Our School

The German School of the East Bay (GSEB) was founded in 1962  and incorporated in 1966. The school is located in Emeryville, California. GSEB is committed to teaching the language and culture of German-speaking countries to our multicultural students from around the Bay, and is a non-profit school run by an all-volunteer board. Our teachers are mostly native speakers who offer a wonderful spectrum of backgrounds and teaching experience to their students.

GSEB offers classes for kids and adults (beginner to advanced levels) on Saturday mornings from 9:30am to 12:00pm. The school year starts mid-September and ends mid-May.

Teachers
Kids: Julia R., Antonia S., Justin F., Will, Alexander, Meah
Teenagers: Haley H., Stella S., Karl P.
Adults: Reza G., Martin L., Otti K.

GSEB is a member of GASANC: Founded in 1991, GASANC (German American School Association of Northern California) is an umbrella organization representing the independently operated German language Saturday schools in the greater San Francisco Bay Area. For the past 30 years, GASANC has supported the member schools by representing them to the greater German community, including the German government. The member schools share information, expertise, support each other, and network with other local and national German and German language organizations.

Fun Facts!

  • Students have gone on to enroll in German-language universities in: Freiburg, Heidelberg, München, Rostock and many other cities in Germany, as well as Insbruck, Austria and Zürich, Switzerland.

  • Former GSEB student went on to study German in Portland, OR.

  • Students have been selected to participate in the Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange (CBYX).

  • One GSEB student won the 2021 North American “Jugend debattiert” (Youth Debate) competition.

  • Longtime teacher received the German Order of Merit (Bundesverdienstkreuz) for introducing the DSD exams in the SF Bay Area Saturday Schools.

Testimonials

“Because of GSEB, I was able to improve my German speaking and writing skills. I can go to Germany for university and talk with my German family.”

“Our beginner class for adults has been great. The small class size means you receive individual attention and there’s lots of interaction with both the teacher and among the other students.”

“It’s been fun. The staff is super friendly and attentive and keeps the fun factor alive with small events for all of the students, kids and adults both. We’re excited to keep going, so this won’t be our last class.”

“When I began the class I could say ‘danke schön’ and count to 10 in German. I have progressed so much in just a few months – I can compose and speak simple sentences, and count into the millions!”

“One of my favorite times at GSEB was when I had a really fun teacher who let us have a water balloon fight in the winter before he moved back to Austria.”

Questions?

Don’t hesitate to contact us with any questions or concerns.