SBDS - Advanced Classes

advanced classes

Summary

Due to increased student demand, SBDS offers students interested in studying German and earning advanced college standing German AP and DSD preparation classes during the 2009/2010 school year. The AP preparation class prepares specifically for the German Advanced Placement exam provided by the US CollegeBoard in May 2010. The Deutsche Sprachdiplom ( DSD) exam goes beyond the AP exam as it is a step towards the German Language Diploma, which prepares students to pursue studies at a German College or University.

The Advanced Placement (AP) preparation class will be a high-intensity learning experience, but passing the AP test will be worth the effort! The test will be administered in March 2010. Please scroll down for more details and the exact dates.

Details

Overview:

1. German Advanced Placement (AP) Test preparation

We prepare students for the German Language AP Test by the US CollegeBoard in May 2010. This exam provides High School students valuable AP credits for US colleges. The test itself will be conducted at local High Schools.

2. DSD (Deutsches Sprachdiplom) Level 1

Students are prepared for this international DSD-I diploma and fulfills the language requirements for Colleges (StudienKolleg) in Germany, Austria and Switzerland after successfully passing the exam. The DSD exams are held in March 2010.

3. DSD (Deutsches Sprachdiplom) Level 2

For the first time this year, we plan to offer a preparation class and exams for the DSD-II, which is the highest international German exam available and fulfills the language requirements for Universities in Germany, Austria and Switzerland. The DSD-II exams are also held in March 2010.

To our knowledge, we are the ONLY school that prepares for that level in the entire Bay Area, but we require a minimum of 4 students before we can attempt this class!

Why:

German AP Test: To earn advanced college credits, or to study abroad in Germany, Austria or Switzerland, or to live, study and/or work internationally, then you need the AP preparation class that prepares the student specifically for the German Language Advanced Placement exam provided by the US CollegeBoard.

DSD Exam: The DSD exam goes even beyond the AP tests as it is a step towards the "Deutsche Sprachdiplom", an international diploma that fulfills the language requirements to enroll in Austrian, Swiss or German colleges and universities. Our test preparation class specifically prepares students for those exams.

The German language diploma DSD can be obtained from students as proof of German language skills on following levels:

DSD-I is equivalent to the level B1 of Common European Reference frame (CER),
DSD-II matches the level B2 or C1 of CER,
DSD-A2 is equivalent to the level of A2 of CER.

The following four skills will be tested:

listening comprehension,
reading comprehension,
written communication, and
oral communication.

The tests are developed by the Central Office for International Schools (ZfA) in Cologne. This is also where the evaluation of the test results take place. The schools are responsible for implementation.

Prerequisites:

In order to participate in the advanced classes, the student must:

be in 8^th Grade or higher,
scored 70% or higher (non-native speakers) or 60% or higher (native speakers) in a recent AATG exam,
committed and able to attend Saturday classes regularly until final exam and
willing to do approx. three hours of weekly homework until final exam.