MILWAUKEE — The Milwaukee German Immersion School Chess Club has enjoyed success and learning German may be part of the reason why. 

Every week, Orla Campbell, a sixth grader, comes to the school’s chess club to practice for tournaments. She also uses it as a way to hone her German language skills.

“It helps your brain with moves so you could think better and other things sometimes,” Campbell said. “When I go up against a German person, I usually like to speak German so that nobody understands what I’m saying.”

Thor Templin is the chess club adviser.

He said every week dozens of students stay after school to learn the game in German. Templin is also proud of what the chess club has accomplished in the competitive arena, as there is a line of trophies at the school. 

He believes having an all-bilingual team gives them an edge.

“Language and chess work really well, work hand in hand together because it’s about always pushing new areas of critical thinking and special thinking and that’s what chess is about,” Templin said. “It’s about special thinking, pattern recognition which is inherit features of language.”

Speaking German while she plays also allows Campbell to connect with a part of her family roots.

“My mom has some German heritage,” Campbell said. “I think it’s her grandma who is from Germany, so a bit of German heritage.”

Campbell likes the challenge that every chess match brings. She is also happy to be a part of a community that is just as passionate about chess as they are about German. 

The Milwaukee German Immersion School hosted a state sponsored chess club tournament on Saturday.