Eastside German Language School returns to Bellevue

German Language School returns to BellevueBellevue resident Christina Easton first encountered the German language when her parents enrolled her at the Eastside German Language School as a child.

By Keegan Prosser • August 30, 2012 2:43 pm
The new classrooms at the East Shore Unitarian Church will better accomodate students of the Eastside German Language School. Pictured is one of the preschool classrooms.
The new classrooms at the East Shore Unitarian Church will better accomodate students of the Eastside German Language School. Pictured is one of the preschool classrooms.

Bellevue resident Christina Easton first encountered the German language when her parents enrolled her at the Eastside German Language School as a child.

Founded in 1971, the school was originally located at Bellevue Technical College. Since Easton’s time as a student, the school has relocated a handful of times – first to the Community Church of Issaquah, and most recently, to the Eastshore Unitarian Church in Bellevue.

“The new location is a better fit for our growing needs,” said Easton, who serves as president of the school’s board, and whose three children also attend the school.

The Eastside German Language School offers education programs and cultural experience spanning preschool, elementary, middle and high school, in addition to adult education classes. Preschool is offered weekdays as well as on Saturday; all other programs are offered on Saturday mornings. An official German language diploma school since 2009, the school is also a member of the worldwide PASCH-Net, an initiative of the German Federal Foreign Office.

The new location on the Interstate 90/405 corridor is expected to be more convenient for the school’s population, which consists of students from Seattle, Bothell, Bellevue and Kirkland. Easton says the move is a great opportunity for the school to expand, and to in to better ways to serve students.

The school uses an immersion-based method of teaching, so students hear the language spoken during play, through music, crafting art projects and reading books. Older students also use textbooks to hone their skills in grammar and writing.

While the curriculum will remain the same, the building will offer larger, better equipped classrooms than the previous location.

“Foreign languages are becoming so critical for kids going to college,” Easton said. “And it’s important to give children the opportunity to learn languages that aren’t [standard] at schools.”

There are currently 80 students enrolled at the school, with ages ranging from 2 to 70. The school does not require any previous experience in the language to enroll, and students are grouped with others at the same level.

There will be an open house at the school’s new location on Sept. 4, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., where prospective students will have the opportunity to check out the new facility. They’ll also have the opportunity to meet teachers and members of the board.