Wednesday, May 16, 2001
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Wednesday, May 16, 2001 |
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On a diplomatic mission: Sandy Creek's German exchange
Georgia Gov. Roy Barnes recently surprised a group of students of German from Sandy Creek High School, along with a group of German students who accompanied them, by joining them for a photo during a visit to the state Capitol. Greeted at the door of the Capitol by state Rep. Kathy Cox, a former Sandy Creek teacher, the local students and their German exchange guests were arranging a group photo on the rotunda steps when word came that the governor would join the group. Since 1994 Sandy Creek has maintained a partnership with Lessing-Gymnasium, a college prep school in Braunschweig, Germany. Every second year, the partner schools exchange about 20 students. For three weeks, the selected students live with their host families, attend school, share information about culture and language, sightsee and get to know each other. The educational benefits aren't confined to Sandy Creek. the German students talk to classes at Burch Elementary and Flat Rock Middle School as well. "And we were able to share them with Starr's Mill, too," notes William Bryan, Sandy Creek German teacher and exchange coordinator. "Starr's Mill doesn't have an exchange program, at least not yet, so Donna Cates got busy down there and arranged to have the Germans visit for a day." Cates, a biology teacher formerly working at Sandy Creek, can witness to the benefits of an exchange. She encouraged her son David, a senior and student of German at Starr's Mill, to join the Sandy Creek group. "The exchange experience was wonderful, not only for David, but for our entire family. David's exchange partner, Frederike, was a delightful person and we enjoyed her visit," says Cates. "David's language proficiency improved tremendously, but more than that, his interest in continuing to learn the German language has increased. He plans now to take German in college. It is a great program." "This program is an educational exchange, not a tour," explains Bryan, "and you can't buy it off the shelf you have to make it yourself." Students, whole families, school administrators, coordinating teachers, all have to raise funds, plan the activities, make travel arrangements and prepare to host strangers for three weeks. But, this time, the guests hardly seemed strangers, Bryan says. The difference: e-mail. "E-mail has completely revolutionized programs like this," says Bryan. "Basically everyone involved in the exchange now has e-mail, and the kids had been e-chatting for weeks before the Germans ever got off the plane. And they'll keep it up, too, because it's so easy. The level of enthusiasm seems to have tripled." There is a lot to be enthusiastic about. The Germans, in three weeks, have experienced a big slice of American life and an extra helping of Southern hospitality. They have: Sampled a huge potluck dinner. Attended a cookout. Tried their hand at softball. Been feted at several parties. Visited Zoo Atlanta, CNN, and World of Coca-Cola. Toured Savannah's historic downtown and waterfront. Explored Sapelo Island, seeing estuarine ecology first hand, examining marine life forms in the laboratory. Shopped, shopped, shopped. Sandy Creek's students can look forward to similar treatment when they visit Braunschweig in June. Features will include a visit to Berlin, a three-day excursion to the unspoiled North Sea island of Juist, tours of the Volkswagen works, and more. "It almost becomes a competition, who can offer the best program to their guests," Bryan admits. "Once the parents get involved, pride and sense of hospitality takes over and the events just happen. The bottom line is, parents really want this experience for their kids." The next Sandy Creek German Exchange is slated for the 2002-2003 school year.
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