At the lower secondary level, the first foreign language from grade 5 is English and is continuously taught until the end of secondary school. From year 6, students can choose a second foreign language. If students want to graduate from high school, they must choose a second foreign language. At grammar school (Gymnasium), the second foreign language is an obligation. The second foreign language is taught until the end of lower secondary school. The schools can also offer a third foreign language as a compulsory optional subject.
The first foreign language is usually English, and the second foreign language is often French or Spanish. Please ask for information about language offers at your school.
Information about the languages in Hamburg schools can be found at: http://bildungsserver.hamburg.de/sprachen/