KÜKEN

AGES 0-3

The Küken are a parent-child group for German-speaking parents with babies and small children up to 3 years of age.
They sing, do crafts and play together and acquire a treasure trove of songs and rhymes that will stay with them for a long time. This is where first friendships are made with peers in the group, and parents also have the opportunity to exchange ideas and get to know each other.
We offer a small snack for everyone to break up the session and for further social exchange in the group.

We do not yet expect the children to be able to completely and consciously tell languages apart in the Küken group.

RABEN

YEAR 2 - 4

The Raben are 7-9 years old and in Year 2, 3 or Year 4 at their English school. The Raben are curious, active and creative, and are already writing their own short texts and stories about their many Saturday school adventures. They sometimes even write poems, or play theatre! They can read short stories and now know the German sounds and letters well. The focus is on enjoying the topic together, and making and strengthening friendships - all in German!

Lessons are held entirely in German. Children need to understand and speak German in this group in order to be able to take part.

GCSE

YEAR 8+

From Year 8 (age 13), Saturday school students can transfer to the GCSE group. They usually take their German GCSE exam early - in Year 8, 9 or 10. We decide in consultation with the students and parents when the students are ready for the exam. Year 11 is then reserved for all other subjects and the regular GCSE exams that all students sit in England. Our students have the advantage of having taken an additional language GCSE!

In the GCSE group, we practice very specifically for the exams. We do mock exams (reading, writing, speaking, listening) and learn what to look out for in order to get a good grade. GCSE training takes 1-2 years.

For bilingual and non-bilingual young people.

EULEN

ADULTS (16+)

The Eulen are adults over the age of 16 who would like to learn German or improve their German. We are very flexible with our lessons, adapting them to eeds of our Eulen - just come for conversation, brush up on grammar, or work towards an exam. The individualised lessons are possible because we keep the Eulen group extremely small.

The Eulen have German as a foreign language - lessons are explained in English, and a big focus is on vocabulary training.

The Eulen group also an ideal place for English speaking partners to learn German whilst the children learn in the other bird groups :)

MITTLERE PINGUINE

YEAR 5 - 7

The mittlere Pinguine are 10-12 years old and in Year 5, 6 or 7 in their English school. The mittlere Pinguine are on an intermediate level of German, or still need to catch up with their vocabulary. They are supported individually at their own language level, but also learn actively in the group. The mittlere Pinguine write longer German texts themselves, do crafts and get to know German customs and traditions. An exciting common topic is always in the foreground for the mittlere Pinguine.

The mittlere Pingiuine have German as a foreign language or need to catch up with their vocabulary - lessons are held in English and German with a focus on German vocabulary training.

SPATZEN

PRESCHOOL - YEAR 1

The Spatzen are 3-6 years old and in Preschool, Reception or Year 1 in their English school. When the children are ready, we start with German letters and sounds, and read and write the first words. But all this always on an exciting topic. The Spatzen travel across Europe with Hase Felix, make their own lanterns for St. Martin, or fly into space with self-made rockets!

It's important to us that the Spatzen build up a large vocabulary, express themselves in German, and make new German-speaking friendships, whilst deepening existing ones!

FALKEN

YEAR 5 - 7

The Falken are 10-12 years old and in Year 5, 6 or Year 7 at their English school. A common topic is in the foreground for active learning. The Falken construct cars and write vehicle reports, make their own digital story books, or plan their own summer fair stands.

They refine their grammar and spelling and can correct their texts on their ownes with the help of the strategies they have learned. They might give short presentations and discuss various current topics. The group is very important to them - they have often built deep and long-lasting friendships over the years, or quickly build up new ones!

Lessons are held entirely in German. Children need to understand and speak German in this group in order to be able to take part.

A-LEVEL

YEAR 10+

The A-level exam is an academic qualification that helps students access universitiy studies. A-level exams are usually taken in year 13. Our Saturday school students take the A-Level German exam in Year 12 so that it does not overlap with their regular A-Levels. The German A-level exam is demanding and not only requires very good knowledge of German, but also knowledge of literature and history of the German-speaking countries. We only recommend the exam if students can motivate themselves.

Students will have an additional A level which is recognised both as a subject and also proof of German language proficiency at English universities, and also in universities in German speaking countries. The German A-level is in most cases a prerequisite for studies in the German speaking countries.

For bilingual and non-bilingual young people.

KLEINE PINGUINE

YEAR 2 - 4

The kleine Pinguine are 7-9 years old and in Year 2, 3 or 4 in their English school. The kleine Pinguine are just beginning to learn German, or have to catch up with German vocabulary. They are supported individually at their language level, but always have exciting activities they do as a whole group. The kleine Pinguine write short German texts themselves, do crafts and get to know German customs and traditions. A common topic is in the foreground for the Pinguine.

The kleine Pinguine have German as a foreign language - lessons are explained in English, and the focus is on German vocabulary training.