#goetheintern is entering a new round. The fall of 2019 has been full of charming changes. Not only are the trees turning into a sea of red and gold, but the institute is also changing – with the move to the colorful LIZ building on 14th Street. Our interns are always out and about, reporting on social media about the moving process, the grand opening party and their diverse activities after work, which make life in the capital so exciting.
Melina is the intern of the Cultural Programs Department this fall. She went for an internship at the Goethe-Institut in Washington, DC to take a little break from her master's degree in economic history in Göttingen. A longer stay in the capital offers her a unique opportunity to learn more about the German-American relationship and the connections between the countries. Melina was very surprised by and enthusiastic about the friendliness and openness of the people in DC. She meets them not only in cafés where she enjoys cupcakes, but also during her daily bicycle tour on her way to work along the Potomac River. She looks forward to bringing this positive attitude on her next adventure when she starts her semester abroad in Ireland in January.
Lisann is the intern of the Language Programs Department, that means she helps organize projects that promote German and Germany in the USA. The planning of events and the work with German teachers matches perfectly the subjects she is studying, German as a Foreign Language and British and North American Studies. It's not her first time living in Washington, DC. Three years ago Lisann worked as an au pair and wanted to come back ever since. Now she enjoys living here again, visiting and exploring many old and new places as well as attending exciting events across the city. Originally, she is from Northern Germany and she’ll go back there after the internship to finish her bachelors.
Eric is an intern in the German Courses and Examinations Department. He was born and raised in West Africa and studied German language and literature at university. Eric has lived in Washington, DC since April 2019, together with his American wife, whom he met in Togo two years ago. He loves being an intern and is particularly pleased with the practical work in the language courses and also the opportunity to practice and improve his German. After his internship, he is planning to get a teacher certificate so that he can teach German and French here in the USA. Eric loves the variety of interesting museums and places in DC. His favorites are the National Museum of African American History and Culture, the Clinton Presidential Museum and the National Mall.
Emily is the intern of the Transatlantic Outreach Program (TOP). At 16, she attended an American high school in California for a year and since then she has remained deeply involved with the English language and American culture. She will soon complete her master’s degree in English/American studies at the University of Bonn and is excited about the practical applications outside her theoretical studies. Working for TOP brings her a lot of joy and she is grateful for the multifaceted work. One of her personal highlights in DC was the opportunity to support the TOP team at a conference in Austin, Texas. After work, she loves to stroll around the lively neigborhoods, discovering cozy cafés and hidden vintage bookstores.
Sophia is interning in the Information Services Department. The cultural studies student from Leipzig loves being abroad, a passion which was sparked during a semester in Hong Kong. She enjoys taking a look behind the scenes of a large, internationally active organization and is excited that she can supervise her own small social media projects here at the Goethe-Institut. After work and on weekends, Sophia is always out and about, exploring the lively districts and secret corners of the capital and other cities along the East Coast. She is particularly enthusiastic about the swing dancing scene in DC, which is why she never misses an opportunity to dance to jazz music in the evenings.
More about internships in... (Information in German)
The Goethe interns – some old and some new – enjoyed the summer of 2019 by spending the hot days and balmy nights in some of their favorite spots around Washington. This season, they introduced us to some of their most beloved places to visit and things to do in DC – often far off the beaten path. Get to know them here and follow the Goethe-Institut Washington on Instagram to see the best hidden gems around the city! #Followmeto ...
Annika is an intern for the Transatlantic Outreach Program (TOP) at the Goethe-Institut Washington. Since her first year abroad at a high school in New Jersey, Annika has kept coming back to the US. She is currently pursuing a graduate degree in North American Studies in Cologne. Annika is also known for traveling throughout the US on road trips, always packing lightly. Some of her highlights during her internship so far include long hours in some of the greatest Smithsonian museums, camping on Assateague Island, visiting wineries in Northern Virginia, and spending Memorial Day at the Jersey Shore. Even more adventures are waiting for her: “I hope after graduating I can find a job that excites and challenges me! I am also planning on taking half a year off at some point in my life to hike the Appalachian Trail.”
Lilly is an intern for the Administration Department at the Goethe-Institut Washington. In the quaint town of Konstanz, she is currently pursuing an undergraduate degree in political science and management. After a couple of months in the United States, Lilly has now fully absorbed the American culture, including local eating habits, regular swimming pool sessions, and thrilling baseball games. Two cities that are still on her travel list: Chicago and New York City. Despite her enthusiasm for the US-lifestyle, Lilly will return to Germany at the end of the summer to finish her graduate studies. But she might return to the US for a master’s degree, who knows?! The world is her oyster and exciting times are on the horizon.
Angelika is an intern in the Cultural Programs Department – and this is where she belongs! Pursuing a master’s degree in North American studies in her beloved city of Berlin, she has specialized in pop culture, which reflects her passion for literature, movies, and music. Thus, she is very enthusiastic about the various partnerships that the Goethe-Institut maintains with other culture institutes, embassies, movie theatres, and museums. As Cultural Programs Intern, Angelika always has a full schedule. That’s how she got to know and love DC and its culture scene over time. Nevertheless, there is still plenty of time for weekend trips to places like Monticello and Mount Vernon, which impress her with their rich history and sprawling parklands. Before Angelika returns to Germany to finish her master’s and tackle the challenge of navigating the Berlin job market, she has a couple of exciting weeks ahead of her. In particular, she is looking forward to upcoming travels to New York City and a road trip through the Southern states.
Jenna is an intern for the Deutschlandjahr Team at the Goethe-Institut Washington, DC. She is a senior undergraduate student at Virginia Tech, majoring in International Studies with minors in German and French. Jenna’s talent for languages can be traced back to her dual citizenship in both the United States and Germany as well as her time studying abroad and regularly visiting her German family. Considering her international lifestyle, it is no surprise that Jenna fell in love with the cosmopolitan and multicultural flair of the capital and would love to live and work in DC after graduating. She enjoys the vivid city life and the variety of activities offered here with her friends, such as cultural festivals, concerts, museums, and unique restaurants.
Ann-Kathrin is the current intern in the Information Services Department at the Goethe-Institut Washington and a master’s student in Culture and Economy at the University of Mannheim. While looking forward to her exchange semester in Montreal at the end of the year, she is currently enjoying the summer as an intern in DC. She appreciates the various opportunities provided by the city such as free outdoor workout sessions, fantastic seafood, and the lovely shops in Georgetown. Comfy nights with her housemates are always welcome as well. During her internship, she would like to make use of the great potential that museums and think tanks in DC offer. Nevertheless, she enjoys a nice weekend getaway from the capital: “There is no better contrast to city life than just leaving it behind and spending time at the sea!”
#goetheintern Season 3 – Behind The Scenes
The beginning of 2019 brought a slew of new faces to the Goethe-Institut Washington and marked the beginning of Season 3 of our #goetheintern series. The interns provided entertaining behind-the-scenes action and thrilling Insta-glimpses into their lives: Who are they? What are they doing? Why are they here? All these questions and many more have been answered throughout the months. One thing is certain: all of them had an exciting time in DC and explored the limitless attractions the capital has to offer – from countless stunning museums to mouth-watering cupcakes.
Aylin is an intern in the Cultural Programs Department at the Goethe-Institut Washington. As a cultural studies graduate from Hildesheim, she is passionate about promoting cultural exchange. Inspired by a year abroad in Istanbul, she started writing for an online nonprofit magazine called MAVIBLAU, which focuses on German-Turkish exchange. In DC, Aylin is excited to experience all the cultural events that the Goethe-Institut and the artsy city have to offer. The highlight of her time in DC so far was her participation in the Women’s March on January 19th. Three things she cannot live without: “If we were to be honest, I would say, oxygen, food, and sleep.”
Eva is an intern for the Language Programs Department at the Goethe-Institut Washington. She clearly has a talent for languages: in Münster, she is pursuing a Master of Education in Spanish, Sociology, and teaching German as a second language. Her work at the Goethe-Institut allows her to dive into the work environment of the American capital. As she is involved in diverse projects to support German as a foreign language in the US, she regularly reaches out to local schools and teachers. This is of particular interest for her since she will be an intern at a high school in Minnesota starting this August. One of her goals during her time here is to bring Münster’s bicycle madness to Washington. She is also hoping to practice her salsa skills in Arlington, where she lives right now. Three things she cannot live without: “Coffee, friends, long walks.”
Lara is an intern in the Information Services Department of the Goethe-Institut Washington, which means she is responsible for the content management of our social media channels and the website. While she was born and raised on the coast of Nordfriesland, Germany’s far north, she is now pursuing an undergraduate degree in North American Studies in Berlin. In DC, the striving journalist is looking forward to diving into the work in an editorial department and using her creativity. Her bucket list includes an ice hockey game, the Newseum, and a typical American diner. She also aims to find vintage book stores and cute cafés everywhere she goes. Three things she cannot live without: “Music, muesli, and my people.”
