You are a citizen of a German speaking country and may be soon transferring to Canada or you’ve already arrived here with your family. Your children are at the school-going age, and you are concerned about their education, preserving their mother tongue, and preparing them for the possibility of continuing their school and educational career later in Europe. Will you be able to find German schools in Canada?

The answer is yes. Throughout Canada, there are German schools offering language courses and different types of German education. One helpful resource might be The Canadian Association of German Language Schools, which offers a great overview of German language schools. The main focus of these schools is to teach the German language: vocabulary, grammar and pronunciation. In addition to these, there are a few schools teaching about German history, geography and culture. Their website also lists numerous associations where teachers, students and families can find information, camaraderie and support.

Also be sure to check out our in-depth article on Moving to Canada as a Student.

The Canadian School System

As a bilingual nation, education is Canada is typically available in French and English. Schooling in Quebec is primarily offered in French, in accordance with the 1977 Charter of the French Language (Bill 101), however it is always possible for Anglophones to claim an exception and receive their education mostly in English. In the rest of Canada, where English is the primary language, schooling will mostly be in English, while Francophones will have the option of enrolling in private French schools.

Although less common — as German is not one of the official language of the country — those families and students who prefer to be educated in German will find a few German schools to chose from, especially for the kindergartners and younger elementary school children. Most German schools in Canada only offer language classes, as a supplement to full-time schooling; but a couple of them offer a complete education in German.

A list of German Schools in Canada by Province

Alberta:

  • German Language School Society of Edmonton: Founded in 1959 by a group of German mothers, this school offers complete German education from preschool through grade 12, as well as classes for adults. Students can even earn a German diploma (Abitur).
  • Calgary German Language School Society: A non-profit organization offering German language courses for students in pre-school to grade 12, and evening classes for adults, from beginner to advanced levels.

British Columbia:

  • Surrey German School: Offering weekend language classes for students in pre-school to grade 12, as well as adult. The courses aim to teach a mastery of the German language and an appreciation for German culture.
  • Vancouver Westside German School: Offering K-12 after-school German language courses.
  • German School North Shore: German language classes are offered on a weekly basis for students K-12.
  • Victoria German School: A recognized heritage language school offering a variety of German languages course for all ages, assisting with Germany university requirements, and hosting a number of cultural events throughout the year.
  • Comox Valley German Language School:  Founded in 2015 to provide German language education primarily for children in the Comox Valley area, with classes on a weekly basis.

Manitoba:

  • MGLE Inc. (Manitobans for German Language Education): Saturday classes providing German language classes to students of all ages and abilities in Winnipeg.
  • English-German Bilingual – Princess Margaret School: A bilingual program for students K-5; teaching classes in Health, Social Studies, and German Language Arts in German; while Science, Math, Physical Education, and English Language Arts are studied in English. The students receive Music instruction in both languages, and Art in either of the two.
  • South Winnipeg Kinderschule: A small German nursery school program in Winnipeg, offering a child-focussed and developmentally appropriate emergent curriculum with an emphasis on the arts and music.
  • Donwood Elementary School: A dual track elementary school providing a rich education in either English or German Bilingual programming.

Ontario:

Quebec:

Saskatchewan:

  • German Language School Saskatoon : Providing after-school and evening classes for all ages, with the option of earning the German Language Diploma.
  • Das Schulhaus: The Regina German Language School Inc. offers Saturday classes for school children and evening course for adults.

Nova Scotia:

ARIANNE Relocation Specialists have been helping international families and professionals get settled in Canada for more than 20 years. Contact us to find out how we can help you make a smooth and successful transition to your new country. Willkommen in Kanada!

Arianne Relocation Banner