Bilingual Instructions

What is bilingual instruction?

Bilingual refers to two languages and for us that means German (our mother tongue) and English (our first foreign language). In a bilingual class at the Herbartgymnasium the students' foreign language skills are broadened further in other subjects such as Physical Education, Geography, Biology, and History.

Which goals does bilingual instruction pursue?

The knowledge of foreign languages is becoming more and more important: Europe is growing together, and worldwide international relationships are gaining continual significance. The English language especially is playing an ever-growing role as the conference language in politics, economics, and almost every science. Our school wants to prepare interested students early for this changing situation.

What does the bilingual curriculum look like at Herbartgymnasium?

At the beginning of the 1994/95 school year our school set up a bilingual class. As a rule bilingual instruction begins in the 7th grade with Physical Education, followed by Geography. We realize that instruction in a foreign language is certainly more difficult than in the native language. Therefore, we have, for example, provided an extra period for Geography in the 7th grade so that we can progress more slowly. These extra periods cross over to Biology in the 8th grade, and History in the 9th.This means the students have one more period per week, because the mandatory number of periods in all other subjects remain the same. We are sure that this "extra work" will pay off very quickly.

Which subjects are taught bilingually?

According to our plan the subjects to be taught bilingually are Physical Education and Geography in the 7th and 8th grades, Biology in the 8th, 9th, and 10th grades, and History in grades 9 to 13. At the same time the boys and girls involved in bilingual instruction take part as usual in the normal foreign language classes.
These students can continue to choose French or Latin as a second foreign language and later, from the 9th grade on, they can voluntarily take a third foreign language as well (Japanese, Italian).

Can the decision for joining the bilingual instruction program be reversed?

The decision for bilingual instruction must be carefully thought through since the change to a parallel class is not possible at all times due to organizational reasons. In case of doubt students and parents are recommended to contact our school.

Please send further questions to:

Auskunft erteilt gern: