05.11.2013 06:57
1. When did you start to learn German?
I began learning German in high school, 9th grade. I was 14 years old.
2. Why did you decide to study the language?
I chose to study German because I always wanted to do something different from what the majority of students did, and that was taking Spanish or French. Latin was a possibility, but I preferred a language I could actively speak and use now. Also, my father's family is primarily of German descent, and so heritage was also a factor.
3. What is your favorite language?
I speak English of course, and German as well, though I always want to become better at it. I speak some Spanish and a tiny bit of French and Russian. I studied them both for short amounts of time in school or college, but I do not recall much of them now. One simply picks up a lot of Spanish just by living in the US because of signs, lots of Hispanic immigrants, Mexican restaurants, etc. Of all of them my favorite language is German of course!
Foto 1: A page from a German textbook - German Year 1
4. What is difficult about the German language?
The thing most people find difficult in German is mastering the case system. I do not find that so difficult anymore, but if one begins with the wrong article in nominative case, then of course everything else gets messed up as well. Sometimes prepositions can be tricky as well in how their usages are slightly different in German and in English. Konjunktiv I is also not that much fun.
5. Have you ever been to Germany?
I've been to Germany around seven times I think. Twice in high school on exchanges in the summertime, once in college when I did my junior year abroad at Humboldt University in Berlin, and then every time thereafter with students as a chaperone as a part of various exchange programs. I hope to have the opportunity to travel there many more times in my life.
6. Did you made any experience with GAPP? What's positive or negative?
I do have previous experience with GAPP. I accompanied the last two GAPP exchange groups from Ben Davis to Gymnasium Letmathe. I also planned the Germans' experiences while here. The biggest positive is the relationships that develop between the teenagers and their host families. Also the new perspectives and increased independence and self-sufficiency students develop are also quite good. Of course sometimes it's not a perfect fit in a guest family and that can be difficult for both sides, but we've been fairly lucky with working through situations like that whe n they occur. Finding enough hosts on the American side is also quite challenging for the teacher. Many families in our district would love to host, but they simply don't have an extra bed available. I'm so grateful to all my host families. It's a lot of fun to host, but it's also a lot of work.
7. Why did you become a German teacher?
Originally I didn't want to be a German teacher, or a teacher at all. I wanted to be in the foreign service and work at an embassy or something. Then I spent my junior year abroad in Berlin, and while I loved my time there, I was incredibly homesick. It made me change my college and career plans to something that would allow me to travel, but to not spend the rest of my life in a foreign country. Also I wanted a career where I could get others as excited about Germany and learning German as I am, and so teaching seemed like a natural fit. Once I made that decision, I had to change universities and study an extra semester in order to make it happen. I'm so glad I did! I love teaching German, and the fact that I get to take students there every few years is just the icing on the cake.
8. What's the biggest difference between Germany and America?
The biggest difference between Germany and the US is....I don't think there is ONE big difference. There are many small differences, but people are just people anywhere you go. One general thing I could say is that Americans, at least midwesterners, tend to be more open and friendly right away, even to complete strangers. This can come off as superficial to some Germans. Many Germans tend to be a bit more reserved at first, but they are just as friendly and open as we are once we get to know one another. Of course I am speaking in generalities here, and there are MANY exceptions.
Thank you for answering all these questions.
Nick Styss
Foto: Mrs Dawn in her German room
