Germanic-American Institute

Herzlich Willkommen beim Germanic-American Institute!

Connecting people to a broader world through German language and culture.

Prost to a safer celebration!
Registration for the Kaiser's Biergarten and Take Home Kits is closed. Please join the celebration with our virtual events, Oktoberfest Trivia and live polka music. Details below.

Join Oktoberfest Virtual Trivia | Saturday September 19, 7–8 PM
Tune in for the first-ever Oktoberfest Trivia Competition—virtually—and win some of the GAI’s limited-edition Oktoberfest Take Home Kits with authentic German beer and treats for your own celebration and bragging rights.

Three rounds of questions every 15 minutes will be announced on the GAI’s Facebook page starting at 7 p.m. on Saturday, September 19. Each round will have a winner who can pick up their “prize” kits at the GAI Haus on Sunday, September 20.

Live Music with the Chmielewski Funtime Band | Sunday September 20 | 4 PM
The Chmielewski Funtime Band is a local and international polka legend not to be missed! Led by accomplished accordionist Florian Chmielewski, the band is the product of a Polish-American family that has been making music together for over 137 years. Join them live from the Kaiser’s Biergarten on the GAI lawn for a one-of-a-kind concert that will bring the festive sounds of polka to your personal Oktoberfest celebration! Live on the GAI’s YouTube channel

Jump start your German language learning with our START 1-2-3 beginner classes
All START classes are 12 weeks long and are offered online via Zoom or in person with social distancing at the GAI Haus. If you are a beginner with no German experience or up to one year of language instruction, these classes will put you on the road to learning German! Register here

Learn Deutsch@home
Our popular online-only classes offer the same high-quality German instruction as our in-person sessions. Learn from experienced language instructors (via live online-classes) from the convenience of your home—whether you live here in Minnesota, or half-way around the globe. Register here

Fall classes at the GAI Haus
Fall class options include START 1-2-3 for beginners and options for intermediate and advanced students. These classes will follow social distancing protocols while offering in-person interactions with your instructor and classmates. Register here

Street Art and George Floyd—a new multimedia project from the GAI
The GAI recently connected with the local scholars and students at St. Thomas University who created the Urban Art Mapping George Floyd and Anti-Racist Street Art database. In Minnesota and around the world, street art has been an important outlet for citizens to express their grief, outrage, and hope about the future after the death of George Floyd on May 25, 2020. From breathtaking murals to poignant graffiti, this collection captures the breadth of street art that has been created in response to this moment. Find out more about this multimedia project, which was inspired by the Goethe Institute’s #artbits blog. More about the project

The GAI Haus continues to be closed to the public except for people who are registered for classes and programs. Please contact the office if you need to visit the Haus.

Register Today

CLASSES FOR ADULTS
CLASSES FOR KIDS & TEENS

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Deutsche Tage Masks:
One-of-a-Kind!
Find out more about our hand-sewn Deutsche Tage masks.
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