Goodbye for now

This trip has been one of the most amazing and influential experiences and I honestly cannot our into words how big of an impact it has made on me. I was nervous before coming but my nerves were quickly put to rest by my host family and the students and staff of Anne Frank Gymnasium. Things could not have gone better and I could not have been placed at a better place with a more caring family. It was truly perfect and beyond anything I could have imagined.

The school I have been at for the last week was a school entirely for students with severe disabilities and it was by far one of my favorite places to be and a definite learning point for me as a special education teacher. The activities, projects, and lessons were so amazing to see and the excitement the students had for learning was unmatched anywhere I have ever been. I hope to eventually come back to Germany and return to the school and maybe even bring other special education staff along to let them witness the greatness as well!

Adeventures in Deutschland

While in Germany I had many traveling opportunities. I went to Münster, Dortmund, Berlin, and I even left Germany to a trip to the Netherlands to see Amsterdam! Traveling is so much cheaper in the European Union and trains are so quick and easy. Definitely something I would love to see become an everyday thing in America as well.

I couldn’t have ever hoped that this trip would be more than it has been because everything about it was so wonderful and perfect. That’s it for my German blog! Thank you for joining me on my journey! 

Cultural differences

The culture of Germany is a proud community with strong historical roots. Anything we can call “old” in America would not even compare to the history and culture of Europe. After visiting several cathedrals and cities in Germany I have found so much of their culture and history astonish and literally breathtaking st times. To stand in a church that was built 100s of years ago and to witness things happening around you the same way so many people before you did is a a feeling I cannot even out into words.

Culture / Religion at school 

One of the greatest memories I made this week was one that was completely last minute but so worth it. I attended and 11th grade religion class at Anne-Frank Gumnasium and learned more about Germany’s Catholic background and my own religious background. I was somewhat amazed at the fact they were allowed to teach about religion in school since in America is frowned upon and illegal. We talked about the crusades, whether they were successful or not, and what purpose they served. It was so interesting to hear these students sound excited about history and especially the history of their faith and I wish I could experience this class again but at home.

One thing that really stuck with me this week was a saying I heard in my time student teaching in America but that was said again in my religion class at AFG. The saying is, “the same water that softens the potato gardens the egg. It’s about what you’re made of, not the circumstances.” This quote has made me think about the real differences between our cultures, but also the similarities that aren’t always in the surface. This quote also makes me focus on how I let things effect me personally. Having a positive mindset about anything and everything I could do far in Germany has really made me realize how much you will actually miss out on if you let every little thing bother you.

Teaching in Deutschland

 Teaching in a new school in Germany
After the first couple of weeks I can definitely say that I would be perfectly content with staying in Germany forever and becoming a teacher here. I have been in two different schools so far and they have both been amazing learning experiences. The different school that I was in this week is called Lambertus Schule and it is in a small village called Walstedde. 

Another WKU student teacher, Cassidy McCord, and myself were given the opportunity to observe and teach in this school due to it having a special education program. Together, we observed the special education teachers and their students. However, due to the language barrier between us, there was not much we could do in this classroom other than observe. With that being said, we started going to the English classes with the students. Cassidy and I both prepared PowerPoint lessons and taught them on Thursday and Friday about Bowling Green, Kentucky, and the United States of America.

Similarities & differences in our educational system

The main differences I've noticed in Germany between our educational systems is second languages, behavior management, breaks between classes, and the time that school lets out. In Germany it is required that students have at least five years of English and multiple years of other languages as well. Most of the high school students I have worked with know anywhere from 3-5 languages. I honestly wish we did more in America with second languages and didn't just require at least one year of it in high school. 

Behavior management is also very different in Germany because the teachers don't really spend time addressing behaviors. Teachers are much more respected in society here and the students know what they can and cannot get away with. Most students will stop their behaviors once they realize the teacher isn't going to give them attention for it. Another reason behavior management is so obsolete is because of my next major difference, breaks between classes.

All of the classes here are between 45-55 minutes long and are taught in pairs. For example, 1st and 2nd period are taught together as the same subject. In between 1st and 2nd period the students will get a 5 minute break, but after the paired periods are over the student get an entire 20 minutes of break time. In this time the students can go outside and play, go to the cafeteria to purchase snacks, listen to music, etc. Then they all return to class and prepare for the next class subject. This repeats for ever paired lesson throughout the day and their are up to 8 periods in a school day. That all depends on what time you get out of school.

