Videocall mit Amerikanischer Middle School

Yesterday, Frau Wasem’s year 8 Bilingual Course and Herr Mennecke’s year 8 E-Course had the incredible opportunity to ask questions and practice their English through an online-call with an 8th grade American German class from my former middle school in Brownsburg, Indiana, USA. Normally, students start learning a foreign language like German in year 9, which takes place at Brownsburg High School. However, this was a special case because the students were still in middle school at Brownsburg West Middle School (BWMS) and beginning to learn German.

The online-call was one of great excitement from both the American and German side. The students were eager to ask questions about language, culture, and school life in each respective country. The American students were interested in learning about what the student’s like to do for fun in and around Langerwehe, and our year 8s were interested in school life, especially about what sports and extracurriculars BWMS has. The time difference was also a bit of a shock for the American students, as they didn’t realize that Langerwehe is 6 hours ahead of them. Despite being on opposite sides of the Atlantic Ocean, we were still able to connect and have a meaningful conversation.

It was very special to me, because I had the opportunity to reconnect with my former German teacher Frau Steed, who inspired me to study German Education and therefore is a part of the reason that I am now an English Foreign Language Assistant here in Langerwehe. It was wonderful to see her again after so many years and it was an honor to introduce her to my students and two incredible colleagues. It feels like I’ve brought a piece of my old home in the US to my new home in Germany.

Students in both schools have already expressed their desire to arrange another call and we hope to plan another call soon in the next term to spend even more time getting to know each other!