Anonymous wrote:uh what? why? Because you couldn't learn German you think it is too difficult for everyone else? I know German and I am not from Germany nor did I ever live there.

It's not too difficult to learn, it doesn't have any utility outside of German, Austria and Switzerland. In fact, inside those countries everyone speaks English. The only time I couldn't get by in English was in very remote small villages and with the elderly. Otherwise, I was always responded to in English, even when I started off in German. Spanish and/or Mandarin will get you further.

Spargel schule

^^ Yeah. Call it Brechbohnen or, better yet, Schnitzel Schule.

Start another immersion charter school.

I'm not being facetious. It would be a great idea.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It is very difficult to find German in public schools in this area. It's a shame, and an enterprising school would do well to start a program, because the German government and/or various German foundations would probably underwrite most of the cost. PS - What is "DC proper"?

Literally inside the boarders of DC. People are used to saying they're located in DC, but really they 're close to DC and outside the city limits. DC proper means within city limits.

Oh, I just say Washington, and best of all, it's just one word. "Boarders", renters, homeowners and other residents inside the city's borders are traditionally called Washingtonians.

Unfortunately you only need German to integrate into Germany, Austria, or Switzerland. The people you meet for business or tourism will all speak English.

German is a great third or fourth language to learn. However, most English speakers barely learn a second language.

uh what? why? Because you couldn't learn German you think it is too difficult for everyone else? I know German and I am not from Germany nor did I ever live there.

Lived in Germany a long time and never learned any German. Granted, my accent was god-awful, but still you would have thought people would have given me the chance and I was eager to learn. I was probably too eager and the Germans laughed me out of the country. And they speak English. I'd stick with Spanish or Mandarin.

It is very difficult to find German in public schools in this area. It's a shame, and an enterprising school would do well to start a program, because the German government and/or various German foundations would probably underwrite most of the cost.

Agree with this. German language instruction in the US is dying out. Germany is the 4th largest economy in the world. It's a myth that German isn't "useful" because all Germans speak English. Yes, Germans are much better at learning English than we have been at learning German, but knowing the language is a big advantage.

Anonymous wrote:It is very difficult to find German in public schools in this area. It's a shame, and an enterprising school would do well to start a program, because the German government and/or various German foundations would probably underwrite most of the cost. PS - What is "DC proper"?

Literally inside the boarders of DC. People are used to saying they're located in DC, but really they 're close to DC and outside the city limits. DC proper means within city limits.

There is the Hill summer program:

Summer German Programs for Children
23 June - 25 July 2014
Capitol Hill and Potomac, MD
+1 202 2891200
language@washington.goethe.org

The Goethe-Institut Washington is proud to announce it will be offering one, two and three-week half or whole-day intensive German courses for children on Capitol Hill this summer. This program is offered in partnership with Mrs. Karin deJong, the former Kindergarten Director of the German School Washington in Potomac, MD.

In addition to the programs on Capitol Hill, Mrs. deJong is also offering four weeks of programs for children in Potomac, MD.
For the past thirteen years, Mrs. deJong and her team of experienced early childhood educators have offered an exciting, fun and intensive German language program for children for several weeks every summer. Children with absolutely no background in German are welcome, as are children from bilingual households with extensive previous knowledge of German.

The programs are based on learning German through a variety of games, songs, stories and much, much more. Different themes will be introduced on a weekly/bi-weekly basis. The student teacher ratio will not exceed 1:16. Children should bring their own lunches.

Location
Dates
Times Ages
Hill Center at the Old Naval Hospital
921 Pennsylvania Avenue, SE
Washington, DC 20003
6/23 - 6/27
6/30 - 7/3
7/7 - 7/11 9 am - 1 pm
9 am - 3 pm 6 - 12
Our Lady of Mercy
9222 Kentsdale Drive
Potomac, MD 20854
6/30 - 7/3
7/7 - 7/11
7/14 - 7/18
7/21 - 7/25 9 am - 1 pm
9 am - 3 pm 4 - 10
Registration and full payment must be received by 15 May 2014.

It is very difficult to find German in public schools in this area. It's a shame, and an enterprising school would do well to start a program, because the German government and/or various German foundations would probably underwrite most of the cost. PS - What is "DC proper"?

I don't have the answer to this question, but in lieu of German during "regular" school, many kids in this area attend the saturday school at the German School in Potomac. It goes from preschool through high school, saturdays 9-11:30. www.dswashington.org

I am not aware of any DCPS or Charter that offers German language. Doesn't have to be immersion (although I would love that for my kid! I know we are in the minority). Does anyone know of a school that still offers German language? I can't find anything in DC proper for German language instruction for a very small kid (under the age of 5). My husband is supposed to speaking to her in German exclusively but thats not happening either...Just curious if there are any other classroom settings.