Julia is an intern in the German Courses and Examinations Department at the Goethe-Institut Washington. In Cologne, where she was born and raised, she recently finished her undergraduate degree in pedagogy and English studies. Now, she truly enjoys the practical experience at our institute and the close contact to our customers. During her internship, she is lucky to live with family members in Rockville, Maryland, which allows her to also experience the American suburban lifestyle. Among the interns, Julia is known as the American sports geek. From the NBA to the NHL and the MLB – she knows everything. One highlight of her time in DC so far, aside from the many sports events she has attended, was a trip with her host mom to Annapolis in Maryland. “A cute town with so much history.” Three things she cannot live without: “Cologne, Carnival, and the Beatles.”
Johanna is an intern for the PASCH (Schools: Partners for the Future) Initiative at the Goethe-Institut Washington. Although she was born in Hanover, she could almost be considered a local since she has lived in the DC area for about two years by now. After her high school graduation, she was an au pair in the US for the first time. Afterwards, she deepened her cultural knowledge and pursued a degree in North American and English studies and history at Potsdam University. Now, she is working again as an au pair in Potomac, Maryland and is happy to call it her second home – “One heart on two continents,” she says. At the same time, she is happy about her contribution to German-American cultural and language exchange through her internship here. Three things she cannot live without: “Communication, a clean bathroom, and a nonfat chai tea latte.”
In the fall 2018 season of our #goetheintern series at the Goethe-Institut Washington, we provided you with a thrilling inside look at what it is like to be an intern in our office. What were their daily tasks and what did they enjoy the most about working at the Goethe-Institut?
On Instagram, Tobias, Pragya, Caroline, and Leonie gave us glimpses into their lives in Washington. Follow our hashtag #goetheintern and become an insider!
Tobias was an intern in the Information Services Department from September through December 2018. As part of our editorial team, he was responsible for all things related to social media and for the content management of our website. In particular, he enjoyed writing the transcripts for our podcast series The Big Pond. When he was not working at the Goethe-Institut, he explored all that DC has to offer from sporty bike adventures to the National Christmas Tree Lighting.
See for yourself what he has to say about his time as an intern.
Pragya was an intern in the German Courses and Examinations Department in the fall of 2018. She was responsible for our German courses and exams. Her weekly schedule included planning new courses, keeping all information on courses and exams up-to-date, updating our website, and drafting course brochures. She also provided guidance for possible new course participants and, if needed, assessed the participants level of German.
See for yourself what she has to say about her time as an intern.
Caroline was a Language Programs Intern at the Goethe-Insititut. She especially enjoyed her field trips to local schools as a German-for-Hire Ambassador.
See for yourself what she has to say about her time as an intern.
Leonie was a Cultural Programs Intern at the Goethe-Institut. As a self-declared film enthusiast, she was glad to be involved in planning Film|Neu, a Goethe-Institut film festival featuring new films from Germany, Switzerland, and Austria.
See for yourself what she has to say about her time as an intern.
#goethintern Season 1 – Internships around the world
All around the world, young students have the opportunity to not only get to know the work of the Goethe-Institut as an intern, but also to immerse themselves in a new culture. We wanted to know: how is our interns’ experience abroad? What does a normal day at the Goethe-Institut look like? And how do the experiences differ at our locations around the globe?
Carolin in Mexico City, Hans in Washington, DC, and Isabel in Toronto gave us glimpses into their internships and answered a question every week for the summer of 2018.
Isabel, 24, is from a village close to Munich and studied North American Studies at the Ludwig Maximilian University in Munich. She spends her free time outdoors hiking, playing volleyball, skiing, or snowboarding. During her semester breaks, she loves to travel.
After a semester studying on Canada’s west coast, Isabel knew she wanted to come back to Canada and applied for an internship in Toronto. Besides, it thematically fits her studies. Both the people and nature make Canada a special place for Isabel.
Hans, 22, is from Leipzig. When he is not interning at the Goethe-Institut Washington, he is studying English and cultural studies at the University of Leipzig. To start his day off right, Hans relies on good music, a healthy dose of humour, and fresh air.
The choice of Washington, DC was an easy one for Hans since the city has a lot to offer culturally and he’s hoping to collect many new experiences both personally and professionally.
Carolin, 23, is from Freising, near Munich. She studied International Culture and Business in Passau and wants to go to Amsterdam for her master's.
Carolin is interested in exploring different cultures, not only through her studies but also through traveling. Ever since her semester abroad in Chile and her travels through Argentina, Peru, and Bolivia, she has become a big fan of Latin America, which is why she applied for an internship at the Goethe-Institut in Mexico.
Instagram of the week
Every week, we introduce one of our terrific interns on Instagram – they provide us with an insight into their exciting lives inside and outside of the Goethe-Insitut. You can see their post here and on our Instagram channel of Washington, DC.
