German language school to open soon BY CHRIS GAETANO Staff Writer HOLMDEL - A brand-new German language and heritage school in Holmdel is set to open its doors to its first set of students by the end of this month. An open house at the facility is scheduled for next week. The school, located at the Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd at the corner of Crawford's Corner Everett Road, will offer after-school language programs for students ages 18 months to 18 years and will also host cultural events and activities such as Swiss National Day and Oktoberfest. According to Judy Musa, a spokeswoman for the school, the German School of Monmouth County (GSMC) formed through an informal network of local German-speaking families from Germany, Austria and Switzerland. Some were in the United States on work visas for various technology and engineering firms, while others were expatriates who had married Americans. What they all had in common was a desire to maintain Germanic cultural traditions, but available German language schools were all quite far away. "We thought it would be a good opportunity to offer a school that offers cultural events and keep their heritage alive," said Musa, who is from Switzerland and married to an American. She said that about 30 students have already signed up, running the full age range, though with most concentrated around the elementary school age. Also registered are a handful of adults in their conversation and business German classes, some of whom are anticipating needing to go abroad for work. The school is not for profit and the organization is in the process of registering as an official nonprofit organization. About a year in the making, the school is expected to be a once-a-week program, probably on Thursdays, which will have different curricula for different age groups. The MusikGarten program is for children between 18 months and 5 years old, and features a heavy caretaker participation element as well. It is described as basically music and rhythm taught in German. "So, teaching shapes and colors and seasons and that kind of stuff - a fun way to introduce it through song," said Musa. After that, the curriculum divides into class groups on ability, not age. So, depending on proficiency, one could have a sixth-, seventh- and eighth-grader in the same accelerated class. At the high school level, there are plans to introduce things such as SAT preparation and Advanced Placement courses. Students can also prepare for German Language Certificate exams, which is proof of language efficiency for German, Austrian and Swiss universities, and technical and vocational higher education programs. The school plans to partner with other German schools in the area to offer additional standardized tests for higher-level education. "We want it so when they visit [family in Europe], they can maybe speak with them or stay there over the summer," said Musa. Muss said that German language fluency has many benefits, especially as the economy becomes more international in character. She mentioned that Germany is the No. 1 exporter of goods in the world and also that most of the scientists in the world need to have at least a basic understanding of German, as many great scientists came from that region. More information about the school can be found at www.germanschoolmc.org. There will also be an open house on Sept. 16, from 3-7 p.m. The first day of classes is expected to be Sept. 27.