Develop your German skills in a community of learners.
Our program targets adults, 16 and older. Courses focus on practical and conversational German. Class time is dedicated to partner/group work and task-based activities, so that the spoken language you practice in class can be seamlessly applied to real-life. You'll learn the basics of the German language in a fun and relaxed atmosphere, in a community of like-minded learners.
THIS PROGRAM HAS BEEN PUT ON HOLD INDEFINITELY
Promoting bilingual education and proudly serving the SAGA Community since 2017.
Overview
Each class runs for 10 weeks and includes:
20 units of face-to-face instruction (2 units/week; each unit is 50 min. long)
Access to online platform with daily recommendations for self-study and peer-to-peer communication
Instructor's feedback on completed (printed) homework assignments
Tuition
Regular Student
$400
College/High-School Student
$350
SAGA Family Member
Close family of current/past students of the SAGA School. Qualifying status to be verified with the SAGA School.
$325
Language-Strides Family MemberStudents who completed three consecutive courses at Language Strides prior to signing-up to the current course
$325
Tuition includes access to online course.
Tuition does NOT include textbook.
Please register early to secure your spot in class and increase the class' outlook for meeting minimum enrollment numbers. Due to budget and space limitations, classes will be cancelled unless they have a minimum of 8-10 students.
Cancellation Policy
Students may cancel before the second class. Tuition will be refunded (minus a $60 administrative fee). After the second class, no refunds will be issued.
Class Location
Our classes are offered at different locations in North Seattle, in appropriate spaces for language instruction, such as: The Phinney Center, The Good Shepherd Center, and others.
Interested in a different skill level?
We are working towards expanding our class offerings in the future. In order to help with these efforts, we are collecting information about prospective students to establish demand for more advanced levels. Please fill out the Indication of Interest Form. We will contact you if additional classes develop. Danke!
Textbooks
For Deutsch 1 thru Deutsch 6: Kontakte (6th or 7th edition)* by Tschirner/Nicolai/Terrell.
*PLEASE NOTE: The most recent edition of Kontakte is the 8th. We decided to work with the 6th/7th edition for their cost-benefit ratio. Buying a used hard-copy online is highly recommended. The recommended editions and the newest are virtually identical in their presentation of grammatical concepts, vocabulary, and communicative activities. The main difference between the editions is the cultural content. The class will not use the book as a primary source of teaching cultural sensitivity, but will practice these skills organically, through task-based activities.
For Deutsch 7 thru Deutsch 9: Schritte International NEU, Band 4, Niveau A2/2, Hueber Verlag
TEACHING METHODS & STANDARDS
Taking a class at Language Strides will expose you to a dynamic learning environment that fosters a community of learners. You'll be immersed in a communicative setting backed by the rigors of a college-level program. You'll expand your cultural understanding of the German-speaking peoples and develop structural tools for lifelong learning.
Our ultimate goal as teachers is to keep you and your peers connected and engaged in the long-term endeavor of learning German even when you are not taking a class.
Adherence to Global Standards
Our classes adhere to the levels defined in the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages. The language skills you acquire in our courses can be measured objectively and are internationally comparable.
The targeted skill levels listed for each class allow you to cross-reference the skills acquired at Language Strides with similar courses at other language schools. This means that you can continue to learn flexibly by taking continuing courses with us or other language learning institutions that adhere to global standards in language learning.
Looking for professional or personal enrichment?
Our German classes pave your way for successful lifelong learning.
Thinking about college credits/foreign language requirement?
Our German classes Deutsch 1-6 align with the language programs offered at the Seattle Colleges and the University of Washington to allow for a seamless transition into these and similar academic programs.*
*Please Note: While we help you acquire the skills that allow you to test into a specific college language level, we cannot offer college credit for the classes you take at Language Strides.
Deutsch 7-12, classes at the intermediary level, review the fundamentals of the German language and help students improve their fluency and accuracy, while increasing their idiomatic usage, linguistic confidence, and cultural understanding of German-speaking peoples.
Hallo, ich bin Gloria, Founder of Language Strides.
I have been teaching German-language and culture classes for more than two decades. My academic appointments include teaching positions at the Seattle Colleges, the University of Washington, and the University of Puget Sound. In 2017, I founded the Adult German Program at the Seattle Area German American School (SAGA), the educational and cultural hub that partners with Language Strides in offering German Classes for the SAGA Community.
I am a life-long advocate of multilingual education, fostering cultural heritage and trans-cultural empathy. As a German heritage-speaker from Romania, I have first-hand experience on the importance of educational programs that protect minorities and their cultures. My work for the American Romanian Cultural Society, a Seattle-based non-profit, helped create a heritage-culture program for high-school students hosted at the University of Washington Ellison Center.
