For the first time in Georgia, Level I of the German Language Certificate, otherwise known as Deutsches Sprachdiplom or “DSD,” is being offered to students statewide, and 21 German language students from Whitewater High are preparing to take the exam this month.
The DSD is an official language diploma granted by the Standing Conference of the Ministers of Education and Cultural Affairs of the States of the Federal Republic of Germany to high school students abroad. The Standing Committee is the German equivalent to the U.S. Department of Education.
The exam consists of four parts: a written essay, listening comprehension, reading comprehension, and oral communication. The examinations are prepared and evaluated by the Central Agency for the Schools Abroad (Zentralstelle für dos Auslandsschulwesen, or “ZFA”) in Cologne, Germany to ensure consistent grading standards and reliability.
Successful completion of Level I of the DSD is considered proof of knowledge of the German language necessary to be accepted to a preparatory course for admission to a German university. DSD exams are free of charge.
“Passing the exam allows students the ability to study their entire college career in Germany absolutely free, so potentially, it is a very valuable exam,” said Patrick Wallace, German teacher at Whitewater High.
Wallace adds that the diploma also gives students huge advantages when seeking job positions with German companies in Georgia since they are actively seeking students with German language skills.
There are only four schools in Georgia taking part in the exam, and according to Wallace, Whitewater High has the largest number of students being tested.
Students will take the written part of the exam March 9 at Whitewater High, and then the oral component, which is composed of an interview and presentation in German, will be conducted March 19 at Kennesaw State University.
