American Association of Teachers of German

1. Teacher Spring Seminar Deutschland-USA. This program now in its second year replaced the year long exchange teacher program with three week stays by teachers from various disciplines. The purpose is to acquaint the teachers from both countries with the other’s educational system, to provide some professional development for the participants, and to initiate school partnerships. The number of applicants for this program on both sides has been above 100, from which 23 from the USA and 24 from Germany were selected. This program is funded by the Fulbright Commission.

2. Foreign Language Assistants in German Schools. The target group for this 6-9 month program is usually recently graduated German majors at the university level. The participants teach their native language to German students at the high school level. Recent statistics show 22 teaching assistants from Germany to the USA and 154 from the USA to Germany. This program is supported by the German Foreign Office, the Fulbright Commission, and the education ministries of the various Länder.

3. Preisträgerprogramm. Students between the ages of 16-18 who have studied German at least 2 years (at level B1) and excelled in their study are invited to attend a 3-4 week program during the summer during which they attend school, live with German families, and participate in field trips. At present 90 countries are invited to send students.

In 2008/09, 479 students and 5 accompanying teachers participated. Of this number, 44 students and 3 teachers came from the USA. Other countries with double figures include Italy with 41, Spain with 16, Egypt and South Africa with 12, and France, Israel, and Poland with 10 each. The cost of this program is covered by the German Foreign Office.

4. Sprachkurse for Foreign Secondary Students. Students with at least two years of German between the ages of 16-18 and who have reached the B1 level study German from 2-4 weeks in a German school and live with a German family.
In 2008-09, 522 students and 49 teachers worldwide from 18 countries participated, with the USA the second highest with 75 students and 8 teachers, and Denmark in first place at 90 students. Participants pay for the program themselves along with several scholarships and other subsidies provided by the German Foreign Office.

5. German American Partnership Program. This program has been in existence since 1983 in cooperation with the PAD with funds from the German Foreign Office and the American government. Students participate in a direct school exchange (758 schools at present) usually for three weeks. By the end of 2008, approximately 245,000 students from Germany and the USA have participated! In 2008/2009, 4,070 American students traveled to Germany and 5,388 German students and over 600 teachers to the USA, decreases in both categories over last year.

6. PASCH Schulen: Partner der Zukunft. This program was established on January 1, 2008 for schools interested in a long term partnership to support the study of German and Germany. There are 80 selected schools the USA, some public, some private, and several immersion schools. The schools in the USA submitted grant proposals for their participation for a variety of needs to implement their German programs. This program is funded by the German Foreign Office.

Prepared by Helene Zimmer-Loew
January 2010