Our goals
We offer age appropriate German lessons for children and teenagers in addition to their regularly school schedule and a warm and welcoming learning atmosphere is very important to us.
Our school house with a large garden is reminiscent of Bullerby. We have set up the house and garden so that the children can learn in a nice atmosphere.
Which students are coming to our German speaking after-school program?
Preschool age
Children are especially open to learning new languages from the ages of 5 and 6, and they pick it up very easily. Starting to learn German in these early years is ideal; as children learn through play and we offer a variety of language materials such as games, books and music. Our goal is to foster and promote the joy of learning so that they love going to school.
Elementary school age
Children love to learn, to explore and to discover during the early school years. We want to use the love of learning to teach German language as well as German grammar with the help of excellent language books and a positive learning environment.
Purpose driven reading is one of our main goals and happens naturally during the lesson.
Our teaching method includes all learning types and we are using our five senses during the lesson. We use different kinds of language materials and are choosing from a variety of books, materials and games so that each child receives the best learning support.
Middle and High school age
We teach our older children to continue to learn German independently as well as cooperatively. We want to foster the love of reading which is especially crucial in our time of digital entertainment; research shows that reading promotes creative thinking.
During that age, teenagers usually like to talk about political and worldly things and we teach them how to discuss, debate and present their opinion in written as well as oral form. In addition, we teach our students to read and understand narrative as well as informative texts. Sentence structures and types of words are being determined and grammar and spelling rules are being expanded. In addition, we will write and read poetry.
Language books and materials
First we must determine the language level of your child, before purchasing the suitable language books and additional learning material. We are using work materials from the following publishing companies:
- Mildenberg Verlag
- Jandorf Verlag
- Hueber Verlag
Quality management
We are in contact with very experienced Elementary and High School teachers in Germany and Austria so that we are up to date with our language material. We are in contact with three schools, which cooperate with us and are giving advice as well as new materials. We organize school exchanges, and on a regular basis german school classes will also visit us to find out more about our life here in Sarajevo. Intercultural cooperation, mutual respect and sharing about different kinds of lives is very important to us.
Specials
We visit a Swiss-German farm on a regular basis so that the children have the chance to experience real farm life and to talk about plants, animals and seasons. The farm is only an hour away from Sarajevo and the kids always have an amazing time.
Our mountain house on the Jahorina gives us the opportunity to experience the breathtaking nature in Bosnia as we organize team building games. We enjoy taking hikes while building great intercultural memories.
Testimonials
We are a multi lingual family and it is a wonderful opportunity that our three daughters can practice their German „father-language“ in the „Schulergänzungsunterricht“.
Zsofia Kuszenda and Khaldoun Sinno, EU Delegation
My name is Julia and I volunteered in Sarajevo from January until June 2020 – just in time for COVID to start! It was a good time, though challenging. I had the opportunity to teach kids before the lockdown started so I got to know all of them and learned how it feels to be an actual teacher. When the lockdown began I was able to learn how to teach in an online school. For half a year, I taught a preschool/elementary school group and an 8th grade group (both with German as their mother tongue) plus another group of preschool kids with German as their second language. Because of these experiences, I am now studying to be an elementary school teacher.
Julia, 20, student at the Julius- Maximilian Universität Würzburg
My name is Lara and I did an IJFD (German volunteering program) for 10 months in Bosnia at www.deutsche-sprachschule-sarajevo.com. Because I liked it so much there, I stayed longer and did an additional 3-month internship. During my time in Sarajevo I learned a lot and was able to try new things and get to know new people. Among my responsibilities were to prepare and teach lessons. If necessary, I would bake things for breaks and I learned to keep my eyes out for other things that needed to be done. The time I spent in the German courses was very nice and I like looking back and remembering it. We had many experiences as you can also see in the pictures. More than once we took overnight trips to Jahorina, we visited a farm outside of Sarajevo, went sledding on Trebevic, organized a Christmas party, build lanterns and so on. I would like to go back and visit!
Lara, Frankfurt, Germany
My name is Lydia from Munich. Since the beginning of 2021, I am doing an IJFD (German volunteering program) at mein-deutschunterricht. I have been able to get to know many new people here in Sarajevo and to have new experience. Besides giving German lessons, I am in in the role of a student and am learning the Bosnian language. The lessons with the kids are varied. Next to reading and writing, we also color, build things, bake, and go on outings. I am enjoying the time with the children and look forward to them coming to our lessons.
Lydia, Munich, Germany
In Spring 2019 I had the opportunity to complete a six-week internship at the German-language school www.deutsche-sprachschule-sarajevo.com. Working with the different children was fun. The familiar atmosphere, varied learning methods and proximity to nature turned the German lessons into something special. I appreciated working closely with my coworkers and appreciated their openness towards different people and cultures. Getting to know Bosnia-Herzegovina was very enriching for me.
Miriam, Saalfelden, Austria
Hi, I’m Ruth from Munich. In September 2020 I was able to start my IJFD (German volunteering program) here in Sarajevo at this wonderful German school. I am very thankful for the things I have already been able to learn in Bosnia and for the people I have gotten to know during my time here. It is exciting to each children German, especially when you are also just learning a new language. Here, we learn a lot through songs, and we have many different projects like baking, crafting and going on outings. Through these things, kids are exposed to the German language and learn it almost „on the side“. I have a lot of fun with the kids and am always happy when I see how much the kids like to come here.
Ruth, Munich, Germany
Hello My Dear Friends,
I had the pleasure of being able to live in beautiful Bosnia for 3 months and helping with the German courses in Sarajevo. It never got boring and we always had time for entertainment, fellowship and fun. Now, I am looking forward to coming again for 9 months beginning in September 2021.
See you! Greetings,
Sandra
