Highland Hall Waldorf School
17100 Superior St.
Northridge, CA 91325
School Director E-mail: Ulli.Skillman@gasaschool.org
Classes are from 9-12 on Saturday mornings
Classes offered at the Northridge German School location
Kindergarten: 4 – 6 year old students
Introduction to the German language and culture by working on oral comprehension, develop and review vocabulary and encourage speaking through games, songs, crafts and additional fun activities. We work on letter and sound recognition and work towards basic reading and writing skills.
Unterstufe I / A1: 6 – 10 year old students
The focus is on expanding vocabulary and verbal skills through age appropriate topics and a variety of activities. With the introduction to basic German grammar, writing skills will also be promoted. A1 Testing starts for some students.
Mittelstufe / A2: 10 – 16 year old students
Emphasis on vocabulary enrichment and development of writing and grammar skills in preparation for A1 and A2 Testing (see Zentralstelle für das Auslandsschulwesen). Preparation for AATG II testing (American Association of Teachers of German). There is some overlap with other levels depending on language level.
Future Course: Mittelstufe / Oberstufe: 14 – 17 year old students
Goal for the students is to achieve written and oral competence in German. Preparation for AATG III – IV Testing (American Association of Teachers of German), DSD 1 and 2 Testing (see Zentralstelle für das Auslandsschulwesen). There is some overlap with other levels depending on language level.
OUR TEACHERS
Ulli Skillman
Ulli Skillman was born in Germany, but spent some of her formative years living in the United States. When the family returned to Germany, Ulrike was fluent in English and quickly caught up with her German peers as kids do. After completing her primary education in Germany, apprenticing as a dental technician, and enrolling in univerity, her studies brought her back to the US. She received a Masters Degree from the University of Kansas and a degree in Secondary Education in California. She teaches mathematics at Saugus High School.
Ulli began teaching German as a substitute at GASA Northridge in 2017. She has had her own classes since 2019. She is the current director of the GASA Northridge location and teaches Mittelstufe / A2. Ulli has a daughter enrolled at the school and is excited to see her students grow their knowledge of the German language and culture.
Katharina Salinger
Katharina Salinger grew up on a farm in Northern German. She has a B.A. in Chinese and Economics from the university of London and lived in Italy, England, China, France, JApan and Singapore. During college, Katharina tutored German. After college she spent a year in Japan teaching Englush to business professionals. Katharina’s linguistic talents extend to German, English, French, Italian, Chinese and Japanese. In 2007, Katharina ventured to Los Angeles from Singapore where she became a Visual Effects Producer for blockbuster movies leaving her mark in the world of visual storytelling, Additionally, she worked as a Project Manager for Disney Imagineering R&D.
Now, as a stay at home mother, her heart lies with her children and the GASA Northridge community. Her enthusiasm for languages makes her a dynamic educator. With a genuine passion for the German language and culture, she is committed to instilling the joy of learning German to the next generation. Katharina was a substitute teacher at GASA in 2023, and she is now embarking on her first year of teaching the 2023-2024 GASA Northridge Saturday class.
Tamara Zetsche
Tamara Zetsche was born and raised in a multicultural German, Chilean and Russian community in Santiago, Chile. She graduated from Deutsche Schule zu Santiago with a German Sprachdiplom, studied Physical Therapy at Universidad de Chile and moved to the US in 1978 where she has practiced Physical Therapy since.
Tamara began her teaching carrier in 2003 by assisting Luise Strauss in the Kindergarten Class and then taking her class over in 2006. Her two sons, Pedro and Walter completed the German Saturday program at the German School in Northridge. She remains a vital part of the Northridge school.
Martina Tassius
Martina Tassius was born and raised in a little town near Kassel, Germany called Korbach where she lived for the first 30 years of her life. Martina received a Business Degree in Banking from IHK in Kassel. In 1996, she worked as an official German Language Agent for the Olympic Games (ACOG) in Atlanta, GA after passing the German Exam at Georgia State University. Martina has always kept her connection to Germany, both culturally and linguistically. She has been working for the German Consulate in Los Angeles since 2000.
Martina has been teaching German since 1998 for GASA. Additionally, she has been the director of the Encino and Northridge GASA locations and has since created a very successful Adult Class. She has a daughter who attended GASA since she was 3 years old and who has passed the German AP test with high marks. Martina has been very happy with the education her daughter has received through GASA and it has been nothing but a pleasure for Martina being a teacher and director for GASA. She continues to stay connected with GASA Northridge as a substitute teacher.
Gertrud Kruchen
Gertrud Kruchen was born and raised in Germany. Educated as a Sparkassenkaufmann. She moved to California and worked in the international banking industry while finishing her BA in Business Finance at Cal. State Northridge. Gertrud got married and had a daughter. She continued her education to receive her credentials in Elementary and Secondary Education and began teaching German at Venice High School. She taught in LAUSD for 14 years.
Frau Kruchen joined GASA and taught German at the Saturday School, while her daughter attended the school. She is currently a Language Coordinator / teacher at Goethe International Charter School, while teaching the adult classes and various other levels online. She continues to stay connected with GASA Northridge as a substitute teacher.
