American Association of Teachers of German

Click here for Summer 2006 Photos  

Report from a Student Participant:

When my German teacher told me that I had the opportunity to visit Germany through AATG's Summer Study Program, I was speechless. I had only taken German for a little more than a year and hardly had the confidence to stutter along in class, never mind communicate in a strange tongue in a foreign country! But she assured me, having sent many of her students in previous years, that I would be in good hands. The program is not only relatively inexpensive, she said, but safe and culturally enriching. Eager to expand my horizons, I took her advice and applied.

I was paired with a girl my age, and began corresponding with her and her family to get to know them better before the trip. After assuring my parents that Lederhosen don't bite and that I was only a phone call away, I set off with a group of kids from across the U.S. to Laufen, a small town nestled in the Alps.

The AATG chaperone and my host family put any qualms about adjusting to my new surroundings to rest. The local Gymnasium was a world in itself. In the classes I attended with my host sister, I was enthralled to be in the midst of so many talkative German students! There were also classes held for our group that were taught jointly by our chaperone and Kursleiter, which were enlightening and very helpful. We had lively discussions about phrases or patterns of behavior that intrigued us. Our teachers also familiarized us with the places we'd soon be visiting.

The excursions were exciting and informative. We took day trips to places like München and Chiemsee, explored breathtaking castles and churches, and went on guided tours through museums. We walked around in small groups to find souvenirs, take pictures, and try out our German skills buying chocolate in bulk. On the weekends our host families would take us places we hadn't gone to as a group to give us their own perspectives of German culture. My family was eager to negate German (particularly Bayerisch) stereotypes as I was to negate preconceptions about Americans. By sharing my values with my host parents and sister, we all learned from the experience. At the end of the trip, I couldn't wait to return to Germany.

In fact, I enjoyed the program so much that I participated again the next summer! My German had improved significantly by that time and I was eager to explore a new region, so when my school offered scholarships to students who wanted to supplement their language study abroad (though the AATG itself awards generous scholarships to qualified applicants), I seized the chance to return to the country I had come to admire so much.

I recommend this program to any high-school student of German who wants to improve their language skills and experience German culture firsthand and to any parent who wants to allow them this opportunity without having to worry about their safety and comfort far away from home. AATG claims that this program "represents a significant step towards achieving the highest goal of intercultural language education: improved global awareness and understanding," and after participating myself, I realize that it has contributed to far more than that -- it has made possible a rich and expansive cultural exchange that I'm proud to have been a part of.

--Hailey Folmer, Phillips Academy, Andover, MA

See also Ned Schack's Käthe Wilson Scholarship Report and Danielle Relyea's Endowed Scholarship Report

Other student comments:

A letter from a parent / teacher:

As a German teacher and AATG member, I have promoted the AATG summer program with my students. Each student who participated would come back with a deeper understanding of culture and great experiences to share, not to mention a marked improvement in language skills. This summer our daughter Kati went to Bad Reichenhall, a lovely town not far from Salzburg, Austria. To say that her stay was worthwhile is an understatement. Kati's host family welcomed her as one of their own: she attended family gatherings and helped around the house, learning some great new recipes along the way. Kati was even able to participate in a weekend youth group retreat and in a three-day class field trip with her host sister. The classes in school helped her with language, culture, and history. Their frequent field trips offered some sightseeing in the area as well. Through all of these experiences she was immersed in language and culture. She has returned with improved language skills, an increased cultural awareness, and (as she puts it) another best friend, her host sister.

From a parent's and teacher's point of view, this program is top notch. The office personnel are caring and efficient in making arrangements for the students. Kati's American teacher, Frau Haney, who chaperoned the group acted as pseudo-parent, teacher, and tour guide, giving students just the right mix of structure and freedom. Frau Reischmann, the Kursleiterin in Bad Reichenhall, had planned wonderfully for the students, making them feel truly a part of the school and community. Parents can rest assured, knowing that their teens are well cared for. Unfortunately, Kati had a medical problem soon after her arrival. She received expert medical care, and I received a compassionate phone call from her teacher. Teachers know that students will return with an enhanced education. Living that language and culture as these students do cannot be duplicated in the American classroom. Thank you to the entire AATG staff and to all the people in both countries for giving our daughter this opportunity.
(Cheryl Cox, IL)

Report from a teacher:

I think all of our students would say they had a fabulous learning experience in Germany. Many of my former student who went with me in past summers have since visited, studied, worked or married in Germany.  The student should be aware that this is about learning – about living in a different culture, visiting new places, experiencing new customs.  It is truly a life-changing experience which I can totally recommend.
(Madeline Salonen, MI)