Concept

The „InGym“ program is offered to students who have recently come to Germany and need intensive language training. The aim of this teaching method is to provide children from the greater Nuremberg – Fürth – Erlangen area with a six-month intensive language course, comprised of 20 hours of German lessons per week and an introduction into other subjects, to help ease their transition into the German school system. In this course structure, which is more intense than at the middle school level (“Deutschklassen”), high-performance and highly motivated students can directly enter university-preparatory classes (“Abitur”). To achieve this educational goal, a comprehensive excursion program is also included. Our school endeavors not only to support these students intellectually but also to show them that they are welcome in Germany.

Target Group

Course „Junioren“: Pupils from grades 6 and 7 (age: 11-13 years)
Supervisor: Mr. Strohmaier (InGym1)

Course „Senioren“: Pupils from grades 7, 8 and 9 (age: 13-15 years)
Supervisor: Mr. Van Doren (InGym2)

The students should have already attended a school comparable to the Bavarian „Gymnasium“ in their country of origin and/or show a clear suitability for attending college preparatory classes as well as demonstrate an above-average motivation to study and perform, but at the time of registration have very little or no knowledge of German. Additionally, they have already achieved the required knowledge of English and Mathematics necessary for attending the intended grade in Bavaria.

Schedule

The course is conducted from September to February (1st semester) or from February to July (2nd semester), starting daily at 8:00 and ending at 15:00. The focus is on German language skills (“DaZ”) with 20 hours of German per week to achieve the A2+ or even B1 language level within six months.

Parental Involvement

A trusting cooperation with the parents is very important to us, because it is an important element contributing to the success of the student. To create this relationship, we conduct three parent teacher conferences and information evenings each semester.

Registration

The registration takes place at the local high school, which corresponds to the learning preferences of the child and which will be attended after completing the InGym course. This school (“Stammschule”) tests the student’s current knowledge of English and Mathematics. Based on the results it decides whether the student can be accepted as a guest student. If the student is accepted, the local high school registers the applicant for the InGym course at the Martin-Behaim-Gymnasium. The Martin-Behaim-Gymnasium can be the “Stammschule”, but participation in the InGym course is not dependent on it.

Course Materials

The cost of course materials (workbooks, vocabulary trainer), which are to be written in and as such cannot be borrowed from school, is about 55 € for course I (juniors) and about 90 € for course II (seniors). Martin-Behaim-Gymnasium will purchase all books for the students.

Textbook „Junioren“ (Jahrgangsstufen 5-7): Das DaZ-Buch 1+2
Textbook „Senioren“ (Jahrgangsstufen 7-9): Klasse! A1 + A2 + B1

Contact Persons:

Mr. Strohmaier (simon.strohmaier@martin-behaim-gymnasium.de) and Mr. van Doren (lukas.vandoren@martin-behaim-gymnasium.de).