What's included
32 live meetings
24 in-class hoursHomework
1-2 hours per week. 1) Daily Vocabulary Practice, 2) Study for the Chapter Exams, and 3) Customized Assignments.Assessment
Quizzes & Chapter Exams provide regular feedback on how well your child is learning the material.Letter Grade
Letter Grades are optional. Quarterly Reports provide individualized information on your child's growing abilities.Class Experience
US Grade 7 - 10
Beginner Level
Why choose an $800, four-day-a-week class? Simply put: This is the kind of class your child needs 1) to actually learn to speak German and 2) to meet college entrance requirements. Smaller-scale classes are great for exploration. But around the age of 13 or 14, it’s time to get serious. Let’s get your child started on an exciting language-learning journey that will… • transform your child into a confident communicator • prepare your child to meet college entrance requirements • open doors for a career in business, engineering, global health, communications, government, the arts…the sky’s the limit! The German for High Schoolers curriculum will give you peace of mind and your child a rich learning experience with solid outcomes. + ENROLL YOUR CHILD in German 1 now to secure a spot for 2025-2026. + MESSAGE ME with any questions. I’d love to send you a PDF on the World Language College Entrance Requirement, a link to my $1 Sampler Class, and a link to one of my $1 Open House sessions. I can’t wait to get to know you and your young German enthusiast! --Jennifer Bjornstad, PhD ------------ INTERACTIVE LEARNING & CLASSROOM COMMUNITY In German 1 for High Schoolers, your child will be immersed in a highly interactive approach to language learning. They will do all kinds of things in German, with just the right amount of support from me. They will play games, read stories, take surveys, watch video clips, do role-plays, ask and answer questions, listen to mini-lectures, discuss favorites (and least favorites!), sing songs, describe pictures, and express their opinions. They will work on their own, with partners, and in the large group. They will get a lot of daily practice, and they will learn German quickly. Extra benefits? • Your child will gain an understanding of German culture, past & present. • Your child will strengthen their organizational and study skills. • Your child will enjoy spending time each day with lively, like-minded classmates. ------------ PRICING & CLASS VALUE I know that the cost of this class represents a significant investment in your child’s education. The class price includes… + expert instruction, four days a week + instructor-created lesson plans, activities, & materials + once-a-week Family Letter + once-a-quarter individualized Quarterly Report + close instructor-parent communication Teaching on Outschool is my full-time job. I take my work seriously and spend a lot of time thinking about how best to support each learner. I teach just a small number of students per year, so you can be sure your child is getting the personalized attention that builds confidence, honors each student’s unique abilities, and leads to language-learning success. ------------ FAQ Q: Do you teach the class in GERMAN or in ENGLISH? A: Both! I use what you might call a “partial immersion” approach. Most of our class time is focused on reading, writing, listening, and speaking—in German. But I believe there is a role for English in the classroom, as well. A targeted use of English can really promote student confidence and increase learning efficiency. Q: Are you a NATIVE SPEAKER of German? A: I am what is called a “near-native” speaker of German. I have a BA, MA, and PhD in German and I have spent significant time in Germany, so my language skills are top-notch. As a near-native speaker, I offer students the best of both worlds: not only do I have clear pronunciation, advanced vocabulary, and excellent grammatical accuracy, but I also speak a standardized German that is easy to follow. I excel in adapting my speech to different ability levels. Q: Does it matter that you are a TRAINED TEACHER? A: I sure think it does! I have spent my career reading, thinking, and talking about how best to teach German and then putting those ideas into practice in the classroom. I am a member of the AATG (American Association of Teachers of German) and the MLA (Modern Language Association). I have attended and presented at dozens of teacher conferences and have published articles on pedagogical topics. All of this means that I am familiar with best practices and current thinking on effective teaching methods and that I’m able to use this knowledge to help lead your child to success. Q: We have a SCHEDULING CONFLICT. Can my learner still take the class? A: Absolutely. Your learner can always catch up on a missed class by watching the class video, posted automatically by Outschool after each class session. If, for example, you have a standing conflict on Tuesdays, your learner can attend in real-time