Essay training
5th grade

Writing is a process and requires time and training. Therefore we recommend that your child starts writing early in the 5th grade.

Course overview

Essay training in the 5th grade
Introduction to the types of texts required for the examination: narrative, report, letter and description.
Saturdays or Wednesdays: March to April 2023
Individual and focused support: 3 to a maximum of 8 children
Location: Directly at Zurich HB or Stadelhofen station
Participation fee: 990 CHF

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Course Structure

It has been shown that the essay on the Gymnasium entrance exam is a crucial part of the exam, is not trained enough in the public schools and many children have great difficulty with it. In this specific essay course in the 5th grade, the most important pillars of essay writing are covered and deepened. After a theoretical introduction, the students put the knowledge they have acquired into practice by a specific writing assignment (essay), which is discussed on the next day of the course, including correction and individual written feedback and a sample solution.

Through this individual coaching of the teacher, the students can improve their vocabulary, their understanding of the four types of texts and their writing skills step by step.

These three basic pillars will be discussed each day of the course under a different topic:

1
Acquire knowledge
- Text types: What are the different types of essays in the Gymnasium entrance exam? (narrative, letter, report, description)
- Planning: How do I plan the content on specific topics? Which topics are typical for the Gymnasium entrance exam
- Structure: How do I build up an exciting essay? What elements can I use to create suspense?
- Breakdown: What belongs in the introduction, the main part and the concluding part?
- Vocabulary training: How do I use appropriate adjectives and verbs? And how do I write varied sentences? What are the related words?
- Perspectives: How do I write vividly from different perspectives? ("Ich-Form", "Er/Sie Form", "Allwissende Perspektive")
- Revision: How do I optimize my essay? How do I avoid careless mistakes?

2
Transfer knowledge
1. Every day of the course, the students are given a writing assignment on a specific topic (which is taught in a theoretical part at the beginning), which enables them to consolidate their acquired knowledge.
2. As homework, vocabulary is trained through specific exercises.
3. On the next day of the course, the students receive the corrected essay back, including individual feedback and a sample solution. They can improve it on the basis of the feedback, revise it and, if necessary, hand it back to the teacher for correction

3

Check knowledge
The essays are corrected for vocabulary, structure, presentation, content, spelling and grammar. In this way the students receive individual feedback on where they stand and what exactly they can improve. The teacher supports each individual student in understanding and closing the individual gaps.

Course dates

The essay course takes place on the following dates:

January to March 2023
Our courses from January to March have already started and are fully booked.

March to April 2023
Course A: Saturdays, Zurich HB, 09:00 to 10:30
Course B: Saturdays, Stadelhofen station, 09:00 to 10:30

11.03.2023
18.03.2023
25.03.2023
01.04.2023
15.04.2023

Course C: Wednesdays, Zurich HB, 13:45 to 15:15
Course D: Wednesdays, Stadelhofen station, 16:00 to 17:30

15.03.2023
22.03.2023
29.03.2023
05.04.2023
12.04.2023

Limited seats – enroll now!

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Quality courses and individual support for your child

Qualified and trained teachers with a high level of professional expertise
We specialize in supporting students on their way to Gymnasium. Our teachers are highly motivated and qualified in the latest teaching materials and curricula. We set high quality standards and we only employ a select group of teachers who fully meet our standards.

Individual support and personal coaching
Personal support and an individual focus is very important to us. Our teachers identify the respective gaps of the individual students and help them to close them through individual coaching. For questions outside of course hours, the teacher can be reached via chat.

Comprehensive training materials
For an optimal training during and outside of the course hours.

Specific essay training
Writing essays is a core component of our courses. We will show your child step by step which types of text he or she needs to master and how to best plan, phrase and revise them. Writing essays is a process that we coach individually and specifically. For that reason, your child will write essays on a regular basis – with the aim of imparting the joy of writing. After class hours, your child is always welcome to write additional essays on a voluntary basis. Naturally, we will provide feedback and valuable suggestions for improvement for those essays as well.

