School Days

I want to give more details on my experiences in the school so far, since in my last post I gave only a short account of what I have experienced.

My colleagues, particularly the other teachers who teach English, have been very welcoming. I am able to talk to those that I have become acquainted with on a first name basis, and many have told me to address them with "du" (the "you" in German, which signifies that the speaker is on a personal level with his or her addressee). This makes me feel more comfortable and accepted than if I used the formal "Sie" when addressing my colleagues. I sit with other colleagues in the teachers' lounge (Lehrerzimmer), and they include me in their conversations and outings (such as the teacher field trip we are going on tomorrow ).

Fortunately, the students, for the most part, are interested and excited to have me at their school. They want to know where I live in the U.S., whether I speak German too, etc. I even met a student who told me that he knows someone from the Cincinnati area! I have already had two opportunities to lead English conversation groups with some of the older students. We talked about our interests, places we would like to travel, and American high schools. I showed them my high school yearbook, which I think was fun for both them and myself. It is rewarding to know that students take an interest in my culture, and I think they appreciate me taking an interest in their lives and opinions. My passion for learning other languages and helping others learn foreign languages is heightened when I know the students have an interest in my home language and culture. Seeing students raise their hands eagerly to answer questions during one of my lessons and their smiles of interest when I'm introduced to their class makes this experience rewarding.

Although these last few weeks have been tiring sometimes and overwhelming, I have learned a great deal. Going back and forth from speaking German and English; planning lessons; walking the halls that are jammed pack with students; learning how to communicate with colleagues; learning the rules and customs of the school, etc. is all together exhausting. But I look forward to the new things I will learn and experience each day. And I know it all will become easier. So for now I just have to make sure I get plenty of sleep so I'm ready for the next day's adventures!

A New Beginning

I have taken entirely too long to update my blog! My apologies! What can I say? I have been traveling, meeting people, settling into my new apartment, and teaching. My first four weeks here have had their ups and downs, but mostly they have been fantastic! So here goes a concise version of the most important aspects of my time here so far.

Altdorf: This great town that I live in has about 15,000 people. My apartment is only about a 5-minute walk from the school. I have a large bedroom, a kitchen, and a bathroom all to myself. Altdorf itself has a nice town center with authentic Bavarian restaurants, as well as Italian and Greek cuisine, privately-owned shops, bakeries, butchers, etc. There are some historical sites also. So I'm happy with my home. I will try to remember to post some photos of Altdorf in the coming week.

Traveling: Kenny and I traveled quite a bit the first two weeks here. We stayed in Altdorf some, but we also managed to visit some places in Austria, including my grandmother's family that still lives there. This was my second visit to see these relatives. Our time there was unforgettable. They were very hospitable and took us to visit some beautiful places nearby. The photo above is of Kenny and I in front of a church in Mondsee, Austria. My relatives took us to see it. This church was actually in the movie Sound of Music! Speaking with my relatives was sometimes difficult because of their dialect and their inability to speak English, but it was a nice challenge, and it was a good way to start speaking German again! Kenny and I also visited Oberammergau in southern Germany and Munich. Unfortunately last Monday, the 13th, Kenny had to return to the U.S. But e-mail and Skype are coming in handy :)

Orientation in Cologne (Köln): For three days before I began teaching, I attended an orientation for American and other English-speaking teaching assistants here in Germany. This orientation was a way to give us tips on teaching, information about living in Germany, and the opportunity to meet one another and make contacts for our time in Germany. The Fulbright Kommission in Germany and the Pädagogischer Austauschdienst (the agency that is responsible for organizing our teaching assignments in Germany) organized the event.

TEACHING: And of course the reason that I'm here. I have been at my school the past two weeks now. I have observed various classes at different age levels, and I have taught a little bit as well. My colleagues are extremely welcoming and helpful. I don't think I could ask for a better place to teach. I am teaching at a Gymnasium, which has grades 5th through 13th. The students begin learning English right away in the 5th grade. I have to say I am very impressed with how well the students (particularly the students in the higher grades) can speak English. I am an advocate for learning a foreign language at a young age and learning it throughout one's schooling. I think it is the best way to become fluent or achieve a high level of proficiency in a language.

I admit that sometimes I feel almost intimidated by the students' abilities in English because I didn't begin learning a foreign language until 8th grade. And even after learning German in high school and college, I am still not quite fluent. My German skills get better all the time here, but I still realize how much higher these students are in their language skills compared to myself when I was their age.

So far the students seem to be interested in my presence at their school, and I have had the chance to speak with them in English and in German. I will continue to update my teaching experiences hopefully in a few days. But this update will have to do for now!