Rebecca Henderson Last updated: 6 Great German Courses to Earn High School Credit Online
Whether you’re looking to supplement your learning at a traditional school, building a virtual or homeschool program or just returning to school as an adult, there are lots of great options for you from beginning to AP German.
In this post, I’ll show you how you can earn high school credits in German online.
Contents
- Why Earn High School Credits in German?
- Shouldn’t I learn a Language In-person?
- How Much Do Online German Courses for High School Credit Cost?
- How Do I Know If My High School Will Accept the German Credits?
- 6 Online German Courses That Offer High School Credit
- And One More Thing...
Download: This blog post is available as a convenient and portable PDF that you can take anywhere. Click here to get a copy. (Download)
Why Earn High School Credits in German?
If you’re looking to speak German fluently, earning credits through an online language course can be a great way to work towards that goal while also rounding out your knowledge and preparing for your future.
For one thing, official credits in German will look great on your transcript or resume, and demonstrate your abilities and interests beyond required school subjects like math, science and English. It can also qualify as part of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) curriculum for those interested in sports careers.
Learning German online for high school credits is also a good workaround for those who are home-schooled or going back to school.
At the end of the day, second-language fluency opens a lot of doors, both externally and internally.
Shouldn’t I learn a Language In-person?
Learning German online can be as productive as learning the language in a typical classroom.
With an online high school German course, a slew of multimedia resources is only a click away. Plus, commuting time when you’re learning online consists of waiting for a web page to load, rather than traffic jams and drop-off lines. This abundance of time allows for individually-paced courses where you’re able to focus on problem areas as needed (rather than worrying about keeping up with the rest of the class).
Truthfully, language does require social interaction, so it’s important to supplement online learning with live interaction. This can easily be achieved by joining local German-speaking groups or Skyping German language partners to practice language skills.
You can also use immersion programs to get an extra dose of real German if you don’t yet have someone to practice with, or you simply want more context for your learning.
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How Much Do Online German Courses for High School Credit Cost?
Learning a second language can be affordable. The typical cost of a language course for high school credit really depends on what level you’re at in the language and what classes you want to take. Many of the basics of German can be self-taught using online resources already freely available, but proper instruction is key to building and expanding upon a solid foundation.
Most of the courses we’ll introduce to you here charge about $600 to $700 for one year’s instruction. However, a lot of sites and online schools may offer financial aid to those who qualify, depending on your circumstances.
The best way to choose an online high school for German credits is to consider your budget and what kind of instruction fits your lifestyle best. Review each school you’re considering and weigh your options.
How Do I Know If My High School Will Accept the German Credits?
The best way to verify acceptance is to speak with the advisors at your current high school. You can also speak with representatives at the high school institution you’re considering as well.
Many high schools have established standards their graduating students must meet in order to receive a diploma, so if the standards align, you shouldn’t have any problems. If you’re unsure about the certifications, research them.
Always verify before you register with an online high school—don’t pay for a class until you know the credits will transfer successfully!
6 Online German Courses That Offer High School Credit
Apex Learning Virtual School: German I
The curriculum for this German I course consists of the basics you’d look for at this level: listening, speaking, reading and writing in a variety of situations. Areas of focus include vocabulary, grammar, reading comprehension and speaking activities.
Students will be asked to compile multimedia presentations on aspects of German culture. This course promises to be interactive and applicable to students looking to become fluent in German.
The courses from Apex Learning Virtual School align with the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Language (ACTFL) and are approved by the NCAA and the University of California (UC). Costs for this course are $350 for each semester or $700 for one year of study.
LanguageBird: Multiple Levels
The courses at LanguageBird also center upon listening, speaking, reading and writing skills, with an emphasis on real-world communication. The syllabus states German will be spoken more often than English, so students will be practicing their Deutsch (German) from the get-go.
These courses will teach students cultural awareness and dealing with situations in real time, for real life. Internet research, multimedia use and written materials are all critical components to online learning at LanguageBird.
The NCAA and University of California both approve the courses from LanguageBird, which are also Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) accredited. Cost for one year at LanguageBird is $1,997, while a single semester is $1,080. Tutoring and test prep sessions range from $60 to $75, while conversational lessons are only $50 to $65 each.
Sterling Academy: German I and II
In these courses, students will play games to practice their skills and will learn about the culture of several German-speaking countries and regions. Most students typically sign up for the full-credit, two-semester course ($395) but a one-semester option is available as well ($225).
To tie students’ knowledge together and gauge performance and growth, the course begins with a story that starts out told in English and German but slowly morphs into just German.
As with many of the courses we’ll discuss here, Sterling Academy’s program has been reviewed and accepted by the ACTFL. The instruction is also accredited by AdvancED.
Fuel Education: German I, II and III
Conversational skills are key to success in these courses and each level builds upon the foundation established in the previous semester. There’s also an emphasis on culturally-relevant, multimedia learning material.
In the German III course students will get upper-level grammar lessons and will start preparing for everyday communication in German life.
Fuel Education’s program is perhaps one of the more affordable, at $319 per semester plus the cost of books and materials. Classes typically run two semesters, so a full year costs just over $600. Fuel Education’s instruction is accepted by the ACTFL.
The Virtual High School: German Language and Culture
The program at The Virtual High School includes lots of authentic material like voice recordings, German websites, videos, radio and newspaper and magazine articles. German history and geography are discussed alongside vocabulary, grammar and fairy tales.
Speaking and reading are prioritized in the first few classes, but if you’d like to see more of the syllabus, it’s available online for review.
Oklahoma State University: German I-IV and AP German
These courses come from Oklahoma State University’s longstanding online high school German program. They emphasize conversational skills, German culture, grammar and vocabulary.
Students are required to call in for a tutoring lesson and if you’re curious to know more about what subjects taught in this course, you can find the syllabus at the link above.
Certified by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC), the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act and the Oklahoma Department of Education, courses at Oklahoma State University cost $250 for German I through IV levels, and $350 for the German AP course.
German AP scores often transfer to colleges across the nation, so paying to prepare for and take the German AP test might be a good investment if you’re looking to get ahead before you even matriculate.
Obtaining an education doesn’t mean you always have to go with the normal flow. Look into taking German courses online for high school credit and you can develop your language skills!
Download: This blog post is available as a convenient and portable PDF that you can take anywhere. Click here to get a copy. (Download)
And One More Thing...
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