Dear Parents,

Mein Name ist __________________.

I am the German teacher at ________________________. Learning a second language is a valuable tool for any child’s future. Did you know that foreign language learners not only show gains in their basic skills (reading, writing, listening skills), but that they also score higher on standardized tests such as the ISTEP, ACT and SAT? Foreign language learning is whole brain education that improves divergent thinking and figural creativity. It not only broadens the learner’s perspectives, but it is art, history, music and science. Above all it is about exploration.

We often hear today that we need to get back to the basics. But what are these basics? Dr. Raymond J. Gerson, superintendent of Dobbs Ferry (NY) public schools states, “The basics are what a human being needs in order to live a full, productive life. Among the most important basics are: the ability to communicate, the ability to reason, the ability to think, the ability to compute, the ability to get along with other people, and the ability to respect both himself/herself and others.” The learning of a foreign language involves all these basics. It not only broadens our perspectives, but is increasingly important to our nation’s survival in a global society.

All foreign languages are difficult to the extent that they all require a commitment to daily study and to the learning of new vocabulary and language concepts. While many consider German a “hard” language, each language has certain elements which are more difficult to learn and others which are easier. German, for example, has a rigid but highly logical grammatical structure. It often appeals to mathematical thinkers because it is highly logical and structured. Since English is a sister language of German, students find a vocabulary that is easy to learn, one that is rich with cognates and closely related words. On the other hand, while the pronunciation of Spanish may be easier, it has far fewer related vocabulary words due to Arabic influences. While French grammar is less difficult, particularly the past and subjunctive forms, French pronunciation is much more difficult than German because of sounds which don’t exist in English and many exceptions to the rules.

(Add your personal story on why you first started learning German. Here is an example of one.)

I first began my study of German due to my family heritage and wanted to find a way to connect with my ancestors. I found very quickly within my first few years of study that German appealed to my way of thinking. I soon became fascinated with German customs, culture, literature and history. After studying abroad in Germany after my sophomore year in college, there was no turning back for me. I was hooked. It was exciting that I could communicate with people from so many different countries. The interaction with other cultures and other points of view has changed my life and my Weltanschauung, or world view. An interest in German, all stemming from my family heritage, has made the biggest impact on my success as a German student and later my success as a German teacher.

Student interest, career plans and cultural heritage have all been cited as reasons for choosing a language. Obviously, I would like you and your child to consider German as a foreign language choice. To help you in making a good decision, I would like to share some information about why German is an important language to study, no matter in which country one lives.

· German is fun!!! We sing, do poetry, give speeches, act out scenes, make connections and look for relationships. We cover geography, famous people, 20^th century history of Germany, politics, the holocaust and the reunified Germany.

· During high school, when students study Western Civilization, Modern History and American History, it becomes apparent that the history of the Germans is tied closely with our own. We cannot study any of these topics without recognizing the roles that the German culture, history and people have had on western civilization and American history. Students find many convergent points between their studies in other classes and their German class.

· We have a student exchange that occurs every other year. Students have the opportunity to host German students for three weeks and we will in turn be hosted by the partner school for three weeks in Germany.

· Many colleges recommend the study of German for students interested in: Anatomy, Architecture, Astronomy, Astrophysics, Art History, Biochemistry, Biology, Botany, Chemistry, Dramatic Art, Comparative Literature, Film Studies, Genetics, International Business, Linguistics, Logic & Methodology of Science, Mathematics, Music, Philosophy, Physical Science, Physics, Physiology, Political Science, Religious Studies, Telecommuni-cations, Zoology – to name a few.

· With the unification of Germany in October 1990, German gained even greater prestige as an international language of commerce and trade. For companies seeking to establish ties with Eastern Europe, German has long been and remains, the dominant business language.

· Germany is not only a major trading partner with the U.S., it is also invested in America. There are more than 1,100 companies in German-speaking countries that have subsidiaries in the United States and more than 750 American companies do business in German-speaking countries.

· The New Europe, consisting of the European Union, the European Free Trade Association and Eastern Europe, is one of the strongest and most vibrant marketplaces in the world. And German is often the common language. Germany, often referred to as the country in the middle or “the heart of Europe”, plays a key political role in the EU as well as a key financial role in the evolving New Europe.

Politics, economics, science, art, music, philosophy, religion – it is all there!

I hope you and your child will consider the exciting possibility of learning German. As an experienced teacher and long time student of German, I know that learning German can be fun and that it can make a big difference in a child’s life. If you would like more information about German or about (school’s name) German program, feel free to call me at ____________________ or email me at ____________________.

Vielen Dank!