Deutsche Schule Interessengemeinschaft - German Language ...

Deutsche Sprachschule Cleveland
November 2011 Newsletter
Neues von der Schulbank...
Jahreskonferenz der GLSC
Einige unserer Lehrkräfte nahmen am 1. Wochenende im November an der 32. Jahreskonferenz
der GLSC (German Language School Conference) in New York teil. Bei der GLSC handelt es
sich um die einzige überregionale Interessengemeinschaft der Deutschen Sprachschulen in den
USA, derzeit umfasst diese Organisation 41 Mitgliedsschulen. Die GLSC war 1978 mit der
Zielsetzung gegründet worden, ein unterstützendes Netzwerk aufzubauen, das den Mitgliedern in
administrativen, pädagogischen sowie offiziellen
Belangen tiefgreifende Hilfestellung bietet.
Wichtig sind in diesem Zusammenhang nach wie
vor der Kontakt der Sprachschulen untereinander
sowie die durch die GLSC intensiv geführte
Kommunikation mit verschiedenen relevanten
Weltverbänden und Ämtern der deutschen
Bundesregierung.
Während der alljährlich stattfindenden
Konferenz der GLSC in New York
nehmen Mitgliedsschulen an diversen
Seminaren teil. Auch in diesem Jahr war
das Angebot wieder reichhaltig, Seminarthemen reichten von Motivation der Schüler der
Primarstufe durch Puppenspiel über Abhandlung kultureller Themen im Unterricht bis hin
zur Vorbereitung von Sprachprüfungen und pädagogischem Qualitätsmanagement.
Unsere Lehrkräfte kamen hochmotiviert zurück und haben ihre neuen Erkenntnisse an
ihre Kolleginnen und Kollegen weitergegeben, damit alle Schülerinnen und Schüler von
diesen neuen Anregungen und Ideen profitieren können!
Herzliche Grüße
Ihre Heike Haddenbrock, Schulleiterin
Annual Meeting of the GLSC
On November 5, 2011 six of our teachers participated in the 32 nd Annual Conference of the GLSC (German Language School
Conference) in New York. The GLSC is a multi-region umbrella organization that represents the interests and concerns of German
Language Schools in the US. Since its founding in 1978 the GLSC has built up a support network that helps its member schools
(currently 41) with teaching training, administrative issues and other concerns. Most importantly, GLSC offers a forum for member
schools to stay in contact with one another and with relevant international organizations and appropriate agencies within the German
government.
During the 2011 GLSC Annual Conference in
New York City, personnel from member schools
participated in a variety of work-shops. Among
this year’s many offerings: using puppets to
motivate elementary students, incorporating
cultural themes into classroom instruction,
preparing for language examinations, and quality
management for administrators. Cleveland
German School teachers returned from their
various seminars energized and highly-motivated
to share their discoveries with their German
School Colleagues so that all of our students can
profit by these engaging new learning methods
and ideas!
Warmest regards,
Your Heike Haddenbrock, Principal

Testing at the Cleveland German Language School
Our school prepares our students for a number of standardized national and international tests. Good test scores can give students
high school and even college credit in German. High schools may also award a letter grade which may boost that all important GPA for
college applications. Providing high school credit for proficiency in foreign language is now the law in the State of Ohio. You
need only provide a good test score from an outside institution that gives standardized tests such as our own. Unfortunately,
your local school system may not be aware of Ohio's Revised Code 9.51.1 (a college course successfully completed by the student
must be recognized by the high school of attendance and counted toward graduation and subject area requirements), or Ohio Senate
Bill 311 (students earn units of high school credit based on competency), and Ohio's Credit Flexibility Plan which was adopted by the
Ohio State Board of Education in March of 2009. By June of 2009 local school boards had to come up with a plan showing ways
students could be given credit for subjects they learned outside of high school, and that includes foreign languages. Students that
speak languages in addition to German and English should also request credit for them.
