Events for School Classes

  • Students visiting Goethe-Institut Chicago Goethe-Institut
    Students visiting Goethe-Institut Chicago
  • Students visiting Goethe-Institut Chicago Goethe-Institut Chicago
    Students visiting Goethe-Institut Chicago
  • Students visiting Goethe-Institut Chicago Goethe-Institut Chicago
    Students visiting Goethe-Institut Chicago
  • Students visiting Goethe-Institut Chicago Goethe-Institut Chicago
    Students visiting Goethe-Institut Chicago

CLASS VISITS AT THE GOETHE-INSTITUT

The Goethe-Institut Chicago is excited to welcome school groups again this year!

During your 60-minute visit, we will offer an engaging program in easy-to-understand German (or English if needed). The visit includes a brief introduction to the Goethe-Institut's work and an interactive exploration of German culture.

Group size is limited to 25 people (including teachers and chaperones). If you have a larger group, let us know please, so we can arrange to split the visit into two sessions.

We are currently accepting bookings for the period from December 3-10, 2024.

Please note: Due to our recent move to smaller premises, we have fewer spots available compared to previous years, so appointments for school groups are limited.

The Goethe-Institut Chicago is still located in the same building (150 Michigan Ave) but is now on the 4th floor (Suite 420).

If you would like to sign your class up for a visit, please fill out the registration form below.

Looking Back at Class visits 2023

 

In 2023, we had the pleasure of welcoming 556 students to the Goethe-Institut. During the one-hour session, they received an introduction to the Goethe-Institut and playfully explored the world of German music. The students greatly enjoyed the music, demonstrated competitiveness and interest in the topics discussed. Regardless of their level of language proficiency, all students were able to immerse themselves in the German language during their stay. The students also expressed their excitement about visiting the nearby Christmas market, which they were heading to after their visit at the Goethe-Institut.

Looking Back at Class visits 2022

Between Thanksgiving and the winter holidays, 22 school classes from Illinois and surrounding states visited us for a one-hour visit to the Goethe-Institut followed by a visit to the Christkindlmarket. During the hour-long visit, students either explored current topics about Germany using the interactive map of Germany or discussed the topic of consumption with the help of the song "Zeug" by the band ok.danke.tschüss. The overall response was positive and we were very happy to be able to hold all class visits in presence!
 

Looking Back at Class visits 2021

In November and December, eight classes with a total of over 130 students visited the Goethe-Institut Chicago. Using our new Deutschlandcollage, the students worked on various topics in groups. Together, they created a quiz and got to know Germany better. The classes rounded off their trip to Chicago with a visit to the Chicago Christmas market. Unfortunately, due to the rising COVID numbers, all class visits had to be cancelled from mid-December onwards.
 

2020 Virtual Christmas class visits

Due to the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020 Goethe-Institut Chicago offered virtual programming for classes. During their "stay" at Goethe-Institut students from all over the midwest were given a virtual introduction to the Goethe-Institut and then guided through an interactive program by Hanna Kuhn and Christina Pick and introduced to the different realities of life in East and West Germany and political meaning and consequences of the German Reunification.

a look back to December 2019

2019's visits before Christmas took place between December 2 and December 18, 2019. In total, more than 750 students from 23 schools and 4 different states came to the Goethe-Institut Chicago during that time. Fitting the theme of the peaceful revolution, they learned about the 30th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall, the division of Germany, and the Berlin Airlift. We want to thank our visitors for the great interest in our program. We had lots of fun during this time!
 

GEMS Workshop series for teachers

We have created an attractive series of free online workshops, presented by our GEMs. Download the informational flyer and forward it to your interested colleagues -- everyone is invited!
GEMs Workshops Fall 2022