program develops home/school connections or promotes parent involvement: We require parents to help teach or assist with class financial support.
What the program has in place
Financial support the program receives: Parents
Other support the program receives: Financial support for class materials
Solicitation of funding: The program director and school principal
Assistance or funding the program would like to receive: Additional access to learning materials
Monitoring of overall achievement in school: Teacher observations
Special challenges
Challenges the program has experienced: Integration of non-fluent students into classes for fluent students (difficult to achieve proficiency); difficulty to meet every student’s needs with only 3-4 class levels and a limited number of teachers.
