AFTER a nearly 60-year break there will again be a German school in Bratislava. The German-Slovak school will open in September and offer classes at kindergarten and first-year elementary school level.
In addition to the core curriculum the school will offer classes in music, art, sport and foreign languages, including English. Children who do not yet speak German are welcome to attend. Both German- and Slovak-speaking teachers are being employed to team-teach children, so all children will soon become fluent in both languages.
The school's philosophy is to foster a climate of intercultural learning, where German, Slovak and other cultures meet.
Clauda Rüber, one of the school's founders said: "We will offer the children a wonderful chance to learn German and Slovak at an early age from native speakers. The children will profit all their lives from this. A Montessori-trained teacher from Germany will be class teacher in year one.
"We are putting the emphasis on creative and individualized teaching methods in a child-centred environment. We are a non-profit association and all parents will have a voice in the running of the school. We would also like to gain more sponsors to make the school fees affordable for all."
The school, located at Palisády 51 in Bratislava, will open on September 6, 2005.
For more information visit www.deutscheschule.sk
By Roderick Pritchard-Smith