About us

GVZH is an independent and private competence center for Gymnasium preparation in the canton of Zurich.
Our experts have many years of experience in Gymnasium preparation.
We are a small team and focus on highest quality and individual support.
Our teachers are competent and committed. They are constantly expanding their knowledge and education.
We value fun and enthusiasm.
We practice open, clear and transparent communication.
Our lessons are highly differentiated. We support each child individually and according to his or her abilities.
We promote your child's independence and personal responsibility.

Owner GVZH
and Co-Principal
Sandra Zogg
Responsible for the course structure, learning materials, course organisation and support of the students outside of course hours. As a well-versed primary and secondary teacher and her many years of experience in gymnasium preparation, she is an expert in her field.
Expert for essays
and Co-Principal
Chantal Ehrlich
As a writing and examination expert in German and a teacher of many years, she succeeds with much joy and esprit in building up a high level of writing competence with the students, not only for the Gymnasium entrance exam, but also in the long term. She also teaches mathematics with patience and enthusiasm, making her our all-round talent.
Mathematics
teacher
Patrick Treisch
He has been teaching science and mathematics at a secondary school in Zurich for several years and with his wealth of experience he is our absolute expert when it comes to making the logic behind mathematics tangible.
German and Mathematics
teacher
Jens Martin
German is his core competence and "High German" his mother tongue. As a teacher at the Gymnasium, he knows exactly which requirements await the students after successful completion of the exam and prepares them ideally for it. His teaching experience at primary and secondary level completes his profile.
German
teacher
Lea Mägli
In addition to her many years of experience as a French and German teacher, her heart beats
for languages. This enthusiasm is contagious and quickly awakens the joy of reading and, above all, the desire to write, even for those who are not interested in languages.
Mathematics
teacher
Nicole Mini
She knows how to systematically get to the bottom of the problems of mathematics and taking the students on this journey with her. Due to her motivating nature, she makes both strong and weaker mathematics students feel very comfortable and helps them to make rapid, targeted progress.
Mathematics and German
teacher
Rosmarie Thalmann
She manages to respond to the needs of the students. Thanks to her experience, she quickly recognises the current learning status of each student, jointly sets the most appropriate next learning goals and supports them with full commitment and enjoyment of the learning material.
Mathematics and German
teacher
Bruno Baumgartner
His great strength is to explain in a clear and understandable way exactly the strategy that is needed to work out a tricky task. Even the most difficult exam task does not confuse him and he transmits this sovereignty skilfully in the classroom. In this way, he prepares students for challenging exam situations.
Mathematics and German
teacher
Amelie Martin
As a qualified Gymnasium as well as secondary school teacher and with many years of experience at the primary level, she knows exactly what expects the students after the transition to the Gymnasium and prepares them optimally in this regard. With a lot of charm and equipped with «High German» as her mother tongue, she always succeeds in awakening hidden talents.
German
teacher
Stefanie Wigger
Her great strength is to respond individually and specifically to the needs of the students. As a German teacher with many years of teaching as well as tutoring experience, she approaches the structure and consolidation of the German subject matter with a lot of know-how and structure.
Our
school dog
Yoshi
Responsible for a pleasant and motivating learning environment.
Yoshi is our office dog and as a trained school dog also has many years of teaching experience. Sometimes he comes to visit, but most of the time he stays at home with his family.

Our course locations

Our course rooms are situated in central locations, which you can easily get to via public transport. Our students can expect modern rooms, equipped with the latest media.

Our course location directly at
Zurich Main Station

Lagerstrasse 2
8090 Zurich

Our course location directly at
Stadelhofen Station

Falkenstrasse 28A
8008 Zurich

Gymivorbereitung Zürich

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Tips

How do you achieve a good essay grade? (in German)

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Essay training 5th grade

Course Structure

Course dates

Essay training
5th grade