What does SPARK offer?

Ready-to-use, flexible, and adaptable teaching units and materials designed for use with elementary, middle, and high school students Professional development opportunities for advanced high school students and undergraduate and graduate students interested in pursuing a German teaching career Access to the Goethe-Institut’s Deutsch Lehren Lernen online courses where aspiring teachers use their advanced German language skills to learn strategies for engaging young learners in German language lessons Certificates of completion for successful instructors and participants Comprehensive program support from professional coordinators

Young learners in SPARK after school programs get to know Germany and cultures of the German-speaking world Families gain access to quality after school programming that introduces students to a new language and fosters intercultural competence High school and college students studying German strengthen their own German language proficiency and gain valuable work experience while sharing what they have learned Students interested in exploring a teaching career improve their instructional skills and learn how to facilitate interactive lessons in the target language Participating college and university faculty have access to high quality materials and professional development opportunities and join the national SPARK network of German instructors, curriculum developers, and trainers Local programs benefit from quality instruction and more highly qualified teachers in the future. German instruction in after school programs connects communities to global cultures

Role of college faculty

Identify participating college students Train, supervise, and mentor participating college students Identify potential schools and collaborating organizations Serve as a point of contact for students, schools, regional coordinators, and the Goethe-Institut and AATG

Requirements for participating colleges and universities

Sign a Memorandum of Understanding with the Goethe-Institut agreeing to participate in the program Identify a faculty member to implement SPARK on campus and serve as the contact person Integrate SPARK into the curricular structure of the German program or department and/or teacher education program Identify college students to train as instructors for German lessons in after school programs Identify local elementary schools, middle schools, and other organizations that could introduce German into their existing after school offerings

Role of K-12 teachers

Partner with existing SPARK Labs to support the development and implementation of German in after school programs Become a SPARK Lab by offering an after school program at your feeder schools Identify future German teachers Advocate for new German programs in order to ensure that German is offered in feeder schools and across one’s school district

Requirements for participating schools

Sign a memorandum of understanding with the Goethe-Institut agreeing to participate in the program Identify a German teacher to implement SPARK and serve as the contact person Integrate SPARK into the German program and its outreach activities Identify students to deliver SPARK lessons in feeder schools Identify local elementary schools, middle schools, and other organizations that could introduce German into their existing after school offerings

Who supports SPARK for German?

The Goethe-Institut and the AATG are grateful that the SPARK program has been met with enthusiastic interest from educational institutions at all levels. It is thanks to the generous support of Germany’s Federal Foreign Office that we are able use this program to spark interest in German in communities across the United States.

Joining the SPARK network

Recent data indicates a decline in the number of students learning German in the United States. At the same time the teacher shortage nationwide is intensifying. SPARK addresses both of these challenges through a structured program that connects colleges and universities with K-12 schools. College and high school students with German proficiency receive training to teach introductory German lessons in school and community after school programs. They offer these programs to get students and their families excited about learning German.

Are you interested in becoming a SPARK Lab or partnering with one? Here is how SPARK works:

Colleges, universities, and high schools work with the AATG and the Goethe-Institut to provide training for German majors and future German teachers to become SPARK instructors. After successfully completing their initial training, SPARK instructors will teach German to young learners in after school programs. Where possible, SPARK instructors could be granted appropriate credits by their home institutions.

Are you ready to join SPARK? Fill out the application form! SPARK accepts applications on a rolling basis.

Application Form for high schools Application form for colleges and universities

Contact

Do you have questions? Contact the SPARK Team:

SPARK for German
c/o Goethe-Institut Washington
1377 R Street, NW, Suite 300
Washington, DC 20009
Spark-Washington@goethe.de
Tel. 202-847-4700

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