Students at GISW are taught using the method curriculum from fifth through tenth grade.  This curriculum teaches the students skills which are not limited to the individual subjects in which they are taught, but also facilitate the students’ overall learning and enriches their education in general.  The methods are incorporated into learning exercises which are practiced in each of the different subject areas:

Fifth Grade:

o German: reading comprehension, marking, structuring
o Math: time management, learning and retention
o NaWi: Class work, visualization, i.e. with learning posters and journal design

Sixth Grade:

o Spanish / French: methods of foreign language teaching

Seventh Grade:

o History / Computer Science: information retrieval using books and new media

Eight Grade:

o Art / Computer Science: poster design (as opposed to learning posters)

Ninth Grade:

o Class Officers: team development

Tenth Grade:

o German / Social Studies: rhetorical foundations, techniques of a successful presentation

An Example of This Training Method in the Tenth Grade:
The training focuses on the practical use of various speech and conversational situations (such as speech, lectures, discussions, debates) under rhetorical aspects.  Within the training days appropriate situations will be prepared and tested. The various presentations are, inter alia, accompanied by video footage and then evaluated. The aim of the training days is the development of a theoretical framework and the production of practical conversational histories which will improve and cement the language skills of our students.

Rhetorical Principles (Free Speech)
- The correct pose (posture when speaking)
- Play with language and voice (voice exercises for clear pronunciation; effect of voice volume)
- Development of a statement of a self-selected topic (exercise of free speech)

Presentation Techniques (Abstract)
- Learn to capture specialized texts
- Designing a technical lecture with various media
- Presentation to other groups, not only to own class