ready to learn   •   ready to succeed   •   ready for life

guage skills.

   The best method for teaching them, I soon found out, is by singing German songs. The kids not only learn this way, they are also having a lot of fun. In a time where the world is growing closer and closer through all kinds of technology, it becomes very important to know one or more foreign languages.

   Every baby, no matter what nationality, is able to learn any kind of language when taught early and by a native speaker. We experienced this in my family.

   One of my students was a little Mexican girl who knew Spanish and English. She was already bilingual and she picked up the German even faster than everybody else.

   I wanted my son to learn Spanish, so I asked the girl’s mother if she would be

willing to “swap” kids with me once a week. She agreed, and for over two years we did!

   Her daughter and I read German books and listened to German tapes and songs or watched German videos. I even took her grocery shopping with me and while filling my cart I taught her the German words for the things we were buying. At the same time, my son was in a Spanish-speaking environment and I was absolutely amazed at how much he learned.

   Based on the interest expressed by the school where I volunteered, I started a German-After-School program for Grosse Ile Schools at the beginning of 2002, together with the local recreation department. We even offered a one-week German camp in the summer for children, and the kids had a

wonderful time learning German. 

   The German-After- School program is back this fall in both elementary schools on Grosse Ile and a parent-toddler class is coming up soon for the first time. All classes are open to non-residents as well.

   If you would like more information about this topic you may want to check out my Web site at www.euroadroit.com or contact me by e-mail at info@euroadroit.com. 

   Claudia Poigne-Klamm is a Grosse Ile resident and mother of two children.  She is a native of Germany and has been living on Grosse Ile for the past nine years.

Parents/Caregivers can work together to make smooth transition to day care

See BALTMAN, Page 4