It's never too early to begin the process of finding a German-language summer school. Many summer courses and seminars for German have application deadlines in April or May! In some cases courses can fill up even earlier, limiting your choice of location and/or courses.

WARUM SOMMERSCHULE? - WHY SUMMER SCHOOL?
I think the reasons are obvious, but here are a few reminders of why a German summer school is a good idea. First of all, even the most dedicated learners can only do so much on their own. A serious student of German realizes that at some point, it's a good idea to be in an environment with other learners and professional guidance.

Students from non-German-speaking countries can benefit greatly from an intensive course (Intensivkurs) in a German-speaking country or even in a home-country setting where German becomes the exclusive language for a week or more. Often, a summer school setting is the only way to do that. And summer is the one season when most people have the time required for intensive language study and travel.

Wann ist der Sommer? For Australians, New Zealanders, South Africans and others living in the southern hemisphere, summer comes six months early. The University of Tasmania offers its German summer school in January.

Another plus factor: Over the last couple of years, the U.S. dollar exchange rate has been quite favorable for Americans going to Europe. (But the euro pulled ahead in 2003!)

But reason number one, as I see it, is the chance to experience German culture first-hand, in situ (an Ort und Stelle). When you take a course in a city or town in Austria, Germany, or Switzerland, you are exposed to the language and culture even after you leave the classroom. Another benefit of summer courses: you have a chance to meet other German-learners from all over the world. The classmate sitting next to you may be from Bulgaria, Mexico, Canada, or Argentina.

DIE KOSTEN - EXPENSES
If money is a problem, look into the scholarships and grants available from schools and organizations. A 3-4 week summer course can cost between US$700 and US$1800, depending on factors such as college credit, books, or other fees. Longer or special intensive courses may cost more. Any travel costs are, of course, additional. Room and board (more on the next page) is another important consideration. Before making any payments, make sure you understand the school's refund policies. (Most of the Web sites we link to in our Deutsche Sommerschulen directory include that information as well as online application forms.) In any case, consider it money well spent (and, in some cases, tax deductible).

TYPES AND LOCATIONS OF COURSES
German summer schools and camps come in many forms and locations. In the US there are the popular Deutsche Sommerschulen... am Atlantik, Pazifik, im Südosten, usw. sponsored by various colleges or universities. The Concordia Waldsee German language village transforms a small corner of Minnesota into an authentic German community for young people for several weeks each summer.

Germany, for obvious reasons, has the greatest number of Sommerschulen — spread across the country and sponsored by the renowned Goethe Intitute, German and foreign universities, private language schools, and other organizations. In addition to cultural courses in English, the "Summer University" at Berlin's Freie Universität offers German courses for college credit, usually only possible if you work through a US college or university. (Always verify credit transferability in advance.) The government funded Goethe Institute (GI), based in Munich, offers a wide variety of courses at all times of the year in locations all over the German map. Some GI programs, usually for teachers, offer grants to cover the full cost of tuition. (Over a decade ago, I spent a wonderful three weeks in Munich taking such an expenses-paid GI course with other teachers from around the globe.) The GI courses also have a very good reputation for their quality.

Considering its much smaller size, Austria is home to a surprising number of summer seminars for German. No doubt attracted by the beautiful countryside and Austria's other charms, many US and other universities offer summer courses in cooperation with various Austrian institutions from Innsbruck to Vienna. Private schools such as Actilingua in Vienna also provide language courses year-round as well as in the summer. Switzerland, while offering fewer courses, does have a few summer programs for German.

Almost all of the summer language courses include excursions and other contacts with Germanic culture. Especially the courses for teens and young adults also include sports, hiking, and other activities outside the classroom.

On the next page we'll discuss other types of summer courses, housing, and other topics.

NEXT > Other Courses/Considerations > Page 1, 2, 3

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