For parents who want to introduce their kids early to a foreign language, there’s a bit of Deutschland to be found in Lawrence.

For children as young as 4 years old, the German School of Northeast Kansas offers classes Saturday mornings. The school, now in its fifth year, includes native German speakers as part of its immersive program. The program teaches the language through conversation, the same way we learn English, said Michael Windheuser, the school’s executive director.

“We try to get people comfortable with speaking and hearing German and using it in different contexts,” he said, noting that classes focus on interpersonal relationships and situational conversations.

Classes are available in three age groups — ages 4 to 7, 7 to 14 and 14 and older — with flexibility based on ability. For the younger class, the learning is all auditory, Windheuser said.

“They may read a story during class or pantomime a game, or talk about animals,” he said. “They hear it and they start to mimic it back, just as they did with English.”

The program also gives students a glimpse into German culture, celebrating traditional holidays each semester, such as Saint Nikolaus Festival in the fall and May Day in the spring, Windheuser said.

Windheuser, whose family immigrated to the United States from Germany in the 1930s, started the school out of his personal desire for himself and his children to learn the language and culture.

“It’s reaching back to heritage and re-establishing connections,” Windheuser said, adding that there are all kinds of different reasons people have been interested in learning.

Classes meet from 9:30 to 11 a.m. on Saturdays at Bishop Seabury Academy, 4120 Clinton Parkway. There are still a few days to sign up before the first class of the fall semester on Sept. 12, which prospective students are also invited to attend. More information about the program as well as enrollment forms can be found at lawrencegermanschool.org.