English

Bilingual education/ CLIL

Gymnasium Hochrad (Hochrad Grammar School) offers an eight-year educational programme geared towards the attainment of Germany´s internationally recognised university entrance qualification (Abitur). This school is one of the few high schools in Hamburg which provide bilingual education or CLIL (Content and Language Integrated Learning). All Hamburg 4th graders have had some exposure to English.

Extra English Classes provide those language skills which enable them to effectively participate in English medium content subjects from Grade 6 onwards. There are also native and near- native speakers at our school. We also advance these students by providing Extra English classes, which focus on mother tongue proficiency. Assessment of performance is however based on the criteria of the local Hamburg school authority, so that normal learners of English do not suffer from Mother Tongue Students, who might otherwise cream off all the good marks.

Arriving in Hamburg from a foreign country

A command of German is central

A good command of German is a conditio sine qua non, since most subjects are taught in German. For newly arrived international students it is therefore imperative to become proficient in German. The proficiency we require corresponds to Level B1 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages.

The student:

• Can understand the main points of clear standard input on familiar matters regularly encountered in work, school, leisure, etc.
• Can deal with most situations likely to arise while travelling in an area where the language is spoken.
• Can produce simple connected text on topics that are familiar or of personal interest.
• Can describe experiences and events, dreams, hopes and ambitions and briefly give reasons and explanations for opinions and plans.

Students who have not yet attained Level B1 are taught in international preparatory classes in schools which have set up `Internationale Vorbereitungsklassen´. Subsequently, children will attend regular school instruction. In any event the Schulinformationszentrum (SIZ) will assist you in this matter.

Starting at Gymnasium (Grades 5 and 6) : A two years period helps students to acquaint themselves with the work ethic at Gymnasium Hochrad.

Every Class has two class teachers. Class teachers, who are experts in this age range, spend as much time as possible with their own class, so that the children have a chance to slowly get used to the system of a Gymnasium. During the entire phase of BEOBACHTUNGSSTUFE, we have regular meetings with parents and offer assistance whenever necessary.

What does your child need at school?

Resources that your child needs to learn at school are called learning aids (Lernmittel). Most learning aids remain at the school and are used during class. The school will supply the following learning aids free of charge: Dictionaries, reference materials, readers, textbooks, atlases, workbooks and worksheets.