Elementary School
Compared to adults and even high school students, the effortless way that young children can learn German almost seems magical. They are able to naturally grasp the structure of the language and near-native pronunciation through immersion, a unique ability for internalizing language that decreases over time. It is important for certified German teachers to begin teaching children as early as possible. Although some parents may worry that introducing multiple languages to a young child can create confusion, studies have shown that children can identify and compartmentalize separate languages by the age of 3.
In German lessons for children this age, it is best to allow the learning process to occur organically, in the same way that the children learn English. This introduction to German will include using the German and English names of everyday objects simultaneously, to help create a singular learning process for the new language. Children of this age can also learn the German alphabet, how to count to ten, and the simple history of some of Germany’s most important citizens past and present.
Elementary school students respond well to hands-on, integrated language lessons. A certified German teacher can use songs, games, stuffed animals, puppets, giant storybooks and other visual approaches to teach children the foreign language.