Community-Based Heritage Language Schools (CBHL)
Languages:
German
Independent non-profit school
German Saturday School Boston
Lexington, Massachusetts 02421
Learn German and immerse yourself in the culture of German-speaking countries Institute Background
Founded in 1874, the German Saturday School Boston is dedicated to teaching the German language to children ages 4 through 17. The school strives to immerse students from diverse ethnic and linguistic backgrounds in the cultures of German speaking countries, thereby fostering their appreciation of global citizenship. Our curriculum is designed to enable students to communicate actively in German by giving them a strong foundation in understanding German, building their vocabulary, speaking, reading and writing. German is the primary language of instruction.
- Access
- Excellence
Improve Access for all learners in more languages
Percentage of types Students
Heritage Language Learners 65%
Multilingual Learners 35%
Learners who speak a language that is linguistically related to the target language %
Learners who speak a language that is culturally (but not linguistically) related to the target language %
Types of language learners are enrolled
- African Americans
- People of Color
- Heritage language learners (second generation or more)
- Recent immigrants
- Latino/Latina/Latinx learners
- Special education students
- Economically disadvantaged students
Programs available in your school
- Continuous program from grades Pre-K to 12 (novice to advanced)
How do the programs identified above meet the needs of learners of different ages in your school
Class sizes are limited to 15 to ensure that every students gets to actively participate and practice their language skills. Teachers are highly trained to meet their students where they are at and get them to progress adequately. The teachers are aware that students learn better if they enjoy the activities.
What additional activities do you implement at your school to attract and maintain enrollment of students in different groups
The students usually stay within their group and build close friendships over the years and they have the common goal to work towards passing the DSD I exam in 9th grade.
Main reasons students attend your school
- To connect with their heritage in a meaningful way
- To gain literacy in the language, in addition to oral communication skills
- To communicate with relatives in the home country
- To communicate with relatives or others in the language community in the U.S.
- To learn and use a language that is not offered in high school
- To attend university in the home country
- To earn credits for high school or university studies in the U.S.
- To gain bilingual proficiency for future professional use
Do you offer different pathways of study and engagement to align with the interests and goals of the learners in your school?
Our students are free to stay as long as they want to. Some graduate after middle school with a IVA A2 diploma, others in high school with a DSD I or II diploma. Some decide to only stay a few years without obtaining any diplomas and maybe continues their German studies at their full-time school.
How does your school strive to provide incentives for students to enroll in the language programs?
- Community and/or parent outreach
- Financial support
- Community functions (e.g. culture events, clubs, etc.)
Percent of the students attend your school remotely
Students who live in same area...........10 %
Students who live in different area...........0%
Types of instructional formats your school offer
- In-person
How the instructional formats available at your school enable learners from different geographical areas and other distance-related constraints to receive instruction
During the school year 2020/21, we did not have a building and we had to put all our classes online for an entire year. But most students and parents were eager to return to in-person instruction for the current school year.
What are the main sources of financial support for your school
- Tuition
- Home/heritage country
- Private donations from individuals
- Private donations from businesses
- Fundraising events
Does your school offer financial assistance to students?
Yes
How important is the impact of the financial assistance on student enrollment at your school
2
Which of these common competing commitments faced by the learners most negatively impact student enrollment and/or attendance
Name
After-school activities in the mainstream schoo
Homework and other academic pursuits
Extra-curricular activities (sports, music, hobbies)
Religious obligations
Family obligations
Work
Field name
Attendance
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
No
No
Yes
Enrollment
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
No
No
Yes
How has your school been able to accommodate your students’ competing commitments so that they can attend your school?
This situation is handled on a case by case basis and there is the expectation to make up missed work and be pro-active about absences. Sometimes the need for a private tutor is needed.
How has your school been able to accommodate your students’ competing commitments so that they can attend your school?
This situation is handled on a case by case basis and there is the expectation to make up missed work and be pro-active about absences. Sometimes the need for a private tutor is needed.
Does your school provide information to parents and other stakeholders about essential school information?
Yes
What are the most effective communications methods with parents and stakeholders?
Weekly newsletter in English and surveys or in-person on Saturdays
Does your school communicate with the community at large about events and other information?
No
List the percentage of students by age group
PreK-K students 20%
Elementary school students 25 %
Middle school students (grades 6-8) 25 %
High school students (grades 9-12) 25 %
Adults 5 %
Excellence through transparency and accountability
Curriculum and instruction
- Curriculum and instruction that build on the linguistic skills and cultural knowledge that learners bring to the classroom
Outcomes
- A focus on measuring and supporting learning through the strategic use of data on learner performance (including but not limited to standardized U.S. tests and tests from the homeland)
Professional Development
- Recruitment of skilled educators and other personnel
- Provision of ongoing professional development for educators and other personnel
- Regular faculty meetings and opportunities to work in professional clusters
- Peer mentorship among the instructors
- Facilitation of and support for participation in specialty courses offered by universities, homeland consultants, HL experts, etc., if available
- Facilitation of and support for attendance at professional conferences in the U.S. and/or in the HL country or internationally
Vision, Strategic Planning, and Priorities
- Well-defined and publicized rules and regulations of school operation that are specified and followed by the school board and the faculty, in meetings and in planning
Transparency, Accountability, and Outreach
- Professional and consistent engagement with the HL community and the larger community to recruit students and teachers and motivate parents and stakeholders to support and advance the aims of the CBHLS
Institution Information
Year School was Established
1900
Languages taught at your school
German
Average Number of Students
460
Average Number of Teachers
42
Saturday or Sunday Classes
Number of weeks per year: 3
Number of hours per week: 30