Germans celebrate Christmas Eve (Heiligabend) on December 24. Many spend the afternoon or early evening going to church, decorating the Christmas tree, or preparing a special Christmas Eve Dinner. Gifts are opened that evening, unlike in the US, where gifts are opened on Christmas morning. Unless the 24th falls on […]
History
Christmas markets
Germany is known for its Christmas markets during the time before Christmas. Usually they are located in town squares with booths for food and drink, Christmas items, and entertainment for the kids. To counteract the cold, Glühwein (mulled wine) is a popular drink for adults. The markets usually begin during […]
German-American Day
On October 6, we in the US celebrate National German-American Day! In 1683 the first thirteen German families settled in Pennsylvania where they founded Germantown. President Ronald Reagan proclaimed October 6 as a National Holiday in 1983 to celebrate and honor the 300th anniversary of German immigration and culture in […]
Day of German Unity
Do you know that on October 3 Germany celebrates the Day of German Unity (Tag der Deutschen Einheit)? This national holiday commemorates the official German reunification in 1990 after it had been divided into East- and West-Germany in 1945. The fall of the Berlin Wall took place in 1989; in […]
GIS German Language Classes for Children and Teenagers
Classes for children and teenagers are open for registration. Hurry – Early Registration (you get a discount) ends on Sunday, December 12, 2021. We welcome all children and teenagers from the age of 5 to 16 years old interested in learning and exploring the language and culture of German-speaking countries. […]
Five Exciting Online Workshops for Children and Teens during the Fall and Holidays
In addition to our popular German classes for children and teens, we have developed a great series of online workshops for the term. Take a look and sign up your children and teens as soon as possible. Workshops are limited to 10 participants. The cost for each participant per workshop […]
Apply Today for a Scholarship to Study in Germany
Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange program: Apply today for a scholarship to study abroad in Germany – it is a life-changing opportunity! Are you aware of the Congress-Bundestag Youth exchange (CBYX) program? Scholarships are provided for eligible high school students to spend an academic year attending a German school while living with […]
Happy Thanksgiving – Our Teachers at the ACTFL Convention in Boston
Happy Thanksgiving to everyone, and may you be together with your family and friends in harmony and gratitude! Last weekend Ute Hoefel and Barbara Olbricht of the German Institute for the Southwest had a chance to travel to Boston to attend the Annual Convention & World Language Expo 2016 of […]
Summer Movie: Der Ganz Grosse Traum – “Lessons of a Dream”
Join us for a great movie – Der Ganz Grosse Traum (“Lessons of a Dream”) on Thursday, August 11, 2016, at 6:30 p.m.at the American Red Cross building (details below). We think of soccer as a game that has been around forever, at least as a street game in Europe […]
Ode an den Balkon – Ode to a Balcony
If you have plans to travel to Europe this summer, you will probably see a lot of historic buildings and their balconies, especially in London. You will not want to miss the most famous one at Buckingham Palace. You can watch other royals (i.e. Dutch, Swedish and Danish) kissing and […]