on Mondays, watch the video Tuesday evening, and attend in real-time on Wednesdays and Thursdays. Q: Can we count this class for HIGH SCHOOL CREDIT? A: Quite possibly. If you are a homeschooling family creating your own transcript, you can list German 1, Parts 1 – 4 as one full high school credit. If you are working with a high school guidance counselor, you can submit the class description, my credentials, and your learner’s exams scores and narrative reports for possible credit from your school. Q: We missed the beginning of the school year! Is it TOO LATE TO START? A: I’m often able to accommodate learners with a late start. Message me and let’s see if we can make it work. If, for example, your learner has already done some work with German, they may be able to jump right in. Q: I don’t think we’ll be able to get the TEXTBOOK by the first day. Is that a problem? A: No problem. Last-minute enrollments are welcome. I can provide scans of the first few pages until your book arrives. Q: I have more questions. Can we GET TOGETHER to talk? A: Yes, please! I love getting together with students and their families to learn about their particular questions, concerns, and needs. Send me a time that works for you, and we can do an Open House session: https://outschool.com/classes/german-placement-assessment-open-house-8GBQiwIM?refuid=zBNxOaog
Learning Goals
Students will be able to IDENTIFY common objects, actions, and ideas in German
Students will be able to PRONOUNCE German with enough accuracy so that a patient and interested native speaker would be able to understand them
Syllabus
32 Lessons
over 8 WeeksLesson 1:
Talente und Pläne (Talents and Plans) & Pflichten (Duties)
Review; Talents
45 mins online live lesson
Lesson 2:
Talente und Pläne (Talents and Plans) & Pflichten (Duties)
Talents; How well can you x?
45 mins online live lesson
Lesson 3:
Talente und Pläne (Talents and Plans) & Pflichten (Duties)
Review; Duties
45 mins online live lesson
Lesson 4:
Talente und Pläne (Talents and Plans) & Pflichten (Duties)
Review (what do you have? what do you not have?); Duties
45 mins online live lesson
Other Details
Learning Needs
Everyone is welcome! The class is set up in a clear, straightforward way that allows all students to succeed. If your child needs extra support, we will work together to make sure they have a fabulous learning experience.
Pre-Requisites
This class follows German 1, Part 3.
If your child has had some experience with German and you think they might be able to jump in with Part 4, send me a message and let’s talk.
Supply List
Kontakte: A Communicative Approach, 8th edition, ISBN: #978-1259307423 We use the 8th edition of the textbook. Please be sure you do not purchase any other edition by mistake. I highly recommend that students have access to a paper copy of the textbook rather than an e-book version. A brand-new hardback can be purchased from Amazon for around $70 and will enable your child to do the exercises without the distraction of past students’ notes or answers. We use the textbook in German 1, German 2, & German 3, so you will get a lot of good use out of it. NOTE: You DO NOT need the “access code” that you may see mentioned in the Amazon listing.
External Resources
Learners will not need to use any apps or websites beyond the standard Outschool tools.
Teacher expertise and credentials
2 Teaching Certificates
Indiana Teaching Certificate in English/Language Arts
Indiana Teaching Certificate in Foreign Language
Doctoral Degree in Foreign Language from University of Wisconsin-Madison
Thanks for taking a minute to learn about me as a teacher!
I am an expert German instructor with 25+ years of experience.
+ I was a full-time professor of German at Valparaiso University from 2001 to 2019.
+ I have been teaching high school German on Outschool since 2020.
A few highlights of my expertise:
• I have a PhD in German.
• I am a near-native speaker of German.
• I have lived and traveled in Germany extensively.
• I was a tenured professor at Valparaiso University.
• I am a licensed high school teacher (grades 5-12, German and ELA).
• I have won several teaching awards.
• I homeschooled my own son for several years.
• I have taught the German 1 class many, many times in this format, with this textbook.
I really know my stuff when it comes to German language, history, literature, and culture. I’m also an approachable and welcoming teacher—our virtual classroom is a lively, warm, and congenial place.
If you’re interested in the German for High Schoolers curriculum for your child, please reach out.
+ ENROLL YOUR CHILD in German 1 today to secure a spot for 2025-2026.
+ MESSAGE ME with any questions. I’d love to send you a PDF on the World Language College Entrance Requirement, a link to my Trial Class, and a link to a Meet & Greet session.
--Jennifer Bjornstad, PhD
Reviews
Live Group Course
$800
for 32 classes4x per week, 8 weeks
45 min
Completed by 33 learners
Live video meetings
Ages: 13-18
6-18 learners per class