Bilingual Italian German School

[caterina2011 2]

Hi all,

 

my son (5 years old now) will start the primary school next year.

I am Italian and my husband is German. Our son speaks fluently both languages and we were looking for a school where he could continue to learn both languages and cultures. However we would like to stick to the German program (to avoid to have any problem in case we move to another city in Germany- my husband works in a bank and it might be moved to Frankfurt...) still offering something more than "normal" German schools.

We recently came across the "Scuola bilingue italo-tedesca Leonardo da Vinci"

http://www.ldv-muenchen.de/

which opened in 2013 in Munich (Obersendling). We had the chance to attend a presentation of the school, we as well had 1:1 session with teachers and the director and so far we have been impressed. It seems that this school is exactly what we are looking for.

The program is fully in line with primary schools in Bavaria. In addition there will be the second language (Italian or German) and more attention on music, arts and, of course, Italian culture. English (extremly important from my perspective) will start from third grade (this is not the case in German schools).

Let's say... not a piece of cake... but exactly what we are looking for for him!

Classes are small so that each pupil can get the attention he deserves. A gymnasium will be open in the next years.

Teachers are experienced and this is for me very important since more and more often schools (kindergarten etc.) tend to hire very young teachers and personell to pay them as less as possible...

I know a couple whose kid attends the italian-german bilingual school. They confirmed our impression. They just say that the kid is enthusiastic.

I would be happy to have your view and experience, guys... Especially if your son/daughter attends this school!

 

Thanks.

Kate

[Conquistador 11,153]

I don't know anything about this school (I had never heard of it prior to today), but English instruction does start in third grade in Bavaria (and in first grade in some other German states).

[caterina2011 2]

Sorry, you are right... check with my husband!

[Guest]

It would make sense to clarify how easy it will be in the future to transition to a regular German school if need be, especially to a Gymnasium (these tend to be very picky about whom to let in).

[caterina2011 2]

Good question: I asked them the same.

I have been told that the italian-german bilingual school started with 1. and 2. grade.

In 2 years (when children of 2. grade now will finish the primary school), they will open a Gymnasium (so the students can decide to stay in the school and in such case no acknoledgment needed).

The primary school shall be acknowledged ("Anerkennung") by the Italian system at the end of this year. For the aknowledgment by the German system, this can happen 5 years after the opening of the school (German rule).

Despite being true that German Gymnasiums are very "picky", it is true as well that most of private school in Munich (Phorms, Montessori, Waldorf etc.) do not have (and they do not even plan to get) the "Anerkennung".

[Guest]

I wonder to what extent this Gymnasium will be recognized as being equivalent to a public Gymnasium. Will its students be able to transfer to a regular Gymnasium if they wish to?

 

More importantly, will the students get a regular German Abitur at the end? If not, is the certificate they will get (e.g., the International Baccalaureate) listed among the qualifications that are accepted by the better universities in Germany and abroad? (for illustrative purposes: see here for various international qualifications and whether they are sufficient for admission to Oxford University in the UK).

[caterina2011 2]

Once the Gymnasium is acknowledged, the certificate will be equivalent to German Abitur and Italian Maturita'.

 

Anyone having their kids at Leonardo da Vinci school in Munich or in any bilingual school who is willing to share its experience?

[gaenor 1]

Hi everyone,

 

I am really interested in this conversation. Has anyone got any experience they would like to share? Kate, did you end up going to the Leonardo da Vinci School?

 

We moved to Munich about a year ago. Our son is not in school age yet but schooling is a topic that worries me a lot!!! We are not sure we want to put him into an all-German school but we haven't made up our minds yet. My husband is Italian and that's why this school would be ideal, it would address our "cultural needs" both for the German and the Italian culture - and both are very important to us :-)

 

I would be extremely grateful for any advice, input, feedback etc.

Thanks!!

[lmosdal 527]

Another option might be your local grade school augmented by Scuola Italiana at the Eltern Kind Zentrum in Schwabing.

 

Scuola Italiana Stimolare

l´uso attivo della lingua italiana per bimbi Italo-tedeschi

Roberta.Morandi@mac.com

[lauragioia 16]

I know that the Italian consulate wanted to open an Italian school this year....the European school has a good Italian section, very hard to get into, thought...

