The German program at Milwaukee School of Languages is the program that continues German Education from the Milwaukee German Immersion School for grades 6 thru 12. The German Program teachers are Frau Lohmann, Frau Morgan, Frau Nill, and Frau Ackermann.
In 2011, 19 High School German students took the DSD I on March 25th. The test is in cooperation with the German government and recognizes them as having knowledge in the German language. Of the 19 students who took the exam, all 19 passed the exam. We are now looking forward to offerning the next level, DSD II exam in 2012 along with the DSD I.
Recently, MSL was chosen to be a partner school of the PASCH initiative. PASCH stands for the “Schools: Partners for the Future” initiative. It is a global network of some 1500 schools that place a high value on German.
German Immersion Foundation
Our Mission Statement
The German Immersion Foundation (GIF) supports the Milwaukee German Immersion School (MGIS) and the Milwaukee School of Languages (MSL) by providing the additional resources to fully fund programs needed to prepare children to excel in the competitive global marketplace.
Our Story
The parents saw the writing on the wall. After several consecutive years of budget cutbacks for their children’s school, they decided to take action. A handful of committed parents joined together in 2001 to form the German Immersion Foundation, an entity that would raise funds to support two Milwaukee education treasures – Milwaukee German Immersion School and Milwaukee School of Languages. The foundation exists to ensure the high quality of these two Milwaukee Public Schools, where student test scores rival those of students from the top performing school districts and private schools.
For more information, please visit the website of the German Immersion Foundation.
15.4 million people are learning German as a foreign language
15.4 million people are learning German as a foreign language. From Africa to Asia, millions of people are learning Deutsch, according to a recent survey. Read all about it from DW.
MSL students earn scholarships though German language essay contest
Congratulations to MPS students from throughout the district who have earned scholarships from the German Language and School Society of Wisconsin! Awards have been made ranging from $50 to $2,500 following the society’s annual exam and essay contest.
Students were required to write an essay of at least five paragraphs in German with a time limit of 30 minutes. The essay topic was announced at the beginning of the test. Students were not allowed to use textbooks or dictionaries or to ask for assistance. Essays were judged on originality, grammar, vocabulary, and how the topic was addressed by the student. Essays were combined with students’ results on the American Association of Teachers of German (AATG) National German Exam.
“We are incredibly proud of our students this year,” said Janelle Pfaller, teacher at Milwaukee German Immersion School and Milwaukee School of Languages. “Mastering a second language is a skill that opens doors and will benefit students for a lifetime.” This year, Ms. Pfaller was a recipient of a Herb Kohl Teacher Fellow Award.
Congratulations to all our scholarship winners! You make us #MPS Proud!
Deutscher Sprach- und Schulverein (DSSV) Awards 2020
Scholarships ranged from $50 to $200. Larger awards are noted below.
Milwaukee School of Languages
Teachers: Janelle Pfaller and Aurelia Schumacher
Anja Arnhold ($750); Merce Fernandez ($750); Lydia Haase ($750); Emma Sachs ($500); Aethelred Templin ($500)
Additional students recognized for their achievements include Samuel Anderson, Sophie Beyer, Gisele Bridges, Nicholas Charnon, Ian Cranfield, Lorelei Dittl, Abigail Domena, Henry Dossett, Tristan Engelmann, Lucy Finch, Catherine Fink, Thomas Foesterling, Samuel Forgie, Johan Fritz, Samuel Gagnier, Sophie Gagnier, Erik Geier, Samuel Gende, Noah Gouvion, Jayson Hahn, Angelina Hamburger, Sadira Harris, Ian Hunt, Brynne Kehoe, Seanna Kuerk. Amy Madson, Olivia May, Preston Meyer, Hanna Nelson, Elena Pasbrig, Rachel Pollock, Ian Rasmussen, Erin Roney, Rebekah Sachs, Bianca Sampson, Ada Scharfenberger, Henry Schmid, Christian Schumacher, Brandon Smith, Paighten Smith, Maja Synovic, Vienna Tomkalski, Thomas VandeBurg, Regan Weeks, Gianna Williams, Logan Williams, Shelby Woida, and Rade Zakula
The Deutscher Sprach- und Schulverein (DSSV) or German Language and School Society of Wisconsin, Inc. was founded in Milwaukee in 1956. The Society’s primary goal is “to promote and stimulate interest in and understanding of the German language and culture, by means of an annual German Essay contest.” Interested students should visit the society website at www.dssvwi.org.
