BE THE ONE – International German Olympics (IDO) 2016

It’s that time again! 

The International German Olympics are scheduled to take place from July 17 – 30, 2016 in Berlin.

The Goethe-Instituts in the USA and the Internationale Deutschlehrerverband (IDV) invite US high school students to participate in the two preliminary rounds and to qualify for the international final round in Berlin. The IDO is not just about competing for the title of the world’s best student of German, but also about experiencing and understanding other cultures.

Based on the motto BE THE ONE, the Goethe-Institut Chicago is searching for two “Olympic athletes“ to represent the USA in Berlin. They will prove their knowledge of the German language and culture in a competition with students from 50 different nations.

The two national preliminary rounds in the USA are based on two language levels:

- Level A2: Basic User
(2 years of German)

- Level B1/2: Independent User
(3-4 years of German)

(These classifications correspond to the levels of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR).

IDO Schedule of Events of the IDO:
National Preliminary Round (online, October 12 – 16, 2015)
The first preliminary round takes place online. German teachers can nominate up to four students (who speak German on an A2 or B1/B2 level, respectively) until October 5, 2015. The nominated students sign up online and will receive an access code for the Moodle page, where they will have to do a variety of exercises between October 12 and 16, 2015.

National Final Round (Chicago, December 4 and 5, 2015) 
The national final round for the 14 finalists will take place on December 4 and 5 at the Goethe-Institut Chicago. Students will complete to solve tasks in the style of an “Olympic pentathlon” that tests listening skills, reading skills, writing, creativity, and presentation. A cultural program including a visit to the Chicago Christkindlmarkt and a scavenger hunt in the German district are also planned. The two best “Olympic athletes” are chosen to represent the USA in the International German Olympics in Berlin in the summer of 2016.

International Final Round in Germany (Berlin, July 17 – 30, 2016) 
During the first week, the two “Olympic athletes” representing the USA will be trained in content and language in preparation for the competition. In the second week, they will compete in the tripartite competition: preparation of a poster, presentation, and quiz.

The prizes are scholarships for youth courses to Germany during the summer of 2017.

Teachers accompanying their students will participate in a seminar on various topics (e.g. didactics/methodology, regional studies) as well as in IDO events like the grand opening, presentations, and the awards ceremony.

The costs for travel and accommodations for the two participants as well as for one accompanying teacher are fully covered.

Timeline 

October 5, 2015
Deadline for Nominations to Participate in the National Preliminary Round USA 

October 6–11, 2015
Students are Receiving Access Codes for our Moodle Platform

October 12–16, 2015
National Preliminary Round: Online Exercises 

October 23, 2015
Notification to Schools about Participation in the National Final Round in Chicago 

December 4 and 5, 2015
National Final Round at the Goethe-Institut Chicago (14 students) 

July 17–30, 2016
International Final Round in Germany 

Conditions for Participation 
In order to participate, students must be at least 14 years old by July 17, 2016 and cannot be more than 19 years old by July 30, 2016.

For reasons of fairness, the following students will not be allowed to participate:

1. students who have lived for more than six consecutive months in a German-speaking country,
2. students from German schools abroad and from local private schools whose language of instruction is predominantly German,
3. students who have already started their studies at a college or university, and
4. native speakers.

Nomination form (PDF)


Further information:
Anja Schmitt
Language Consultant
anja.schmitt@chicago.goethe.org

Goethe-Institut Chicago
150 N Michigan Ave, Suite 200
Chicago IL 60601
Tel. +1- 312-263-0472
Fax +1- 312-263-0476