If you choose to go for an English speaking system, phorms is great! My kid just turned 5 and I signed her up to an Italian after school program, hat to keep it up

[caterina2011 2]

I decided then for the Bilingual Italian German School.

I will be able to tell you more when my son next September when my son will start.

For us (myself Italian, my husband German), it is important that both langagues are at the same level.

German schools, we are not very much convinced (my husband does not like the system...)

[Akilles 3]

Hi Caterina and Everybody,

 

I know that it´s an old topic, but i´m very interested in this conversation.

 

Somebody got more information or experience about international school and especially in the Bilingual Leonardo da Vinci school?!

 

Some feedback about it are very very welcome!

 

Cheers

 

 

[Italianmum 12]

Hi Akilles,

I can help if you want. My daughter attends the Leonardo da Vinci and will continue through the gymnasium there. We are extremely happy and so is she.

Her class is quite small, but she feels at home. Tuition is according to the Bavarian curricula, as follows the same rule as for the Montessori or Waldrfschule with regards to continuing throught he gymnasium and Abitur exams.

 

The kids learn both languages every day, doing both grammar, reading, maths etc. The primary language gets the priority in tuitition.

 

If interested, I can share my email and tel no

 

Itmum

 

 

[PandaMunich 16,858]

Leonardo da Vinci like nearly all other bilingual schools in Munich is only "staatlich anerkannt".

 

The only exceptions are:

1. the European School for kids of EPO employees, which is part of a network of schools for the offspring of people working for the European Commission and which is legislated to be equivalent to all EU member state school systems (it's a strange beast, but that way said offspring can enter university directly anywhere in the EU) and
2. the Jewish school, which is "staatlich anerkannt", i.e. completely equivalent to German state schools.

 

For an explanation of what these German expressions mean, please read:

 

[Akilles 3]

Dear Italianmum and PandaMunich,

 

Thank you for your reply! So you confirm that Leonardo da Vinci school is a staatlich anerkannt? So pupils can change whenever they like to a state school without exams? And is the same for the Gymnasium?

 

Have a nice day,

 

Aki

[Italianmum 12]

4 hours ago, Akilles said:

Dear Italianmum and PandaMunich,

 

Thank you for your reply! So you confirm that Leonardo da Vinci school is a staatlich anerkannt? So pupils can change whenever they like to a state school without exams? And is the same for the Gymnasium?

 

Have a nice day,

 

Aki

If this is true for the elementary, it is not true fr the gymnasium. But I would say that best is to call the school. they are always very open and helpful

[PandaMunich 16,858]

Nope sorry, I used the wrong expression above, Leonardo da Vinci is only "staatlich genehmigt".

 

This means that their pupils can only change to a state school if they pass an entry exam.

[Italianmum 12]

 @ Akilles there is a info evening on the gymnasium next week on April 14 at 1830

See quote from LDV website"  14. April 2016 um 18.30 Uhr im Multifunktionsraum der Schule Baierbrunner Str. 28 statt. Eine Kinderbetreuung ist organisiert. "

here the link

http://www.ldv-muenchen.de/schule/vision/13-events/informationsveranstaltungen/86-infoabend-f%C3%BCr-das-gymnasium-2.html

 

might be worth going there, collect all info needed and can ask any question you still have

 

Itmum

[Akilles 3]

Ah ok now is more clear!

 

@PandaMunich: So if i understood well it´s more easier to move from public to private school rather than private to public, where is very hard in Bavaria.

The despite is if the private school " staatlich genehmigt " give to the pupils a proper preparation for the final exams before going to university, but at the same time i´m bit worried about the German school system where children have to decide at the 4th year of Grundschule about their future! For example in case you don´t agree with the teachers about the highscohool they recommend the only solution is a private one...

@Italianmum: Thank you for your advice! 

[PandaMunich 16,858]

It's the average mark a pupil has on 2. May during grade 4 which decides whether that child can go on directly to the Gymnasium, the average of Maths, German and History has to be 2.33 or better.

 

If your child didn't attend a German school from grade 1, then the average needed to get into the Gymnasium is allowed to be worse, up to 3.33 (but only if the average is that bad because of the child's weakness in German), details in here: 

https://www.schulberatung.bayern.de/schulberatung/bayern/schullaufbahnberatung/schullaufbahnen/grundschule/index_10105.asp

 

and in here: