PA German Classes
Sponsored by the Grossdaadi Grundsow Lodges

The 17 Pennsylvania German Groundhog Lodges in the eastern part of our state are again sponsoring and supporting the schools within our areas for the purpose of teaching the language of our forefathers, Pennsylvania German or Pennsylvania Dutch, to those who have the desire to learn the language. The Groundhog Lodges have, during the past 25 years, provided this service, and are proud to continue in this endeavor.

Classes will be conducted at the many locations as noted on the attached list. As in the past, the classes will include word learning, use of verbs, sentence structure, conversations, and the writing of the language. The students who attend the majority of the classes, and write a letter to the teacher in the dialect, will be awarded a diploma, which contains fraktur and the student's name in calligraphy, suitable for mounting in a frame. No previous knowledge of the language is necessary, except for the advanced class at Cedar Crest College; the classes provide the basic necessities for proper use of the language.

The charges are for a dictionary and a contribution to the organization which provides the facilities  for the classes. Contributions vary slightly between locations. Enrollment should be made by calling one of the contact people listed at the location where you intend to attend classes.

Dialect Classes & Conversation Groups

Berks & Lehigh

Lee Haas
Groundhog Lodges & classes
(610) 767-5878

Kutztown University Dialect Classes
PA German 011 & 012
(610) 683-1589
heritage@kutztown.edu

Longswamp Dialect Class
Contact Fred Fritsch
(610) 682-6729

Belleman's Church Dialect Class
Contact John Rausch
(610) 488-1400

Oley VAlley Pennsylvania German Club
Friedens UCC, 337 Main St, Oley, PA
Meets bi-monthly (1st & 3rd Mondays) | 7 p.m.
For more details call jeff Shearer at (610) 921-2896

Pennsilfaanish Deitsch Friend Group
St. Peter's Lutheran
1933 Hanover Avenue, Allentown
(610) 264-2979
Meets Monthly (Sept-May, 3rd Thurs.)
Picnic in June

Lancaster, Lebanon & Beyond

Dialect Class
Lancaster Mennonite HS
(717) 393-9745
www.lmhs.org

Schaefferstown Dialect Class
Contact Alice Spayd
(717) 933-5511

PA German Dialect Conversation Group
Matthews Library
Main Street, Fredericksburg, PA
Meets monthly (2nd Tuesday) | 6:30-7:45 p.m.
Contact Alice Spayd at (717) 933-5511

PA German Dialect Conversation Group
Muddy Creek Library
Fairmount Nursing Home, Ephrata, PA
Meets Monthly (either 1st or 2nd Friday) | 6-8 p.m.
Contact Keith (Butch) Reigart
(717) 318-6420

Pennsylvania Dutch Heritage Group
Providence Place
3377 Fox Run Road, Dover, PA
Meets monthly (3rd Saturday) | 1 p.m.
Contact David Sipe (717) 764-0960

Shamokin Dialect Class
Contact N. Daniel Schwaim
(570) 648-4095

Spring Grove Dialect Class
Contact Kenneth E. Stough
(717) 225-1848

Beginner and Intermediate/Advanced Classes Offered in "Pennsylvania Dutch” and the Lancaster Mennonite Historical Society

Location: Lancaster Mennonite Historical Society, Route 30 East, Lancaster, PA.

Cost: $100 for members, $115 for nonmembers. 

Info:  (717) 393-9745
Classes Offered in Pennsylvania Dutch

Kannst du deitsch schwetze? Can you speak Dutch? 

Recapture a piece of your Pennsylvania German family history.  Learn to speak with your Amish and Mennonite neighbors.  This fall the Lancaster Mennonite Historical Society is again offering classes in Pennsylvania Dutch, the Pa. German dialect common to Lancaster County.

Keith ["Butch"] Reigart returns to teach our beginning classes.  Fluent in Pennsylvania Dutch, Butch was employed for more than 35 years as a foreign language specialist for the U.S. government, making him an expert in the language learning process. 

Classes meet at the Society, 2215 Millstream Road, just off Route 30, next to Tanger Outlets, across from Starbucks.

Both courses run for ten weeks.  Cost is $100 for members, $115 for nonmembers. 

All are welcome. More information is available at (717) 393-9745.