German Department

The classes at Grundschule am Brandenburger Tor bring together children with a wide range of home languages. Our most important goal is to help every child feel confident and enjoy using German.

Our approach is practical and project-based. We discuss language and grammar topics with the children in terms of their relevance and application in everyday life. In class, we explore the meaning and significance of literary texts for our own lives. This allows children to experience literature as a practical source of knowledge.

Reading projects such as Read Aloud Day and the reading rally introduce students to literature as an enjoyable and educational leisure activity. Class and school reading competitions motivate children to read regularly and work on their reading skills. During our paired reading weeks, children across all subjects practice reading fluently and quickly. Our dedicated and caring reading mentors support children who need additional help beyond regular lessons. Reading in the school library (“reading breaks”) and our partnership with the bookmobile complement literacy support in German lessons across the school.

Modern techniques are used, including paired reading, reciprocal reading, writing fluency exercises and spelling discussions—just a few examples of a modern approach to teaching German.

By creating their own reading and presentation posters, children learn to present topics and support their presentations visually. German lessons develop these key skills for later working life from the very start of school.

With that in mind: “German? No problem!”

Dr. Jan Patrick Müller

Head of German Department