Book a GEM
for German teachers

Book GEM

Our GEMs are experienced and successful German educators who are passionate about teaching and learning German in the US. GEMs work with colleagues, administrators, and the community in order to promote programs, projects and events that support German education in the U.S.

GEMs offer customized workshops and professional training to strengthen existing programs and to build new capacity so that all students who wish to learn German and connect with the German-speaking world have access to high quality language education in German.

All workshops are offered free of charge to you and your group. Please get in touch with Susanne Rinner at susanne.rinner@goethe.de for more information. If you would like to invite a GEM for your event to give one of the workshops listed below, please click on the button below

Book a GEM

Workshop Topics

Our GEMs share resources to facilitate curriculum design that corresponds to current standards (incl. the ACTFL World Readiness Standards for Learning Languages and Common Core State Standards), attracts new students, and incorporates innovative teaching approaches and pedagogies.

This workshop is customizable and can be offered in German or English.

Our GEMs share their approaches to virtual instruction in the German classroom. This workshop focuses on student and teacher motivation in order to create an interactive and inclusive learning space. GEMs suggest age-appropriate learning platforms and resources to ensure that students have access to authentic materials that facilitate language learning at all levels.

This workshop is customizable and can be offered in German or English.

Our GEMs share innovative instructional materials that have been used successfully in German classrooms to achieve the goal of differentiated learner-centered instruction that engages learners through all modalities and at all skill levels.

This workshop is customizable and can be offered in German or English.

Save time without sacrificing quality! Teachers from all levels will learn a variety of strategies how to prepare classes and materials quicker and with equal efficiency and outcomes. You will go home with all tools necessary to cut your prep time in half and still ensure the high quality that your learners are used to and expect.

Workshop offered by:
Sara Lee, Melanie Mello
Target audience:
K-12 and college instructors
Duration:
Conceptualized as a 3-hour interactive workshop, which is also doable in a 90-minute format; virtually or in person.
Format:
Virtually or in-person

Participants get to know some of the projects and pedagogical materials by AATG and the Goethe-Institut and how to adapt them for their specific classroom, teaching level, and topic.

Workshop offered by:
Cindi Hodgdon
Target audience:
K-12 instructors
Duration:
Flexible
Format:
Virtually or in-person

Introducing Kinderuniversity! We will show all the different aspects of this program, how you can adapt it for your own classroom, and how it can fit into the American teaching and learning standards.

Workshop offered by:
Melanie Mello
Target audience:
Instructors for students age 8-12 years
Duration:
1-2 hours
Language:
German or English
Format:
Virtually or in-person

Introducing JuniorUni! We will show all the different aspects of this new program, how you can adapt it for your own classroom, and how it can fit into the American teaching and learning standards.

Worshop angeboten von:
Cindi Hodgdon, Heidi Lechner
Zielgruppe:
Lehrkräfte für 9.-12. Klasse
Dauer:
1-2 Stunden
Sprache:
Deutsch oder Englisch
Format:
Virtuell oder im Präsenzformat

This workshop introduces the teaching materials Deutsch mit Hans Hase. The focus will be on the possible uses of this ready-made material and its implementation in preschool and kindergarten classes.

The workshop provides ideas and materials for project-oriented and interdisciplinary approaches of teaching German in connection with sustainability and ecocriticism for all language levels and age groups.

Workshop offered by:
Berit Jany, Cindi Hodgdon, Heidi Lechner
Target audience:
K-12 and college instructors
Duration:
2-4 hours
Format:
Virtually or in-person

This workshop supports teachers and faculty who would like to integrate the topic in their curriculum or who would like to share information with families who are interested about studying in Germany. The workshop outlines the different paths students can take to prepare for studying in Germany and describes programs that support students on their journey.

A version of the workshop for the target audience high school students and college/university students is also available upon request.

Workshop offered by:
Sara Lee, Melanie Mello
Target audience:
K-12 and college instructors, High school students, college and university students
Duration:
1-2 Stunden
Format:
Virtually or in-person

Drawing on the cultural multiplicity of the D-A-CH-L area (Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and Lichtenstein) helps learners to think about social diversity and raise awareness of different lifestyles and perspectives. Bring this diversity into your classroom!

Dieser Workshop bietet Ideen für die Einbeziehung von D-A-CH-L in den Deutschunterricht und als außerschulische Aktivitäten, um die aktuelle Situation im deutschsprachigen Raum zu reflektieren. Es bietet den Teilnehmer*innen D-A-CH-L-Themen, projektorientiertes Lernen und geeignete Fördermöglichkeiten, um ihre Deutschkurse auf K-16-Niveau zu bereichern und zu fördern. Außerdem erfahren die Teilnehmer*innen mehr über AATG-Stipendien und Entwurfsvorschläge für ihre Stipendienanträge.

Workshop angeboten von:
Berit Jany, Christine Connor
Zielgruppe:
K-12, College/Uni, Immersionsschulen
Dauer:
2-3 Stunden
Format:
Virtuell oder im Präsenzformat

Although language learning today is primarily focused on speaking and communicating, exams are often still centered around writing. Learn how to effectively assess your students' speaking skills through tasks that reflect your teaching approach!

This is a two-workshop series. In the first workshop, the instructors share best practices for the development of oral tasks and the integration of oral exams in German courses. Participants have the opportunity to develop and adopt oral tasks and exams for their classrooms, using models and checklists. The second workshop provides space for reflection, exchange, and revision.

Workshop offered by:
Melanie Mello, Jasmin Root-Joswig
Target audience:
K-12 instructors
Duration:
2 workshops. The first is 3-4 hours, can also be conducted as a 2-part online workshop, 1.5 hours each part. The second workshop is 1 hour; conducted 1-2 months after the first workshop.
Format:
Virtually or in-person

This workshop provides an opportunity to destress. Being a teacher requires a diverse skill set. Because of the pandemic, new demands and expectations necessitated the learning of additional skills. Our GEMs will work with you and your group to share, explore, and reflect on our experiences as language educators, auf Deutsch or in English or both, during the pandemic.

The workshop provides ideas and materials for teaching and learning about holidays and celebrations. Particular attention will be paid to the changes of the German-speaking countries and regions and to conversations on how to integrate holidays and celebrations into a skills-and culture-based curriculum.

Workshop offered by:
Jasmin Root-Joswig
Target audience:
K-12
Duration and format:
Virtual: 2-3, 90-minute sessions
In-person: 3-5 hours