German

German language education has a long history in Manitoba. People of various German speaking origins are a significant part of Manitoba’s peoples. German as a language of study or as a foreign language has been offered in Manitoba schools since the 1950s. German-English bilingual programming was introduced in Manitoba shortly after the introduction of Ukrainian-English bilingual programming in the 1979-80 school year. In 1980-81 work on a curriculum for German-English bilingual programming was launched. The “re-introduction” of German-English bilingual programming, as with Ukrainian-English Bilingual programs, marked the first time that German was allowed as a language of instruction in public schools since 1916 when English was made the sole language of instruction in Manitoba’s public schools.

Today River East Transcona School Division offers German-English bilingual programming from Kindergarten to S4 (Grade 12). In addition, this school division and a number of others school divisions and independent schools offer German language courses (language of study programming). Lastly, there are a number of community-based German language schools throughout Manitoba. Further information on these schools is provided in the section titled Schools Offering German Language Education.

 

Curriculum Frameworks

Bilingual Programming
Kindergarten to Senior 4 German Language Arts: Manitoba Curriculum Framework of Outcomes was released in spring 2003. This document is the product of a collaborative initiative to develop German bilingual education curricula with Alberta Education and Edmonton Public Schools. The Manitoba curriculum framework was adapted from the draft Alberta German Language Arts Program of Studies document. The Kindergarten to Senior 4 German Language Arts: Manitoba Curriculum Framework of Outcomes contains

• an introduction describing the background, purpose, and development process
• a rationale and vision for Ukrainian language arts education
• a definition and conceptual framework for Ukrainian language arts in a bilingual school setting
• an orientation to the document
• a description of the organization of the document
• a description of the central concepts of the six General Learning Outcomes for Kindergarten to Senior 4
• Kindergarten to Senior 4 Specific Learning Outcomes

Der Rahmenlehrplan für Deutsch als Fremdsprache (Kindergarten – Senior 4) von hier an als Rahmenlehrplan (2005) is the German language version of the Kindergarten to Senior 4 German Language Arts: Manitoba Curriculum Framework of Outcomes (2003). This document is available as an on-line resource only.

Language of Study or Basic Programming
Renewal of Manitoba’s curricula for German language of study courses is slated for the 2005-2006 School year. For information on existing curriculum follow the contact information available on this page.

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Foundation Documents

Bilingual Programming
A Foundation for Implementation support document is being developed collaboratively with Alberta Education. It is expected that a Manitoba version of the document will be available in Spring 2006. In the interim, a draft document is available for voluntary implementation.

Language of Study Programming
A Foundation for Implementation support document for German Language and Culture for 7-S4 and S1-S4 is being developed collaboratively with Alberta Education. It is expected that a Manitoba version of the document will be available in Spring 2006.

Teacher Support Materials
Deutscher Sprachunterricht von Kindergarten bis 12. Klasse Eine Lehrerhilfe von Schablonen und anderen Dokumenten (German Language Arts Kindergarten to Senior 4: A Teacher's Resource of Templates and Blackline Masters) was developed to support the implementation of the German Language Arts curriculum. This teachers' resource was developed in partnership with Alberta Education, with Manitoba as the lead province. This resource may be downloaded in PDF and Microsoft Word versions.

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Learning Resources

German Language Education Learning Resources: Kindergarten to Senior 4: Compilation of German-English Bilingual and German Language of Study Programmimg Annotated Bibliographies (2003-2005) ( 380 KB). This bibliography is a compilation of learning resources approved by Manitoba Education, Citizenship and Youth as a result of the reviews of undertaken to date.

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Partner Groups

Manitoba Education, Citizenship and Youth recognizes the value of the collaborative initiatives and partnerships that have helped develop and support German Language Education. Following are links to websites of partner organizations and schools offering German Language Education programming.

• Manitoba Teachers of German
• Canadian Association of Teachers of German
• Alberta Education - International Languages
• Saskatchewan Learning
• Manitobans for German Language Education (MGLE) Inc., Karin James,
  Telephone/Fax 204-224-5212

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Schools Offering German Language Education

Links are provided where possible for the schools identified below. Mailing and telephone information for individual schools are available from Schools in Manitoba.

Bilingual Programming

• Donwood School
• Princess Margaret School
• Chief Peguis Middle School
• River East Collegiate

Language of Study Programming

Community-based and Other German Language Programs

• Seven Oaks School Division Heritage Language After-School Program
• Springfield Heights Nursery School, 570 Sharron Bay, Winnipeg, MB, R2G 0H9 (204) 663-7273
• South Winnipeg Kinderschule
• MGLE German School

Hutterian Schools—Community-based Programs
Many Hutterite colonies offer German language education as community-based before or after school programs only. Some colonies offer both school-based and community-based programs. The colonies that have indicated they provide before or after school German language education programs are listed below organized by the school divisions in which they fall. For further information on these programs, contact the individual colony administrators.

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