German International School Chicago

Admissions and Open House Dates

Bilingual Education at German International School of Chicago

Our language immersion program equips students, regardless of their international or American backgrounds, with the skills to learn and communicate proficiently in German. For expatriate students hailing from German-speaking countries, our program ensures they maintain and enhance their language abilities, enabling a seamless transition back to schooling in their native countries. GISC students, proficient in both German and English, will graduate from our school well-prepared to pursue further studies in German-speaking countries and beyond.

Why German?

German stands as the most widely spoken first language within the European Union, boasting nearly 130 million native speakers globally. Proficiency in German opens doors to exceptional academic and professional prospects; Germany's economy ranks as the fourth largest globally, while its university system is esteemed for its excellence and affordability.

At GISC, we empower our students with the capacity to delve into Germany's cultural richness and historical legacy. From luminaries like Paul Maar and Johann Wolfgang von Goethe to artists such as Rolf Zuckowski and Ludwig van Beethoven, and from cultural phenomena like Augsburger Puppenkiste to acclaimed filmmakers like Caroline Link, we collectively explore the literature, music, films, and history of the German-speaking world.

Our Approach to Language Learning

Upon entering Kindergarten from our preschool, students possess oral fluency in German and have developed fundamental reading and writing abilities in both German and English.

Upon joining GISC after preschool, students are placed in one of two specialized language acquisition programs: Become Bilingual and Quereinsteiger.

In addition to structured instruction, which encompasses these two programs along with individual or small group sessions, new GISC students also immerse themselves in the language, hearing and speaking German in various settings such as hallways and playgrounds.