GSP Classes Offer Path to College Credits

German language skills learned in German School Phoenix classes can be used to earn college credits thanks to a partnership between the school and Glendale Community College (GCC).  GSP and GCC use the same textbook, Kontakte, so when a GSP student feels ready to take a college final exam covering the textbook material, they can contact the GCC Admissions Office and arrange to take the test after paying GCC tuition.   The Kontakte chapters covered in GCC courses are as follows:

• GCC German 101 – Kontakte Einführung A through Kapitel 3
• GCC German 102 – Kontakte Kapitel 4 through Kapitel 8
• GCC German 201 – Kontakte Kapitel 9 through Kapitel 12
• GCC German 202 – Various articles, films and short stories

If the GSP student passes the test, four college credits are awarded.  If the GSP student fails the test, no credit is awarded and the tuition is not refunded.  For further information, GSP students should contact their GSP teacher or GSP Director, Dierk Seeburg.

GUEST SPEAKER PROGRAM BEGINS

On September 20^th, Dr. Jerry Wood will be the first in a series of distinguished guests scheduled to visit the German School Phoenix during the fall 2014 semester. Dr. Wood was the first director of the former Deutsch Amerikanischer National Kongress (DANK) school. He will address the beginner, intermediate and advanced classes.

The guest speaker program will include the visitors listed below. Dates for each speaker will be posted in the coming weeks on the calendar page.

• Dr. Jerry Wood, former director of DANK school
• Dieter Bollmann, the president of the AZ Center for Germanic Cultures
• Christine Colley, the organizer of the Phoenix Oktoberfest
• Dr. Helge Jordan, the German Honorary Consul
• Dr. Wolfgang Klien, the Austrian Honorary Consul
• Dr. Sara Lee, the premier German ASU scholar on bilingual education
• Ingeborg Mack, the organizer of the Phoenix German Weihnachtsgottesdienst

Guest Speaker Schedule Announced

The German School Phoenix is pleased to announce that special guest speakers will be visiting the beginner, intermediate and advanced classes during the fall 2014 semester. The first visit will take place on September 20^th, with two more guest speakers in October and another four in November. Here is the list of speakers and the dates for their visits:

• September 20^th – Dr. Jerry Wood, the former director of the former Deutsch Amerikanisher National Kongress (DANK) school
• October 11^th – Dr. Wolfgang Klien, the Austrian Honorary Consul
• October 18^th – Dr. Sara Lee, the premier German ASU scholar on bilingual education
• November 1^st – Dr. Helge Jordan, the German Honorary Consul
• November 8^th – Christine Colley, the organizer of the Phoenix Oktoberfest
• November 15^th – Dieter Bollmann, the president of the AZ Center for Germanic Cultures
• November 22^nd – Ingeborg Mack, the organizer of the Phoenix German Weihnachtsgottesdienst

SCHOLARSHIP ANNOUNCED

On Saturday, September 13^th, Dierk Seeburg, Director of the German School Phoenix, announced to a gathering of students from all classes that a new scholarship had been established. The scholarship is made possible through support from the Arizona Center for Germanic Cultures (AC4GC), and is named in honor of Merle & Helen Pipho, the founders and current administrators of the school who supported and nurtured it since its beginning in 1995.

Scholarship recipients will be selected by the German School Phoenix teachers and management based on student scholastic ability, leadership, and service. The initial award ceremony will take place on the last day of classes for the fall 2014 semester, December 6^th.

Why Learn German?

Why do it? Why spend time studying German instead of watching TV or just chilling out? Why is learning German important? Some answers might be obvious, but if you do what people do now with important questions – ask Google – these are some of the reasons you’ll find:

• Business Advantage – Being bilingual can give a job applicant a competitive edge in an increasingly global economy.

• Brain Exercise – Studies show learning another language enhances listening skills, boosts creativity, improves memory, and can even stave off Alzheimer’s and dementia for some people.

• Enhance Travel – Learning German can help make the most of travels not only in German-speaking countries, but also in many other countries where German is widely spoken.

• Language Proficiency – Focusing on the structures of another language can help you better understand your own language.

• Meet People – Not only can you meet people when you travel and experience their culture, but you meet classmates and share the language learning experience.

There are many excellent reasons to learn German, and there are at least three excellent reasons to learn German at German School Phoenix:

• Atmosphere – The teachers at German School Phoenix are warm, friendly and encouraging.

• Quality – Though the class atmosphere is relaxed, the instructional standards are high.

• Value – German School Phoenix provides the most “bang for the buck” of the options I explored while searching for a German class.

So come join us and have some fun learning German at German School Phoenix!