Tests currently offered at the Cleveland German School:
AATG High School German exam– Designed by the American Association of Teachers of German, these multiple choice
tests are given in high school after the first, second, third, and fourth years of German. The exam measures the students’ listening and
reading comprehension, as well as their knowledge of German grammar. We give our students the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th tests, levels
usually reached at our school prior to reaching high school. A good score on AATG 4, which is given in Frau Samodelov’s highest level
class, will show 4 years of high school-level proficiency, and earn the student 4 credits in German. To obtain high school credit, our
school offers a packet that shows the successful test results to give to counselors upon entering 9 th grade. If your school is new to this,
and you need help, please contact Debbie Robinson, World Languages Consultant for the State of Ohio at (614) 995-0232,
or debbie.robinson@ode.state.oh.us.
ZDP A2 exam– The ZDP was developed in South American by that continent’s many excellent German language and
immersion schools. The examination has since been adapted by the German government to use as an international test. A2 tests more
advanced knowledge than the AATG, and can show proficient use of both spoken and written German. Success on the A2 indicates
that a student is competent in communicating in German about things they care about. The A2 is the Cleveland German Language
School’s official examination (Abschluss-Prüfung) and shows that they graduated from the school.
Other testing options:
ACTFL Oral Proficiency Exam – German School does not give this exam. Designed by the American Council on the
Teaching of Foreign Languages, this test may be taken by students who speak at home Hungarian, Latvian, Chinese, Polish, and other
languages, to obtain HS credit. The current cost to take the test is $230, but your school might pay for it. OPE is a one-on-one exam. It
is a more thorough and rigorous exam than the AATG, and may one day replace it.
AP German Exam– German School does not offer AP German, but scores are used for college placement and even college
credit. Find out if your school offers it. It is a useful test to take for students proficient in German. If it is not offered at your school,
students can usually take it at another school. The College Board has an excellent web site for parents and students to prepare for this
exam. http://www.collegeboard.com/student/testing/ap/german_lang/exam.html?germanlang *It should be mentioned that AP penalizes
students when they stop speaking into the microphone to organize their thoughts on the oral portion of the test.
Erratum
I was honored that my 51 years of work with the German Language School of Cleveland as a teacher, principal and President of the
School Board was so graciously acknowledged in the October Newsletter. However, I want to clarify that “Die Deutsche
Wochenendschule” was founded in 1960 by the Board of the Donauschwaben organization. While I was there from the very beginning
under Frau Bertha Rosenberger, the first teacher and director, I don’t consider myself one of the founders. For more information about
the German Language School’s early days, I recommend the 50 th Anniversary book which contains a detailed history.
Thank you again for your kind words. Karoline Lindenmaier
VOLUNTEERS OF THE MONTH
We would like to thank everyone who made our fall fundraiser a big success this year: Louis Vocaire and his family, Mike Magvas, Jim
Conolly, Erika & RyanTemple, Eric & Nicole Fogwell, Martin Joyce, Amy Jordan, Kim Prudhoe, Rita Boyer, H. Klass, Walter & Pam
Bruckner, Patrice Sullivan, Nicole Holiday, Linda Koestler, Diane Ashworth, Diane Jagusch, Anna Micko, Katharina Greger, Maria
Fabian and Mary Mathewson, Mike Pirnat (our photographer), and of course Andreas Metz for accompanying us on the piano! Thanks
also to Bianca Bergosh and Sara Paddags for typing our class lists, Kim Speck (BoxTops), and everyone who makes our school such a
wonderful place. We could not do it without you!
FULFILLING PARENT VOLUNTEER RESPONSIBILITIES
Please note that each family who agreed to volunteer needs to fulfill the required ten hours of volunteer work for the school year.
Please note that this might involve 2 jobs, at five hours each. If you have agreed to volunteer, but have not yet indicated a job that
interests you, please contact Alexandra Vladescu, our volunteer coordinator, at alexandra.vladescu@gmail.com, or phone: (440) 377-
6555 to find out where we still need help.
Apples for Students at Giant Eagle
Let’s also take advantage of the Apples for Students program at Giant Eagle. Currently we have only five families signed up for the
program. Please register your Giant Eagle loyalty card to support our German Language School at
www.gianteagle.com/schools/apples-for-students and enter 5565, then click add.
Please contact Erika Coble with information for the newsletter at erikacoble@bluebottle.com.
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