School in Germany is not based on an exact schedule for every day like it is in America. Instead of 7:30-3:00 every day, school will release at a different time every day based on the students schedule of classes that they are required to take in their current semester. Some students may leave after 6th period, some leave after lunch, and some leave after 8th period with is around 2:00. Every student has an individual schedule and they know when they can go home. Some students will even go home to have lunch with their family if they get out at 6th period.

With so many differences you can really tell a difference in the amazing atmosphere and performance of the students in these schools. There is more concentration due to more frequent break times to let the students out of the classroom and come back ready to learn. Letting students out earlier but still learning the same amount of material is by far one of my favorite things about school here. But the real cherry on top is the multiple languages taught in school. I am in a foreign country and can teach almost any class I want to in English because the students are so fluent in other languages. Our educational system really seems to be behind when it comes to these great ideas and I hope that more international student teaching from myself, and peers, can shed some light on the gaps between us and help us jump aboard this approach to teaching.

It is happening, and Germany is amazing!

Student Teaching in Germany
My first week of student teaching in Werne has been spent at the Anne-Frank Gymnasium and it has been amazing! I have mainly been teaching English because it is the only subject taught in English (obviously). The teachers I have been paired with have been extremely welcoming and have given us the opportunity to jump in at any time we want. They have also given us materials to teach on our own with the students and it has worked wonderfully.

The students at AFG are extremely intelligent and work so well when we give the lessons. It is required for students in Germany to take at least five years of English through their education and it is evident when they speak. Almost all of the high school students are fluent in English. I really wish we did second languages like this in America, because it gives these students the ability to learn other cultures by interacting and communicating with them through their native language.

Host Family
Heike did an amazing job pairing us with our host families! I have a host brother named Marius who is 15 and we are already best friends and practically real brothers! We spend most of our time together when we are not at school. He is fluent in English and we can literally sit around and talk all day about anything and never get bored. My host mom is a vice principal at a nearby elementary school and always helps me with anything I need! They are amazing and I am looking forward to the next few weeks with them!

Community of Werne
The community here is so welcoming and accepting! They love having american student teachers here in Werne and make sure to do whatever they can to make us feel more at home. The location here is so historical and it is mesmerizing to see so much history in such a short amount of time. We have already been given a tour of the old cathedral in town as well as the monk monastery and it's library! I cannot wait to explore more into the surrounding areas and learn more about the history of my placement area!

Is this really happening?

So I still don’t think it’s hit me that I’m leaving today to student teach in another country for almost a month. However, the stress of packing and getting to the airport definitely helped it start to set in. It's always hard with goodbyes, but it is even harder since my nephew is on the verge of walking and I won't get to watch, but I expect an overflow of pictures and videos! As I sit here waiting for our flight to prepare for boarding all I can do is smile about the amazing adventure I am about to embark upon and the incredible impact it’s going to have on me, not only as a teacher, but as a person in as a whole.

I will be internationally student teaching at Anne-Frank Gymnasium in Werne, Germany for the majority of my time in there and at Lambertus Grundschule Walstedde, which is another school nearby. My personal challenge for this trip was to push myself to get outside of my comfort zone and to go somewhere that language would be a barrier in my time there. As a future special education teacher it will give me the personal experience of knowing what it is like for some of my students who are English as a Second Language  (ESL) learners in my classroom and for the students that feel overwhelmed when asked questions they don’t know the answer to. Getting that personal insight on their everyday experience would definitely help me grow as a teacher and better help me to handle these situations when they occur in my classroom. With that being said, I expect this international student teaching to be a complete challenge, but I definitely welcome it. 

I am really looking forward to meeting and staying with my host family. They have been extremely nice thus far and have made sure I have everything I need for my stay. They have a 15 year old son who also attends Anne-Frank so we will travel together to school and I can already tell we are going to be practically brothers and quick. In fact, he is going to be a foreign exchange student at Greenwood High School in Bowling Green in the Fall! We’re practically switching places and we have a lot to share about with our own insights.

After taking two semesters of German at WKU and doing further research, I can easily say I am beyond ready for some German food! All of this anticipation has built in me ever since my professor bragged about how much better their bread is than here in America. And with bread and cheese practically promised for most meals of the day, what’s not to love?! 

One big adjustment I will have to make is teaching lessons on short notice. After receiving emails I know we will all have our rounds with spur of the moment lessons, but with my educational background in special education and behavioral management I can only hope my content skills are adequate enough to teach the lesson to the level it deserves to be for these students. But I know I will have all the help I need from my peers, and anything is possible!