PROGRAM OVERVIEW - GERMAN FOR TEENAGERS >> Open to teenagers ages 14 - 17 years of age (for all language levels) >> Live in School Residence including meals >> Combination of German language course, cultural & outdoor activities >> Program length 2,3,4 weeks - June, July, August >> Study with international students of the same age The program offers students the experience of living & studying in a foreign country, meeting other students of the same age (who may not speak the same language), experiencing and adapting to the local culture (very different from back home) and given the independence to explore, all under the supervision of experienced staff. Students will have plenty of independence however will have school / accommodation rules and curfews to obey, they will always be under 24 hour supervision by our staff. PROGRAM INCLUDES: German lessons & materials - shared Residence accommodation (with curfew and strict rules for under 16 years of age) - airport transfers - bilingual guides and counselors - full program of activities & tours - insurance. NOTE: enrollment numbers are limited so please sign up early to ensure space in this program.

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Spend your summer in POTSDAM
and enjoy a full schedule of sports, leisure, cultural activities and excursions with other international students of the same age....

Our German summer program is held on the outskirts of Berlin in the charming university town of Potsdam - one of the nicest cities in Germany!

Potsdam has much to offer, close to Berlin for day excursions yet surrounded by idyllic lakes and forests. It has a rich history, in 1990 UNESCO officially classed several large sections of Potsdam as World Heritage sites.

The most dominant features of the city include the historic palaces with their three large parks and the beautiful Baroque architecture of the city center.

Numerous famous landscapers and architects have left their mark here, Prussian kings and emperors spent three centuries creating a beautifully harmonious landscape of palaces, parks, hills and lakes for their summer residences in Potsdam.

The town center is full of winding quaint little lanes with street cafés, shops, bars and a nice shopping area.

Potsdam is surrounded by the waters of the Havel River with its many lakes and our campus is actually located on one of these lakes - Lake Schwielow.

Our Summer School is located 5 km from the city center of Potsdam, on Lake Schwielowsee, one of the many lakes surrounding Berlin and Potsdam.

Einstein loved this part of Potsdam (named Potsdam-Caputh) - he had his summer house here, in walking distance to our Potsdam Summer School.

The center of Potsdam is only a 10 minute ride by "S-Bahn" and the local the station is located in front of the school campus.

Located within a beautiful campus on the lakeshore, the school offers spacious classrooms, lounge and social areas, cafeteria restaurant, fitness studio, beach and the residence is located within the camp grounds.

Germans high school students also attend the campus allowing our students the opportunity to make new German friends and practice their German!

International student body:
We expect 80% of students attending to be non native English speakers, mainly coming from around Europe / 20% will be English speakers from North America & UK. These numbers are estimated based on 2007 enrollments!

Campus facilities include:
7 bright large classrooms
Social areas / snack bar
Small class sizes
cafeteria/restaurant
Fitness centre
Lakeside beach
windsurfing school

Students have access to a windsurfing school which is in walking distance, they can book lessons however students must bring a waiver form from parents allowing permission to wind surf.

German language program: (20 lessons per week)
> (max of 12 students per class).

Classes usually take place between 9 am - 1 pm and classes are taught by native teachers with university degrees in German language or literature.

They use the communicative method of teaching which combines all aspects and skills of language such as grammar, conversation, vocabulary, pronunciation, reading, listening and writing, in an interactive way that makes language learning interesting and meaningful.

A placement test on the first Monday prior will help our teachers assess your level of German. Important for your placement in a group is your level of German, not your age. Usually, however, it turns out that you will learn with others of a similar age. The school will provide teaching materials included in the program price.

Number of students attending:
Excluding the german students on campus, we expect 40 international students each week during the summer:

After classes are over for the day, our program allows the student plenty of time for our sports and social activities on the camp. It also allows the student to make new international friends among their new classmates, experience cultural activities together and practice their new language skills in real life situations.

Enjoy exploring Potsdam by water – take a cruise with one of the ships of the White Fleet, past the many historic sights, through the picturesque countryside and into Berlin.

Our guides will take you through Berlin and Potsdam: places we will visit - Babelsberg film studios, Tacheles radical art center, berlin city tour, Brandenburg Gate, New Reichstag & so much more - you´ll discover an exciting region full of history.

Our program also includes: 2 activities daily in international groups: sightseeing in Berlin and Potsdam, sports etc
1 full-day and 3 half-day excursion to Berlin and Potsdam per week

Example of our social and cultural activities

School residence: shared rooms with 3 meals daily

Students live on the lakeside camp grounds in shared rooms with own shower/WC. In most cases students will share with another student of another nationality.

Students will have a set curfew time and all students under the age of 16, may only leave the school premises with the written permission of parents or legal guardians and house rules must be obeyed.

All meals will be taken in the school´s cafeteria (unless otherwise requested, on excursion days you will receive a packed lunch).

Food at the camp may not be the same as you are used to at home: Southern Europeans for example are often surprised that Germans eat so much for breakfast and often like to cover hot meals with a sauce all over it – so even if you may prefer the way your parents cook, please try to be open and enjoy the German way of preparing food.

Additional information for students in Potsdam: