German Language and Culture Institute

A little history....  

The German Language and Culture Institute is the result of a pilot project that began in Spring of 2006, about the same time when the Rilke Schule project was initiated. Noticing a lack of opportunities for adults to learn the German language and discover the culture of German-speaking countries in a relaxed and leisurely environment, I offered one class a couple of times in the Pioneer School House in downtown Anchorage. We started with 12 students.

Then Mrs. Debbie Brewer joined my class. She is also a teacher at Lumen Christi High School   and she graciously offered me her classroom.  The classes  moved from downtown Anchorage to Lumen Christi High School on Jewel Lake Road and thus began a marvellous time.Mrs. Brewer has a great science classroom with a fantastic saltwater fish tank, which offered quite the conversational opportunities for the students. I much appreciated the warm hospitality that was extended to me by Principal Jim Yeargan and the entire staff. It was difficult to say good-bye to Lumen Christi, once Rilke Schule opened its doors.

Word-of-mouth advertisement has helped to increase the course offerings to four or five classes per week. Two of the "original students" are still with me. The opening of Rilke Schule German School of Arts and Sciences , of which I am a co-founder, represented also a new development for the German and Language and Culture Institute. The school's charter goals stated:

Classes in German will be offered to parents
and other adults who wish to learn German.

My adult German classes have now their permanent home at Rilke Schule.

Method of Teaching

Dr. Carlson’s teaching philosophy is best described in response to a quote from renowned adult educator Stephen Brookfield:
 

The more we teach something and the farther we travel from our first experiences of learning it, the easier it is to forget the fears and terrors new learning can provoke.

Keeping this quote in mind and remembering her own language learning experiences, Dr. Carlson creates a fun, and relaxed learning environment that kindles students’ natural curiosity for the German language and its cultures and nurtures an enthusiasm to learn.  

The instructor considers the learners’ interests and the rich life experiences they bring to the classroom. In a safe learning environment that we create together you will overcome possible initial feelings of inhibition and anxiety. Learning to play with the language is an important aspect in all classes. Authentic texts and communicative situations underlie the learning and complement the goals and key topics of each lesson.

In class learners use a modern textbook and additional up-to-date authentic materials and teaching aids suitable for practice purposes. Students receive regular homework assignments to help them gain a deeper understanding of the course material and the language. The presentation of seasonal cultural vignettes, cultural video clips, movies, and many partner and group activities accompany the learning process.

Antje Carlson . . . 

. . . is a native German and a native speaker of the German language.  Born in Germany,  she grew up in Germany and Austria but has called Alaska home since 1994. She completed formal studies and research in German instruction and learning in adulthood. She received her Ph. D.  from Union Institute and University in Cincinnati, OH. Dr. Carlson also received a certificate from the German Goethe Institute in the methods and didactics in teaching German as a foreign language. She taught German at the University of Alaska Anchorage for several years. She has taught German online and on campus at Alaska Pacific University and at Wayland Baptist University where she instructed German and Research Writing Methods.

The connection to Rilke Schule  

Dr. Carlson is the co-founder of Rilke Schule and currently serves as its APC Secretary. In line with Rilke Schule's vision to address the entire family in the German learning process, she is now fully committed to coordinating and instructing adult German courses for the school. 

Contact Information:

If you have an questions, please contact:

Antje Carlson    

Tel: 907-345-0426    

 E-Mail:

A.Carlson@german-in-anchorage.org