German Language growing at CISS

At the Canadian International School of Shenyang we pay great attention to the mother tongue of our students and second language opportunities. With the addition of German first language ( IB Language and Literature) this year , our program is expanding in August 2020-21 school year to offer a Language and Culture Club for German PYP students Gr.1-5,  then an elective full course of instruction in German Second Language (IB Language Acquisition) for interested non-German first language students from Grades 6-12 . I am very happy to develop this opportunity for our students!

In the event of finding yourself at an airport in Germany, and wanting to ask something, would it not be easier to do so by using the German language? For example, Wo ist der Check-in?   (Where is the check in counter?) Kann ich eine Cola haben, bitte? (May I have a Coca-Cola, please?) The German and English language have many similarities. 

Imagine the following situation: you are sitting in a coffee bar and meet someone. Would you want to talk to him and show that you speak his mother tongue? Or do you want to become an exchange student for one year and study at a German university. You might be more successful in your application if you know the German language and do not have to learn it from scratch. Germany has excellent universities and are certainly worthy for exchange purposes.

Consider the bigger international context: if you are already in a work environment, keep in mind that this same work is probably also done in various different countries. On the one hand, Germany needs skilled workers, but on the other hand, a lot of German companies are operating in China too. Maybe those companies would be very interested in employing you upon learning from your CV (resume) that you are also skilled in an additional language despite having specialized in, for example, electronic engineering?These are just some examples for using the German language effectively.  

Germany is a European country, and if you are a German citizen, you are part of the European Union. You need not prove your language abilities in order to work there. On the other hand, if you are not a European citizen, you have to show your language abilities to obtain a long term visa. Germany is the richest country in the European Union, ranking high on the worldwide scale. We have a high standard of living, with world class amenities such as high speed trains and historical cultural monuments. We have a great natural environment in the north of Germany, and in the south, excellent holiday facilities. We have interesting towns like Cologne, Düsseldorf, Berlin and Munich. We are a democratic society and people from all over the world come to live in Germany. 

In Germany, we also have excellent literature and a rich culture. Should you decide to learn the German language, we have a good variety of language learning materials through which you will be exposed to our culture. Even on an A1 level, you will already learn how to order a coffee, some aspects about jobs, the city Berlin, the weather, the human body, and general health. At an A2 level, for example, you will learn more about Europe, family, and cultural aspects. Books for advanced students deepen knowledge about Germany in order to get a broader understanding of what this country has to offer. This level is done step by step and not at a too quick pace. Language courses are often offered by the famous Goethe Institute, available in many countries, so we are proud to have our school also providing this instruction as an IB credit at CIS Shenyang. 

Bettina Müller studied Philosophy and German Languages and Literature. In Philosophy, she has a focus on language philosophy. She is a senior teacher and has experience in teaching language for many years. She last taught at the German department in Hefei and also in an exchange project in Shanghai as a German foreign language teacher.She also has a Masters Degree in European Project Planning.