Learn more about our schools

We represent independently operated Saturday German language schools in the greater San Francisco Bay Area. Our member schools offer a wide range of programs for children as young as 18 months all the way through various types of classes for adults. Every school offers a different choice of classes for all age groups, so it is important to check directly with the school you are interested in. Click on each school below to learn more and to contact each school directly.

The German School of the East Bay was founded in 1962 and is conveniently located in Emeryville. The school is open on Saturday mornings from 9:30am to 12pm, from mid-September to mid-May. GSEB offers small classes for children (PreK-12) and adults, with different German language skills: Beginners, intermediate, advanced.

Some of the students are 2nd and 3rd generation students of German, creating a continuity for many families attending our school. Several classes prepare middle and high schoolers for German language tests, such as the National German Exam by the American Association of German Teachers (AATG), the AP German test, and the Deutsches Sprachdiplom DSD1 and DSD2.

The teaching team consists of mostly native speakers who offer a wonderful spectrum of backgrounds and teaching experiences to their students.

Visit our website at gseb-school.org.

The German School of San Francisco is an affordable, non-profit organization founded in 1935. We are one of the oldest language schools in the United States.

We offer small Saturday morning classes (9:30 to noon or 9:30 to 12:30 depending on the age and level) for children 2 years and up and classes for adults. Our qualified, experienced and enthusiastic teaching staff uses the latest study materials imported from Germany.

Our students receive report cards and we prepare them for all 4 levels of the National German Examination (organized by the American Association of Teachers of German) and AP-like examinations, such as the 2 levels of the DSD – Deutsches Sprachdiplom, administered by the German government (BVA). 

We take pride in our multi-national student and teaching body and have great fun at our traditional cultural events, such as the Lanternfest, the St. Nick’s and the Karneval parties.

Our students are multilingual and global citizens who (will) make a difference in the world!

Check us out at germanschool.com!

The German Language School of the North Bay was founded as the German Language School of Marin in 1967 in Novato, California, by families seeking to preserve the German cultural heritage and language within the rich multicultural landscape of Sonoma, Marin, and Napa. Today, we carry on that mission as a non-profit Saturday school and community committed to furthering the language, culture, and customs of German-speaking countries to our local community and beyond.

We offer class levels from Kindergarten through adults. We provide an affordable and convenient opportunity to receive creative instruction methods that helps families launch or advance their German language and cultural skills. Our classes are optimized to establish and build upon an enthusiasm for the German language and the diverse cultures of German-speaking countries. Our students in grades 4 and up have the opportunity to take various German exams. We assess our students during the year and offer various exams for each level of student. We offer a variety of German language exams including AATG National German Exam, AP German, and the Deutsches Sprachdiplom Level 1 and 2.

Our school year runs from September to May in two semesters. Over the course of a semester our students will obtain the tools and have opportunities to speak, read, and write German with confidence. Students receive not only receive quality academic instruction, but the opportunity to use it in memorable and fun communication activities that are applicable to the real world.

Visit us at germanschoolnorthbay.org!

The German-American School of Palo Alto has been offering full immersion German language and German language culture instruction since the 1960’s on the Peninsula in the San Francisco Bay Area for both youth (ages 5+) and adults at all language levels. Our program consists of 30 Saturday mornings in Menlo Park from 9am-12pm from September through May.  Enrollment is ongoing throughout the school year. 

Additionally, we also offer 1:1 tutoring online for those looking for a more individual approach or very specific needs.

We are a non-profit organization with a dedicated staff of native and near native speakers from Germany, Austria, Switzerland and the USA, working together with our volunteer board members providing a wide variety of backgrounds.

Our program is recognized by  the German Federal Government and receives support from the German Central Agency from school abroad through our local Language Representative. In addition to our classes we offer a variety of German language exams from AATG National German Exam, AP German and the Deutsches Sprachdiplom Level 1 and 2.

SBDS is a non-profit organization incorporated under the laws of California that has been promoting the study of German as a Second Language and serving the Silicon Valley area for 50 years.

We offer classes at all levels ranging from pre-school to high school as well as beginning, intermediate and advanced levels for adults. Classes are taught by an experienced faculty from Germany, Switzerland, and the United States.

The main objective of our school is to provide an opportunity to learn the German language in a contemporary context. Students are taught to speak, read and write in German and are introduced to German customs, history, culture, literature and songs.

To ensure high quality instruction, teachers are selected both for their knowledge of German and their teaching ability. Most of our instructors are native speakers of German and are well qualified to recognize the proficiency of their students.

Visit us at sbds.org.

The German School of Fremont is a non-profit educational organization founded in 1963 and located in Fremont.

Our school offers classes for children, youth and adults on Saturday mornings in person for children and youth (9:30am-12pm) and Saturday afternoons online for advanced youth and adults. We also offer a parent and child class for one hour on Saturday mornings for ages 18- months to 3 years old. Our students come from various backgrounds and represent the full spectrum of German language learners. We welcome new and existing members at the start of our fall semester (September-January) or spring semester (January-May).

We proudly encourage our students to also test for the AATG (American Association of Teachers of German), DSD (Deutsches Sprachdiplom) and Advanced Placement exams. By passing the AATG and/or AP exams, students can receive college credits for US universities and colleges for 2, 3 and/or 4 years of German language instruction by passing one or more of these exams. By passing the DSD exams, students have the opportunity to meet the prerequisites for admission to universities in Austria, Germany and Switzerland and study with substantially lower (local) tuition compared to US universities.

Our school community enjoys and celebrates school-wide German language cultural events. Family and friends are welcome to join students for these events: St. Martin’s Lantern parade, Weihnachtsfeier (Christmas party), Fasching/Karneval party, Ostern and Maifest.

Our school is proud to have a newly expanded German language library that is run by our own student and parent volunteers. Students can check out and exchange books at their appropriate reading levels each week to further their learning and compliment their regular class instruction.

Visit our website at gsfremont.org.