The halls are alive with the sound of German – Saturday mornings, that is, at Lower Moreland High School in Huntingdon Valley.
While it may be unknown to many residents of Bucks County, the Immanuel German School/Deutsche Sprachschule Philadelphia, located in Montgomery County, has provided instruction in the German language and culture to children from pre-k through high school, as well as adults, for 48 years. This unique German language Saturday school welcomes students from the greater Delaware Valley and well beyond. Classes are held every Saturday (with the exception of major holidays) between September and May, from 9:30 a.m. until noon. Students and their families become part of what is collectively known as the Immanuel family.
For many of the younger students the school year begins with making and decorating a school cone or a Schultüte, filled with goodies. Shortly after the start of school in 2022, students celebrated a major birthday, or Bärsday – The Haribo Gummibärchen turned 100 years old. As the school gathered to recognize this fun day, as well as the winner of the “Guess-How-Many-Gummibears-Are-In-The-Jar” contest, students and staff were reminded by Principal Dr. Del Hausman that “Deutschlernen macht Spaß – Learning German is fun!” but he was quick to remind us that students’ engagement and fun in learning is the goal.
Local high schools continue to offer world languages, and for many good reasons. Continuity in the study of a foreign language has shown to offer far-reaching positive outcomes for students such as: cognitive growth, improved memory, native language improvement, and, later, career advancement (Linkedin). German instruction has decreased in many public schools as a budget balancing measure. German sometimes appears to be the “less popular” language when only considering the number of students enrolled. It is, however, often the language of choice for students who seek a challenge or those who want to try something different than what other students are choosing.
In addition, many employers know the challenges of learning German and view success in German communication as a sign of intellectual capability and drive and are willing to compensate multilingual employees more. Despite what the absolute numbers in school enrollment may say, many youth and adults still seek German instruction informally through private in-person groups, apps and online programs. It remains little-known just how many opportunities exist Germany especially for young people with basic German proficiency.
This niche school is filling a need that goes unanswered in some public schools. The Immanuel German School is recognized both in the United States and in Germany. The school is a member of the German Language School Conference and works closely with the German Central Agency for Schools Abroad as well as the American Association of Teachers of German. The school is authorized by the College Board to offer Advanced Placement German Language and Culture and by the Zentralstelle für das Auslandsschulwesen to offer the German Language Diploma. Moreover, the school offers qualified students membership in the National German Honor Society (Delta Pi Alpha). Hence, in addition to learning the German language and culture, students also receive recognition for their accomplishments in the form of testing certificates and diplomas that document their achievements.
Each school year at Immanuel draws to a close with a book sale. This draws much interest from the general public. The grand finale, however, is an award ceremony, recognizing the achievements of students at all levels. This year the most coveted award, the Gerhard Kalmus Award, was received by Doylestown resident Alegria Proano. These additional prizes, awards, and certificates encourage students to continue their journey with German.
More information about the Immanuel German School and the “school family” can be had by visiting the website www.theimmanuelgermanschool.org or by calling the school at 215-676-1170.
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