Could you tell me a bit about yourself and your exchange program?
My name is Amy Calhoun, and I teach German levels 1-4 in Topeka, Kansas. I actually teach at the high school I graduated from. It’s neat to come back here and work so close to my family, and I feel so lucky to get to teach German. There was already an exchange program set up with Marburg when I came here, but I’ve helped to grow it over the last couple of years. My first exchange year was in 2016, and except for 2020, we’ve gone every year since.
What made you want to learn German?
I wanted to be an English teacher, and as an English major I had to study a foreign language. What made me choose German specifically was a friend I made in high school who was on an exchange program from Germany. I always told her, “I will learn German and visit you!” and she would laugh and say, “I mean, you’re an American, you probably won’t learn German. But it’s okay; you can still come to visit.” So I thought, well, I have to do a year of language in college, why not German so I can visit my friend? Once I started learning the language, it just clicked in my brain, and I began to look more into the culture. It all seemed fascinating. Now I don’t want to teach English, and I’m very happy teaching German.
Why did you choose to become a coordinator for a German American exchange program?
I didn’t start learning German until college, so my first exchange was as a coordinator. I chose to be a coordinator because I believe it’s essential to give students the opportunity to travel. I want them to see other cultures and learn German better by experiencing the country itself. I was really nervous on that first trip. As a non-native speaker who didn’t start learning German until I was 20, I was self-conscious and thought, “Is my German good enough to be doing this?” But my partner teacher is amazing and helped me out, and the program has been very successful. We’ve done many great things on our exchanges, and we try to throw in new stuff to keep it interesting and exciting every time we go.
Did you have any expectations of how your first GAPP trip would go?
I was just blown away by how immersed the students became in the culture. I expected it to be more like some tours I’ve done, where we stayed in hotels and saw only touristy attractions. But, instead, I got to see the students learning about actual German households and families and making real connections. Many of my students have stayed connected with their German partners and visited them, which is so cool to see.
What places do you usually visit?
We start in Marburg, then we go to Heidelberg and see the university and the castle ruins. We’ve recently added Buchenwald so the kids can experience the concentration camps and learn about that part of history. We also go on a fairy tale tour and explore some of the places that the Brothers Grimm used in their stories. Then I usually try to work in a little extension for a couple of days to go to bigger cities. Frankfurt is part of our normal trip, so I add in places like Berlin, Munich, or Hamburg.
How do you think German education and American education differ?
So drastically. My students were always impressed with the freedom students had in Germany. They had so much more autonomy; for example, they could just leave the campus if they had free time. The German teaching style is also different, and more about students memorizing and presenting about subjects. In American schools, everything is closely monitored, and it feels like teachers are often closer to entertainers. I think the German schools are more conducive to different students’ learning styles and their ability to transition into adulthood.
What are things you or your students like most about Germany?
I personally love the way German cities are so centralized. You don’t have to hop in a car to get everywhere; you can get to places on foot, by bike, or with their excellent public transportation. Where our school is in Topeka, there isn’t a great busing system. In Germany, there are streetcars, buses, and trains that people can use, and it’s great. The food is always really popular. I always tell my students to get ice cream in Germany, ‘Spaghettieis’, because it’s one of my favorite things. Then there are the students that are big historians, and they just love seeing all the old buildings and piecing together bits of history they’ve learned from school.
Do you have a favorite memory from your time in Germany?
I have one memory that always makes me laugh, and I tell my students that we need these moments as a teacher. One year we were in Germany during a holiday weekend, so I left the students with one of my other sponsors in town and visited my friend. It was a long weekend, and while we were available in the case of an emergency, most of the students didn’t see me for a few days. So I showed up on Monday morning, and I was surprised when two of my students ran up and hugged me. They said, “Ms. Calhoun, we need you. There’s just so much…German!” I laughed, and they said, “We don’t understand half of what’s being said; we need your help!” So I let them know that I really appreciated that, and that’s why we were there. I thought it was just so sweet.
What impact do you think exchanges have on your students?
Well, my goal is for the students to learn the language and understand the differences in the world. In the end, I hope they come away with an understanding of both the good elements of German culture and an appreciation for their own American culture when they return. With each group I’ve taken, students plan trips back to Germany or look into going to university in Marburg. One student decided to minor in German after his exchange and might get certified to teach, and I think that’s great. The biggest thing I get out of it is knowing that my students are opening their minds. We come from a tight-knit community that’s very homogenous, both racially and socioeconomically. So they get to experience a different culture, and I think that’s awesome.
What advice would you get to someone considering an exchange?
I would tell them not to let their pride get the best of them. I think the hardest thing for most Americans that try to learn German, even myself, is that we are afraid of looking or sounding stupid. This usually happens when my students hear how well their German partners speak English. They’ll say, “Well, they are way better at this than me. I’m not speaking German because they are going to laugh.” So my advice is to be confident. You aren’t going to be perfect, and there will be things you don’t know, but use what you do know and push yourself outside of your comfort zone.