When I am not planning new class-activities for my students, you'll find me outdoors, hiking, climbing, bird-watching, and playing with my two and four-legged family.
First things first, in case anybody told you differently: there is absolutely nothing wrong with the phrase "Ich bin ein Berliner." I assure you in my dual capacity as a native of the city and as a language educator. As the former, I am bringing real-world experience to the classroom, as well as an attitude, which the uninitiated may call gruff. By contrast, the initiated call it gruff, yet loving. As the latter, I held teaching positions at the Technische Universitaet Berlin, Carleton College (MN), The University of Cincinnati (OH), and the University of Washington (WA) before delving into K-12 education and becoming a high school teacher of German and English as additional languages.
Teaching and learning about cultures and their languages is my profession. More than that, however, I believe it is the duty of anybody who aspires to be a citizen of the world. If you were to join me in doing so, that would be tremendous.
I am a PhD in German Language and Literature, and I've been teaching in this field for the past nine
years or so. I'm a firm believer that language learning should be engaging and enjoyable in order to be
effective, and I try to cultivate that in my classes. I've received training in communicative language
teaching methods from both the University of Kentucky and the University of Washington, and while I've
had great experiences teaching at all levels, I'd have to say that Beginning German is my favorite; not
only is it fun and engaging, but seeing a student's first "ah-ha!" moments is immensely rewarding! In my
free time, I'm usually brewing beer, writing fiction, or learning a new language (I'm currently working on
ASL). I have a special place in my heart for folklore and mythology, and I'm always down to talk about
German fairy tales!
I am a PhD Candidate in the Germanics Program at the University of Washington. I earned my B.A. in German Studies and Classical Civilizations (2013) and my M.A. in German Studies (2015) at Florida State University. I have been at the University of Washington since the fall of 2015.
I have taught a range of German language courses since 2013, including beginning and intermediate level courses. I have been trained in Communicative Language Teaching, which focuses on the interaction between speakers as the primary means of developing one's language skills.
Summer Conversation Classes (July - August) per group request
Is the schedule of a class consistent throughout the year?
Yes. If a class is scheduled on a specific weekday, we try to schedule the continuing classes on
the same weeknight. For instance, if Deutsch 1 started on a Monday in the fall, the continuing
classes Deutsch 2 and 3 in winter and spring will also be scheduled on Mondays. We also try to
keep the location consistent throughout the year.
Can I sit in one of your classes before I register?
Yes. Provided the class is not full, you are warmly welcome to attend a session before
registering. Please send us a message at contact@languagestrides.com to announce your
attendance to a class session before registering.
I have some knowledge of German, but I am unsure what course/level is right for me.
In this case, please contact us at contact@languagestrides.com. We'll invite you to attend
one of our class sessions and help you decide what German-learning options are available to you
on any given quarter of instruction.
I am under 16. Can I register to a Language Strides class?
Yes, we welcome teens who are determined to learn German. However, because
our program targets adult learners, we invite our prospective students under 16 to visit a class
prior to registering.
What is the maximum number of students per class?
Our classes are capped at 20-25 students, depending on the classroom we secure for any specific
course. Our average class size for Deutsch 1 is 18. More advanced courses have a lower average
class size.
What is the minimum number of students per class?
Short answer: 8 to 10, depending on general enrollment numbers and level of class. We try our
best to accommodate classes with slightly lower enrollment, and the decision to keep or cancel a
class depends on the total enrollment in a quarter, and whether our budget allows for a class to
run in the red.
When do I qualify for the discounted tuition rate offered at the "Language Strides Family"
Level?
Upon completing three consecutive classes at Language Strides, the tuition for your fourth class
with us will be at the discounted rate for "Language Strides Family". Once you have entered our
"family" ranks, you will benefit from the discounted tuition rate for any future class you take
with us, even if you take a gap quarter from our classes.
Yes. Our program started in 2017 as SAGA's in-house language program for adults. We soon
outgrew the facilities available to us at the school and became an independent program in fall
2019. We continue to serve the SAGA community and are, in turn, grateful and proud of their
support.
Do I qualify for the discounted tuition rate reserved for SAGA Family/Alumni?
You do, if you have a child, grandchild, or sibling enrolled in SAGA's school or preschool or if your
child, grandchild, or sibling was enrolled in SAGA's school or preschool in the past.
I have a child, grandchild, or sibling enrolled in SAGA's Afterschool/Enrichment Programs: Do I qualify for the discounted tuition rate reserved for SAGA Family/Alumni?
Our SAGA Family/Alumni tuition serves the families of students enrolled in SAGA's school and preschool.
However, we strive to serve the SAGA community at large and can apply smaller discounts to
families of students enrolled in SAGA's Afterschool/Enrichment Programs. Please inquire about
a discount at contact@languagestrides.com.
