Classes

The GSA provides German language classes for adults and children. Classes are taught by highly motivated and experienced teachers, most of whom are native German speakers or Americans with an extensive background in German and prolonged stays in Germany.

Please note that a class not meeting the minimum student enrollment may be canceled, and in this case the student will have the option to participate in a different class or receive a refund.

Students with no previous knowledge of German will be accepted until the third session of the school year. Students with previous knowledge will be admitted throughout the school year. Books can be purchased through our book link. Children are placed in a class based on their knowledge and age. A teacher will evaluate their knowledge of German to determine the appropriate class. Adult students can take an assessment test here or talk to the Lead Teacher, Carmen Freeman.

Our school location is:
Concordia Lutheran Church
505 S. Kirkwood Rd. (across from The Magic House)
St. Louis, MO 63122

Here is an overview of our classes.

Adult Classes:

• A1-1: Students start at the very beginning, assuming they have little to no knowledge of German. You will focus on understanding, speaking, reading and writing German as well as on German grammar.
• A1-2: You know articles, conjugation of verbs in the present tense, separable prefix verbs, modal verbs, the accusative case, and several prepositions, but need to learn the present perfect tense, the dative, additional prepositions, and more sophisticated sentence structures.
• A2-1: You know all the above topics, can introduce yourself and speak for one minute on everyday events, but need to learn verbs requiring the dative, accusative and dative pronouns, modal verbs in the Präteritum verb tense, dependent clauses with weil and wenn, and conjunctive and passive tense.
• A2-2: You know all the above topics and feel comfortable talking about yourself and everyday events for two minutes. You would like to learn adjective endings, reflexive pronouns, relative pronouns, and Präteritum (regular and irregular verbs).
• B1: You know all the above and can hold a conversation about your day and everyday topics. You still want to expand your vocabulary, review grammar and deepen your understanding.
• B2: You know all of the above, can hold a conversation about your day and everyday topics using more advanced sentence structure and grammar. You would like to expand your vocabulary to reach a native speaker level and seek to know rarely used grammar in newspapers and literature.
• C1: You have reached a native speaker level, enjoy reading German newspapers, read German literature and are looking for a group of people with whom to practice your German in a fun and challenging way.

Children's Classes

• KG: Kindergarten German as a Second Language (4 - 7 years old) This class is for children who learn German as a second language and have so far no or very little experience with the German language, are 4 years or older by September 1st of that school year and can independently use the restroom.
• KB: Kindergarten Bilingual Children (4 to 7 years old) This class is welcoming all children who are bilingual or near-native German speakers, are 4 years or older by September 1st of that school year and can independently use the restroom.
• A1-1: Children ages 7- 11. This class is for older children who are ready to learn German in a more structured way, including written homework and listening/writing tasks using a smartphone for the listening exercises at home. This class starts our main book series and is the basis for the subsequent classes. The topics include: greetings, numbers, introducing oneself, animals, activities, family, and school subjects. The grammar taught includes articles, present tense verbs, and negation.
• A1-2: Children ages 8 - 12: This class is for children who know all of the above. In addition, they will learn accusative, modal verbs, possessive pronouns, ordinal numbers, imperative, some prepositions and sein and haben in the simple past tense. The topics are: my house and city, birthdays, school, describing animals, travel and German culture and everyday life. Children with native or near native German knowledge can start with this class. Students will prepare for the level-appropriate American AATG Test.
• A2-1: Children ages 9-14: This class is for children who know all of the above. The topics will include hobbies, friendship, comparisons, health, finding your way in a foreign city, more German culture and everyday living. The children will now learn about the present perfect tense, dependent clauses, adjectives, modal verbs in the simple past, the dative case, and prepositions. The children will prepare for the German test “Internationale Vergleichsarbeit A1” and the level-appropriate American AATG Test.
• A2-2: Children ages 10-14: This class is for children who know all of the above. In this class, they will learn about the Präteritum verb tense, additional prepositions, adjective endings, reflexive verbs, relative clauses. The topics will include describing cities, ordering and buying food, historical events, fairytales, media, school and more German culture and everyday living situations in Germany. Students will prepare for the German test “International Vergleichsarbeit A2” and the level-appropriate American AATG-Test.
• B1: Children ages 13-16: This class is for children who know all of the above, and can talk about themselves, daily events and family for one to two minutes. They will improve their ability to use dependent clauses and other higher level grammar skills. In this class, the children will work on projects and start reading original German texts. Students will prepare for the German test DSD I (Deutsches Sprachdiplom I).
• B2: Children ages 15-18: This class is for children who know all of the above. This class prepares for the DSD II (Deutsches Sprachdiplom II). Students will learn and discuss topics of more global and social importance such as tourism, consumption, and professional education. Formulating opinions, weighing pros and cons, grasping the main points of an article and summarizing them will be the new skills the students will develop. Engaging videos, games and podcasts ensure entertaining and fun-filled lessons.