I. Language Resources for Parents Wishing to Teach their Child/ren German

A. Schools Offering German in the U.S. and England

The American Association of Teachers of German (AATG) - Founded in 1926, and with nearly 3500 members, AATG believes that “bringing the language, literature, and cultures of the German speaking world to all Americans is a vital humanistic endeavor.” Their site provides a wealth of information including this interactive map showing schools (primary, secondary, high schools, Deutsche Schulen etc.) in the United States and England that offer German language programs. <https://www.aatg.org/german-program-network>

B. German Immersion Summer Camps – Select List

1. United States

  • Waldsee German Language Village – Bemidji, MN Established in 1961 by Concordia College, Waldsee hosts immersion adventures in German language and culture for youth ages 6-18, as well as families and adults. It provides participants with an authentic, experiential learning environment designed to simulate life in a German-speaking community. Through daily interactions, cultural activities, and thematic programming, learners of all ages develop language proficiency and cultural fluency in a supportive, immersive setting. Waldsee is recognized for its innovative pedagogical approach and commitment to fostering global citizenship through language education, which aligns with the camp’s culture of telling stories of Germany’s past, even ones that are that are painful. <https://www.concordialanguagevillages.org/languages/german> 

  • Camp Abenteuer - Corbett, OR Run by Sophie Scholl Schule, a charitable organization, Camp Abenteuer is a week-long German immersion camp located near the Columbia River Gorge. Open to children 5- 18, campers hear German spoken throughout each day and practice speaking it during hiking, crafting, games, cooking, and mealtimes. <https://www.germansummercamp.org/>

  • Middlebury Language School - Middlebury, VT – Described as a home for immersive language study, Middlebury Language School’s German program offers 18 – 80 year olds seven week immersive experiences as well as immersive graduate programs and a German program for singers. < https://www.middlebury.edu/language-schools//languages/german>

2. Austria (select list)

  • LanguageCourse.net - Founded in 1999, LanguageCourse.net was designed to let consumers compare language course programs of more than 10,000 language courses in over 50 countries. They provide extensive search features, student reviews, and price quotes. At the time of this writing, their site showed nearly twenty German Summer Camps in Austria for Children & Teenagers, many featuring the groups/institutes listed below. < https://www.languagecourse.net/>

  • Humboldt-Institut Founded in 1977, the Humboldt-Institute is one of the largest and most experienced German language schools. Among other things, they offer summer course in Vienna for teens 15-18 at an A1-B1 level. < https://www.humboldt-institut.org/en/german-courses-in/vienna/>

  • The Did-Deutsch (German in Germany) Founded in 1970, the Did-Deutsch Institute focuses on teaching German as a Foreign Language. Their page provides a clearinghouse of their summer camps in Germany and Austria as well information about class trips, year-round programs, and University preparation programs. < https://www.did.de/en/about-us>

  • ActiLingua Founded in 1988, the ActiLingua Academy offers summer schools and holiday (summer) courses in Vienna to learn German for kids/teens generally ages 12-19. The school teaches Hoch Deutsch and offers ÖSD Zertifikat testing for those 16 and older. <https://www.actilingua.com/en/summer-school/>

  • ESL – Started in 1996 in Switzerland, and now owned by Kaplan International, ESL offers an array of languages and experiences including German language summer camps for those 8-17 in Vienna as well as GAP year experiences in Vienna and Salzburg. <https://www.esl-languages.com/en/programs/general-courses>

  • CampsAT in Cooperation with the Goethe Institute - The two-week German Language Summer Programs take place in Obertauern. Students take German lessons, play sports, hike, explore the beautiful location and eat together. Their Young Austria summer and winter sport week programs offer activities in and around Salzburger Land, Burgenland and Carinthia. < https://www.camps.at/en/goethe-germancamp>

  • Village Camps Zell am See, Austria - Zell Am See is a junior summer camp located on the outskirts of the Austrian town of Zell am See, on Lake Zell, south of Salzburg, Austria. The camps are within the Notburgahof Chalet, a family-run hotel exclusive to Village Camps during their summer camp period. Open to students aged 13-17 during the summer months, activities can include sports, campfires, trips to Salzburg, the Krimmi Waterfalls, the Sigmund Thun Klamm Gorge, and an overnight stay in a Mountain hut while on a two-day hike through the Austrian Alps. <https://www.villagecamps.com/summer-camp-programmes-in-zell-am-see-austria>

  • Deutsch in Graz - Summer Course Graz, Austria Deutsch in Graz offers a comprehensive German language course with a strong emphasis on cultural immersion and small class sizes. Recommended for ages 11-18. Activities include language instruction, cultural workshops, excursions, sports. < https://www.dig.co.at/en/summer-campus/>

  • Summer Camp Austria Salzburg, Austria – Operating since 2006, Summer Camp Austria combines language learning with a variety of outdoor activities in a scenic setting. Recommended for ages 8-15. Activities include German classes, hiking, swimming, cultural trips, and team sports. <https://www.auersperg-summercamp.at/home/>

  • Weinxtra, Vienna, Austria – In cooperation with Stadt Wein, Wienxtra organizes leisure activities for children, families and young people all year round. For example, Wienxtra Ferienspiel compiles many events put on for children to 13 years across the city in July/August requiring various levels of German, from none to the ability to follow a story / dialogue. (Pro-tip, check in in May/June because ticketed activities, often very reasonably priced or free, sell out https://www.wienxtra.at/kinder/.) In addition, Wienxtra offers educational opportunities for those who live and work with children and young people at low or no cost. <https://www.wienxtra.at/>

C. German Language Resources for Adults and Children

1. General Resources – (Adapted from this Reddit List upvoted by users)

  • Duolingo: Duolingo is a popular language learning app that offers courses in German. It's great for beginners and provides interactive lessons that cover vocabulary, grammar, and pronunciation. < https://www.duolingo.com/>

  • Rosetta Stone: Rosetta Stone is a well-known language learning program that offers an immersive approach to learning German. It focuses on building language skills through visual and audio cues. < https://www.rosettastone.com/>

  • Babbel: Babbel is another language learning app that provides well-structured lessons in German. It's known for its practical approach, teaching phrases one is likely to use in real-life situations. < https://www.babbel.com/>

  • Goethe-Institut: The Goethe-Institut is a well-known cultural organization that promotes the study of the German language and culture. They offer high-quality courses both online and in-person at their centers around the world. < https://www.goethe.de/ins/us/en/index.html>

  • DW Learn German: Deutsche Welle (DW) offers a comprehensive and free online course for learning German. It includes video lessons, podcasts, and interactive exercises to help you improve skills. < https://learngerman.dw.com/en/learn-german/s-9528>

  • YouTube: YouTube is a treasure trove of German language learning channels. Channels like "Get Germanized" and "Learn German with Jenny" provide engaging lessons, cultural insights, and even travel tips. < https://www.youtube.com/>

  • Tandem Language Exchange: Platforms like Tandem allow students to find language exchange partners. Students can chat with native German speakers who wish to learn the student’s native language in exchange. < https://tandem.net/>

  • Books and Textbooks: Textbooks such as "Deutsch Aktuell" and "Studio D,” among many others, may help a student learn German. One can try finding these at a local bookstore or through an online retailer like Amazon.

  • Language Meetup Groups: Check if there are any German language meetup groups or language exchange events in your area. Meeting and conversing with native speakers can greatly enhance language skills.

  • Online Forums and Communities: Websites like Reddit have German language learning communities where one can ask questions, seek advice, and practice with others.

2. Online Language Resources for Children (list from the German Language Courses at the German International School Washington D.C. Shared with permission.)

< See Appendix >