Author: Claudia Kusian, Goethe-Institut
Primary German immersion course at Chryston High School, North Lanarkshire
The Goethe-Institut has just concluded a 10-week primary German immersion course for primary teachers in the Chryston High School cluster.
Chryston High School, which shows a strong commitment to the teaching and learning of German, will be the first school in Scotland to become a member of the Goethe-Institut’s The Smart Choice German network for schools, which will be launched in January 2017. This initiative aims to bring schools together which promote German in their curriculum and work in close partnership with their cluster primary schools. The Goethe-Institut will support these schools by providing training and CLPL opportunities, scholarships for language training in Germany, free teaching materials, advice and cultural events.
Chryston High School’s 1+2 working group had asked the Goethe-Institut to devise a training course which not only introduced basic German language and grammar, but also gave the participants an insight into the culture of the German-speaking world, including geography, customs and traditions. In addition, the teachers were able to try out lots of engaging primary teaching methodologies and ideas and were also introduced to the Goethe-Institut’s primary teaching resources. A few examples of the course activities included the staging of a German fashion show, celebrating a German birthday (with home-baking, of course!) and learning about the traditions of Sankt Martin and Nikolaustag.
The participants said:
‘Excellent practical activities that could be used from P1-P7. I will now be able to make lessons more interactive.’
‘It has given me inspiration to use much more practical activities when teaching German. The course has helped improve my confidence with my own German.’
‘The materials were extremely useful and I used all materials and ideas in my weekly German course with P4/5.’
Please get in touch with Dr Sabine Schlueter if you are interested in booking a taster German immersion session for your primary teaching staff.
Save the date:
18 March 2017: German Day for primary teachers at the Goethe-Institut
Return to December 2016 newsletter