Schoolchildren put bilingual skills to the test with German Ambassador

Children welcomed the German Ambassador, Miguel Berger, to their primary school in an event to celebrate their bilingual skills yesterday.

During his visit to Judith Kerr Primary School (JKPS) in Half Moon Lane, Herne Hill, the ambassador took part in a tour of the school, met with pupils and listened in on German lessons.

From Reception through to Year 6, children at JKPS learn to speak German through stories, songs, role-play, lessons to help them better understand the language and develop their reading, speaking and writing skills.  

Mr Berger said: “I was deeply impressed by the enthusiasm with which the pupils at Judith Kerr Primary School learn German. 

“I do hope that the school, its staff and pupils keep up this excellent work.” 

Each week, staff provide up to two hours of German language lessons which are separated between those that can already speak German and those who are learning it as an additional language.

When children reach Year 6, the school encourages all pupils to sit an examination at Germany’s cultural institute, the Goethe-Institut. The exam gives children an internationally recognised qualification based on the European Framework For Languages. 

Andrea Pfeil from the Goethe-Institut attended the visit alongside the ambassador.

She described the children’s German classes as “truly inspiring” and said their skills with the language were “remarkable”.

Patrick Murphy, deputy headteacher at JKPS said: “Everyone at JKPS was delighted to welcome the German Ambassador and Andrea Pfeil from the Goethe-Institut to the school to learn more about how we promote bilingualism in the school, especially with regard to our German language programme.”

Pictured top: Ambassador (right) observing German classes at JKPS during his visit yesterday (Picture: JKPS)