What SPARK offers

Colleges, universities, and high schools work with the AATG and the Goethe-Institut to provide training for German majors and future German teachers to become SPARK instructors. After successfully completing their initial training, SPARK instructors will teach German to young learners in after school programs. Where possible, SPARK instructors will be granted appropriate credits and acknowledgement by their home institutions and schools.

SPARK curriculum
SPARK professional development
SPARK community

SPARK curriculum

SPARK offers ready to use, flexible, age-appropriate materials suitable for after school programs for students ages 5-18.

For preschools and kindergartens
Deutsch mit Hans Hase

For preschool and kindergarten students, we offer Deutsch mit Hans Hase. Hans Hase is a complete set of teaching materials, including the hand puppet Hans who visits students in the United States to learn more about them and to teach them about his way of life. Songs, games, and interactive activities introduce German in a playful manner and foster personal growth and social-emotional learning.

For elementary schools
Felix and Franzi

For beginning elementary students, we offer Felix and Franzi. Developed by the Goethe-Institut London in cooperation with German native speakers and British primary school teachers, Felix and Franzi help German teachers get off to a flying start teaching German. SPARK makes available the complete curriculum including handpuppets and other teaching materials in a convenient SPARK box.

For elementary and middle schools
KinderUni

The German digital Kinderuniversity provides information and education for children aged eight to twelve and gives young scientists the chance to find out the answers to questions for themselves – about natural phenomena, for instance – while at the same time learning their first words in German. In-class materials for after school programs can be downloaded below.

KinderUni Units 1-10(ZIP, 34 MB)

KinderUni Units 11-20(ZIP, 26 MB)

KinderUni Units 21-30(ZIP, 21 MB)

For middle schools
A Glimpse of Germany

The ten-week program ”A Glimpse of German(y)” is designed for students aged 10 through 14 from schools with and without regular German programs and can be implemented as part of an existing German curriculum as an introductory program or within an after school program. The aim is to instill enthusiasm for foreign language learning through cultural topics and to sensitize students to intercultural questions through critical thinking and reflection. In ten theme-based sessions, students get a glimpse of the German language and culture.

For high schools
Step into German

This program provides teachers with a great variety of videos, podcasts and worksheets that they can use in class without much preparation time and that are bound to capture the students’ attention. Topics include music, soccer, film, sustainability and German(y).

For high schools
JuniorUni

A continuation of KinderUni, JuniorUni is an online platform for students and teachers. Students learn German through exploration of the advanced STEM topics in areas of sustainability, space exploration, energy and resources, robotics, health and many more. SPARK labs have access to exclusive lesson plans developed specifically for the after school context with the beginner level learners in mind.

For high schools
Sustainability

Based on the Sustainable Development Goals set by the United Nations in 2015, our curriculum "17 Sustainable Development Goals – Learn. Think. Participate." is intended to sensitize students to global issues and encourage them to actively shape a more equitable and sustainable future for all. Students develop critical thinking and problem solving skills, work in teams, and connect to real world issues and local communities while developing their German language skills. Download the instructional materials below; SPARK Labs have access to more materials for this curriculum packet through the Goethe-Institut learning platform.

17 goals of sustainable development(ZIP, 3 MB)

SPARK professional development

SPARK offers professional development opportunities for current and future German educators. SPARK supports pilot projects to create partnerships between schools, school districts and universities to recruit, train, and mentor the next generation of German educators. We share expertise and provide access to resources in order to contribute to local and regional solutions that address the need to increase the number of highly-qualified teachers.

Pedagogy Training

SPARK instructors participate in pedagogy courses offered by the Goethe-Institut through their Deutsch Lehren Lernen (DLL) program. The innovative concept of DLL puts the attention on the daily practices and challenges of the German language classroom and deals with the key players and fundamental elements of instruction.

Language Courses

SPARK instructors may qualify for a stipend that will cover the cost of participating in German language courses offered by the Goethe-Institut. The Goethe-Institut also offers online language courses specifically designed for German educators. SPARK instructors join colleagues from North America and expand their language skills under the guidance of professional tutors.

Intercultural Communication Training

In this 3-week online course specifically designed for teachers, SPARK instructors learn new strategies that will raise their awareness and empower them to act professionally and efficiently in intercultural settings.

Summer Scholarships

SPARK offers an annual SPARK Summer School to prepare students for their role as SPARK instructors. SPARK also offers scholarships to attend the Middlebury Summer Language School and the Deutsche Sommerschule am Pazifik.

Webinars

SPARK Labs, including SPARK instructors, participate in a number of meetings, both online and face-to-face, in order to continue developing professionally and contributing to a community of language learners and teachers.

SPARK community

The SPARK team builds community and fosters a dialogue across K-16. Through workshops and conference attendance, we engage in conversations to address challenges and to celebrate successes.

We believe in exchange and collaboration between teachers and students at the local level as well as across the United States.

SPARK supports advocacy for language learning and teaching and highlights the benefits of teaching and learning German to support the transatlantic dialogue between Germany and the United States and to enhance educational opportunities for students in the U.S.

Get to know the SPARK Community!

Join SPARK

Are you ready to join SPARK? Fill out the application form! SPARK accepts applications on a rolling basis.

Application Form for high schools Application form for colleges and universities

Back to SPARK for German main page

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