Wunderbus Visits MSL
October 8, 2019
MSL was honored to host the Wunderbar Together Wanderbus as part of the German American Friendship campaign! MSL students and staff welcomed the WanderbUS and German Member of Parliament, Ulla Schmidt. A former teacher, Frau Schmidt met with students and explored all the WanderbUS has to offer in German language and cultural education. Students were engaged in the German language and culture.
THANK YOU Zentralstelle für das Auslandsschulwesen (ZfA) / Central Agency for Schools Abroad
THANK YOU Zentralstelle für das Auslandsschulwesen (ZfA) / Central Agency for Schools Abroad for supporting our German Program! The Central Agency for Schools Abroad purchased novels for our classroom to prepare students for the German Language Diploma (DSD) of the Federal Republic of Germany. Danke schön!
63rd annual Award Ceremony for the German Language and School Society (DSSV)
Monday, May 7, 2018
Over the weekend MSL middle and high school German students were recognized by The German Language and School Society (DSSV) for their academic achievement on the AATG National German Exam and DSSV writing contest. MSL had 38 students recognized with a certificate and cash prize. MSL had 6 major awards winners including:
Greta Garcia Jalil-Melendez: Fritz & Maria Keller Memorial Award- $1,000
Anja Arnhold: Wilma Giese Award- $1,000
Martina Osterman: DSSV Award- $1,000
Emily Schwab: DSSV Award- $1,000
Alex Robinson: $250
Craig Robinson: $250
Additional students recognized for their achievements include Catherine Charnon, Nick Charnon, Merce Fernandez, Raquel Fernandez, Henry Finch, Sam Gende, Angelina Hamburger, Serenity Heuangpathoumthong, Brianna Hoey, Ian Hunt, Mary Jane Juern, Brynne Kehoe, Iyonna Luttrell, Abdullah Masri, Brody Obermeier, Garrett Pfaff, Stephanie Piontkowski, Ian Rasmussen, Stella Richards, Isabella Rock, Katherine Roecklein, Hannah Rudak, Emma Sachs, Hayley Servant, Brandon Smith, Francesca Smith, Regan Weeks, Rheanna Weeks, Peyton Weiss, Autumn Wolfe, Mira Zakula, and Rade Zakula.
Congratulations! We are so proud of you!
Top German consular official visiting Milwaukee School of Languages
Herbert Quelle will visit the grade 6-12 language immersion school to honor students, share info about language diploma program; MSL is Wisconsin’s only school to offer it
MILWAUKEE – Germany’s top consular official in the Midwest will visit Milwaukee Public Schools’ Milwaukee School of Languages on March 15 to tout the accomplishments of the school’s students on a German-language diploma program and share more information with families about it.
Milwaukee School of Languages, MPS’ language immersion school for students in grades 6-12, is the only school in Wisconsin to offer the diploma program. Students who pass both levels of the diploma program show they have the language skills to study at a German university.
Chicago-based German Consul General Herbert Quelle will honor 12 students who have already passed the first level of the diploma program and another 11 who participated from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, March 15, 2016 in the library at MSL, 8400 W. Burleigh Street, Milwaukee 53222. Media are invited and welcome to attend.
“We are honored to host Consul General Quelle as we recognize our students and invite families to take part in this unique program,” MSL Principal Yvette Martel said. “We are proud to offer a strong, rigorous pathway for students from MPS’ language immersion elementary schools as well as the opportunity for other students to join us for partial immersion programs.”
Milwaukee School of Languages ranked 20th in Wisconsin on the Washington Post’s 2015 list of “America’s Most Challenging High Schools” and was ranked the 12th best high school in the state in 2014 by U.S. News and World Report.