Steinmühle Bilingual Elementary School

Through the Steinmühle Bilingual Elementary School, Steinmühle has consistently further developed its comprehensive language program and its experience in fostering an international environment. It serves as the foundation for an international high school track, which will be expanded to include up to 10th grade by the 2027–28 school year.

Our Target Audiences

Our bilingual elementary school is a good fit for students from the following areas:

Students who come from abroad, wish to improve their language skills in both English and German, and want to be able to integrate into both the Hessian and international school systems.

Students whose parents plan to spend an extended period abroad for work-related reasons in the foreseeable future or who are otherwise involved in international contexts. With regard to their ability to transition to further education, the same applies to them as to the group mentioned above.

The size of the Steinmühle Bilingual Elementary School is determined by the fact that it has only one class per grade level. One class is planned for each grade level, each of which is expected to accommodate approximately 16 to 20 students.

Bilingualism

At the Steinmühle Bilingual Elementary School, the curriculum is taught in both English and German, which helps children increasingly perceive these two languages as their native languages. English and German are treated as equal languages. The goal, therefore, is to develop language skills in both languages equally.

Approaches to Foreign Language Acquisition

To ensure that students at the Steinmühle Bilingual Elementary School become truly bilingual, the school employs two different methods of foreign language acquisition: bilingual instruction and immersion.

Bilingual Instruction

In bilingual classes, part of the curriculum is taught in English and part in German.

The goal is for students to acquire a solid vocabulary in these subjects and to develop the ability to use appropriate subject-specific language in both languages. This bilingual teaching methodology is applied in the four subjects of religion, physical education, art, and music.

The subjects listed are taught by a teacher who must be proficient in both English and German, as has been the practice for years in Steinmühle’s bilingual classes at the lower secondary level. If the situation in the class requires it, an assistant may also be assigned.

Immersion

In the immersion method, the new language is the language of instruction and daily communication. Following the “one person—one language” principle, one teacher speaks only German, while the other speaks only English. The teacher speaking the foreign language reinforces everything they say with facial expressions, gestures, or pointing. The students then figure out the language on their own based on the context of the situation. This mimics the natural way children learn languages, regardless of whether it is their native language or their first foreign language. Immersion is therefore considered a child-centered and motivating method that largely avoids coercion and pressure to perform. The teacher’s primary goal is to convey the subject matter, not the new language.

At the Steinmühle Bilingual Elementary School, this immersion method is also used in four academic subjects—and here, too, with varying emphases:

In English class...

…the language of instruction is, of course, English. Whenever possible, a native English-speaking teacher takes primary responsibility for teaching English. For students whose native language is not English, a teaching assistant enriches the lessons by providing differentiated instruction and, when necessary, offering focused “English as a Second Language” instruction in a separate room for certain phases of the lesson.

The German course...

…is structured like the English class—only the other way around and with a teaching assistant who is trained in “German as a Second Language.”

In the subjects of mathematics and social studies...

…the languages of instruction are English and German. The teacher consistently communicates in English, while the teaching assistant consistently communicates in German—or vice versa. The “pure teaching” principle states that no German-speaking teacher may be present when the English-speaking teacher is teaching, because this could lead to confusion among the students and thus would not be conducive to language acquisition. On the other hand, we believe—especially in the subjects of mathematics and social studies—that it is necessary to have someone available who can help a student in their native language in the event of comprehension difficulties. In addition, subject-specific vocabulary must be developed in both languages.

It follows from the description above that two teachers are also assigned to the subjects of mathematics and general studies: one teacher whose primary language of instruction is English and one whose primary language of instruction is German. In each case, one of the teachers takes primary responsibility for teaching the class, while the other assists. Immersion is ensured in that each teacher or assistant consistently and exclusively communicates in their own language.

The Class Schedule The School Day The Admissions Process

The Class Schedule for the Steinmühle Bilingual Elementary School

Based on the content and skills to be taught, we have developed a curriculum for the Steinmühle Bilingual Elementary School that ensures elementary school students can transfer to either the German or the international school system at any time.

Subjects / Areas of Study	1	2	3	4	1 through 4
Religion / Religion	2	2	1	1	6
German / German	6	6	5	5	22
Social Studies / Science	2	2	4	4	12
Mathematics / Maths	5	5	5	5	20
Art/Music / Arts/Music	3	3	4	4	14
Sports / Physical Education	3	3	3	3	12
English / English	5	5	5	5	20
Elective Course	2	2	2	2	8
Class Council / Class Meeting	1	1	1	1	4
Total	29	29	29	29	118

A School Day at Steinmühle Bilingual Elementary School

The following table shows how a school day is structured at the Steinmühle Bilingual Elementary School. The school offers 30 class periods per week—far more than required by the Hessian curriculum. There are reasons for this high number of class periods, and it has certain implications.

The reasons for this lie, on the one hand, in the bilingual nature of elementary school education and, on the other hand, in the pedagogical approach, which is designed to give students the opportunity to learn at a more relaxed pace, in a way that is guided by their interests, and through collaboration.

It follows, therefore, that students must be provided with a daily routine structured in a way that is appropriate for children: extended breaks with healthy meals, numerous opportunities for physical activity, holistic play experiences, and, if needed, even the option of a short afternoon nap (“power nap”).

Time	Phase
7:30 – 8:00 a.m.	Flexible start time
8:00 – 8:10 a.m.	Morning Circle
8:10 – 8:55 a.m.	Class
8:55 – 9:35 a.m.	Class
9:35 – 10:05 a.m.	Breakfast
10:05 – 10:50 a.m.	Class
10:50 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.	Class
11:30 – 11:40 a.m.	Break
11:40 a.m. – 12:25 p.m.	Lunch in the dining hall
12:25 – 1:10 p.m.	Lunch break – play / move around / rest
1:10 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.	Class
2:00 – 2:45 p.m.	Class
2:45 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.	Optional Childcare Session 1
4:00 – 5:00 p.m.	Optional Childcare Session 2