SPARK for German supports strategic goals of today’s educational mission, including global education, international teaching and learning, and diverse and multilingual community building. SPARK for German introduces students to the joy of learning languages and encourages the exploration of cultures in order to foster the transatlantic dialogue and to build a diverse community at home. German is an important language in Canada, as a heritage language, as a language of scholars and scientists, and for the purposes of trade, global business, and travel.
Why join SPARK for German?
For schools and school districts, SPARK provides high quality enrichment and after school programming free of charge. We work with schools and universities and prepare students to implement programs that introduce younger students to the German language and the cultures of the German-speaking world. We provide ready-to-use, flexible, and age-appropriate curricula that connect German with STEM topics and foster intercultural learning. We offer professional development opportunities, a range of scholarships and a supportive community for high school and university students to gain professional experiences and to explore careers in education in order to address the need for more well-qualified teachers. With our programs, we provide accessible and high quality programs for families in order to foster global ties on the local level.
Why offer German?
For students today, the study of German is essential in many fields. 95 million people speak German as a native or official language in five European countries: the Federal Republic of Germany, Austria, Switzerland (46% speak German), Liechtenstein, and Luxembourg. Over 25 million people around the world study German as a second language.
For German teachers, the Goethe-Institut offer a number of outstanding professional development opportunities to ensure that German teachers offer high-quality, standards-based instruction that contributes to the mission of your school and school district.
For schools and school districts, German teachers provide instruction that fosters language acquisition as well as cultural knowledge of the cultures of the German-speaking world. In addition, German curricula offer multiple opportunities to teach across disciplines, including teaching German via STEM, addressing big picture questions, fostering life-long learning, and honing study and test taking skills that benefit students in their academic and professional lives beyond the German classroom.
Language skills increase your chances of employment and can open up new career opportunities. They can also help you work more effectively and productively, gain international experience and build a wider network. Good German language skills can be a valuable asset when working for an employer with global business connections.
A few facts illustrate the importance of Canadian-German business relations: Since the establishment of the CETA free trade agreement between the European Union and Canada in 2016, the trade volume between the two regions has grown significantly, and Germany, as Europe's largest economy, is at the center of this relationship. The country is the third largest exporter in the world after China and the USA. Subsidiaries of German companies employ many Canadian workers.
German tourists are the fifth largest visitor group in the Canadian hospitality industry, so knowledge of German can also be an advantage here. Of course, it is also helpful when traveling to German-speaking countries and throughout Europe.
Studying in Germany is a great opportunity for young people from all over the world. They benefit from a first-class education system, learn a new language and gain experience in a country with a complex and interesting history that has played an important role as a global player and in strengthening democracy in recent decades. German universities offer a high-quality education, a wide range of courses and close contact with students. The variety of courses and the low tuition costs are a great incentive for international students.
The Goethe-Institut's Study Bridge program makes it easier for future students in STEM subjects to gain access even to German-language Bachelor's degree courses. The German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) offers interesting funding opportunities for advanced students from various disciplines to study in Germany.
Germany is always looking for skilled workers in particular fields. The Federal Employment Agency supports foreign job seekers in finding suitable career opportunities and advises on visa and residence issues. Germany is known for its high quality of life and good work-life balance and also opens up access to the European labor market.
Becoming a teacher and teaching German can be a rewarding career choice for those who are interested in language and culture and enjoy working with other people.
Most K-12 teaching positions require a four-semester bachelor's degree in two school subjects (other than German), a two-semester Bachelor of Education degree, and an additional language qualification for German from an accredited university. Information on the specific requirements for teaching certification in your province can be obtained, for example, from the respective German teachers' associations. They are also the best source of information on existing German programs at Canadian schools and universities.
Knowledge of German gives you access to the arts and participation in a vibrant global art scene, whether you are an art connoisseur or an artist yourself.
German is the language of classics such as Beethoven, Bach, Schubert, Mendelssohn, Schumann, Mozart, Goethe, Kafka, Hesse, Grass, Mann, Jelinek, Müller and Wolf and countless exciting contemporary artists and authors. The Goethe-Institut offers a wide range of opportunities to get to know the German cultural scene, be it through our events or online or through the countless free media offerings in the form of borrowable books, audio books, magazines from our digital library Onleihe and films from the Goethe on Demand streaming platform.
