Empowering Minds, Shaping Futures

German Resources

Willkommen! 

(Welcome)

German language instruction is an integral part of our International Baccalaureate (IB) program. Students in kindergarten through fifth grade receive German instruction as a core subject that develops listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills. The program builds cultural awareness and supports multilingualism for all learners, integrating authentic language experiences and an age-appropriate curriculum to foster communication, comprehension, and appreciation of the German language.

 

Explore details about our German curriculum, engaging activities, helpful learning resources, and the rich cultural traditions we celebrate together.


Students

This site was created to bring our German resources together into one location to make it easier for students and parents to find answers to many German-program related questions.

 

Parents

Learning a new language should be an enjoyable and enriching experience for your child. It will however require extra work, effort and parent support. Please take a look at the grade level links on this portal to see what each grade level’s focus is in German language arts and see how you can best support your child in German.

We would love to hear from you. If you have any questions or ideas, please contact Katrin Goldman at kgoldman@aeacs.org

Our Educational Services

At AEA, we offer a range of services designed to enhance the educational journey of every student.

Play

Engaging German learning game websites that make practice fun and interactive.

Watch

A curated selection of recommended German movies and shows on YouTube, complete with English subtitles for accessible learning.

Read/Listen

A selection of recommended books and audiobooks, with access to reliable resources, for strengthening comprehension in German.

Our German Teachers

Kindergarten

KA/B/C/D: Frau Van Doren 

KE: Frau Goldman

KF: Frau Holt

Musik: Frau Claudia

1st Grade

1A/B/C/E: Frau Kim

1D: Frau Tollison

1F: Frau Samuel

Musik: Frau Claudia

2nd Grade

2A/C: Frau Goldman

2B: Frau Rädle

2D: Frau Brown

2E/F: Frau Kim

Musik: Frau Claudia

3rd Grade

3A: Frau Von Nyssen

3B/C: Frau Schober

3D/E: Frau Saba

Musik: Frau Claudia

4th Grade

4A/B: Frau Heffley

4C: Frau Von Nyssen

4D/E: Frau Romero



5th Grade

5A/B: Herr Saba 

5C: Frau Goldman

5D/E: Herr Huschke

Celebrating German Culture

At AEA, we proudly celebrate German holidays and traditions as part of our language and cultural program. These celebrations give students the opportunity to experience German culture firsthand, while also fostering an appreciation for the richness of different customs. Sharing and learning about traditions not only deepens language skills, but also helps our students value diversity and understand the importance of global connections.

German Spirit Day

Tag der deutschen Einheit -Day of German Unity celebrated on October 3rd (German Spirit Day at AEA) commemorates the anniversary of German reunification in 1990 when the German Democratic Republic (DDR) joined the Federal Republic of Germany (BRD) and when Berlin reunited into a single city and the wall separating Berlin was deconstructed – Mauerfall. 

Our third grade German teachers have incorporated the “German wall”  in their IB unit on “How societies connect to their communities and countries”. A wall is built in the classroom for a few days and then deconstructed to create a real-life experience for the students.

St. Martin's Day

Martinstag (St. Martin’s Day) November 11th which we celebrate at the AEA Lantern Festival each fall, is a holiday in many European countries in honor of St Martin of Tour a kind and very compassionate man who lived in the late 4th century. The most famous legend of his life is that he cut his cloak in half to share with a beggar during a snowstorm, to save the beggar from dying of the cold.  2024: FoAEA  Lanternwalk at Balboa Park this year on 11/13! 

In many parts of Germany it is traditional for children to participate in a procession of paper lanterns in remembrance of St. Martin. They make their own little lanterns and then gather on city streets to sing Martinstag songs. Often a man dressed as St. Martin with a long red cloak leads the parade on horseback. 

At AEA all elementary students craft traditional lanterns in their German class for St Martin’s Day to participate in the lantern walk during our annual Lantern Festival beginning of November.  A wonderful tradition that you don’t won’t to miss. 

If you do not have a lantern pole (short wooden dowel and little flash light) they will be for sale at the festival.

St. Nikolaus'

Although this is not a public holiday, it is taken rather seriously in Germany, and families make an effort to celebrate. It starts the night before the 6th, when kids shine their boots (Nikolaus-Stiefel) and put them in front of their bedroom doors.(Nowadays however many families also buy a red plastic or felt  boot or craft one out of card stock.) According to folklore, St. Nikolaus will visit during the night and put little gifts (oranges, nuts, cookies and chocolates) into the children’s boots if they have been good throughout the year. And well, if the children haven’t been good, they may get the more disappointing offering of coal by St Nikolaus’ helper by the name of Knecht Ruprecht.

In Switzerland the tradition is very similar. Each Christmas Swiss children receive a visit from Samichlaus — that’s Swiss German for St. Nick — and his black-clad henchman, Schmutzli. Visits are traditionally on St Nicklaus day, Dec 6, but Switzerland’s dynamic Christmas duo can arrive at any time. Samichlaus knocks on the door, frightened but excited kids answer. Samichlaus consults his big book of sins — co-authored by village parents — and does some light-hearted moralizing. Then he asks the kids to earn a little forgiveness by reciting a poem. After this and some assurances that they will reform, Samichlaus allows the children to reach deep into his bag for a smattering of tangerines, nuts, gingerbread, and other treats. 

Fastnacht

Karneval, Fastnacht or Fasching (as the Austrians say). A true “fifth” season in German-speaking countries that officially begins on November 11th, at 11:11 a.m.  with planning meetings and other preparations for the actual celebration in late winter. The celebrations kick off with “Women’s Carnival” on Thursday before Ash Wednesday. The next highlight is Rose Monday (Rosenmontag) when  there are parades in many cities and towns with marching bands, dancers, and floats, throwing confetti, sweets, and toys to a large crowd of  dressed-up kids and adults that are flocking the streets every year to watch this spectacle. The last day of Karneval is Shrove Tuesday or Mardi Gras (Veilchendienstag) when costume balls are held.  The most traditional carnival festivities take place in Cologne, Düsseldorf,  and Mainz.

Switzerland and Austria have very similar carnival  traditions and the masked costumes at parades and balls are a highlight of this season.