Cooking Workshop -- KÄSESPÄTZLE!

Do you want to have as much fun as she's having?

Come to German Club's
 Käse Spätzle cooking workshop....Scroll down!
 What is spätzle you ask?  "Dumpling" isn't quite right,
though they do sometimes wind up in soups and stews.
 But in terms of how they're made and what they're made of,
they are more like fresh pasta than anything else. In fact,
you'll find various recipe sources that translate spätzle as
 "noodles" or "little dumplings."
So come and enjoy good company and good food!

When: Tuesday, October 9th at 5:00pm
Where: Flynntown community center

See you there :)

German Club



Scholarships for Summer Courses in Berlin -- browse the links!

DAAD New York is delighted to announce that we are offering University Summer Course Grants available to US and Canadian students for the summer of 2013.

These scholarships are available for a broad range of three- to four- week summer courses taught in German at various German universities, which focus mainly on literary, cultural, political and economic aspects of modern and contemporary Germany. Extensive advanced language learning as well as extracurricular programs complement and reinforce the core material. For a full list of courses please visit our university summer course search engine at http://www.fubis.org/en/fubis/index.html

We hope that you will encourage your students to apply. For eligibility requirements, terms of awards and application guidelines please visit our website at http://www.daad.de/deutschland/stipendium/datenbank/en/12359-scholarship-database/?detailid=5&fachrichtung=4&land=44&status=1&seite=1&daad=1&whitelabel=

If you or your students have further questions regarding this scholarship please do not hesitate to contact Uta Gaedeke at the DAAD New York Office @ email: Gaedeke@daad.org  or at: 212-758 3223 ext: 209.

With best regards,
Sebastian Fohrbeck
Director, DAAD New York

Uta Gaedeke
Senior Program Officer
DAAD New York
871 United Nations Plaza
New York, NY 10017
Tel: 212-758 3223 ext.: 209 * Fax:212-755 5780

Application Deadline for Germany Internship December 1.

German student Jessica Raboin writes the folowing about her experience: 

This is the program I did. CBYX  It is an EXCELLENT program that is FREE minus spending cash ($300/month I needed). If you ever want me to talk to a class about this opportunity, or a specific student, please let me know. I would love too. I had a life-curving experience that continues to shape what I am and who I want to be today--it was truly a transformative year. I not only began learning the German language and culture from the moment I stepped on the plane to my orientation in D.C., but along the way I learned about dozens of other cultures, languages and customs, which has improved my communication and critical thinking skills. Plus, I had the best host family ever! I have nothing bad to say about the program. Anyway, just letting you know. -- Jessica 

Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange for Young Professionals

The Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange (CBYX) for Young Professionals is a full-year work-study fellowship program with a strong focus on cultural exchange. CBYX annually provides 75 young Americans with an understanding of everyday life, education, and professional training in Germany.

The program begins in July and includes two months of intensive German language training (no prior German language knowledge required), four months of classroom instruction at a German university or college of applied sciences, and a five-month internship in each participant’s career field.

The CBYX for Young Professionals program is intended primarily for young adults in business, vocational, scientific, engineering, technical, and agricultural fields, though applicants from all fields are encouraged to apply.

Participants actively participate in securing their internship positions with assistance from our partner organization in Germany, the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit, and are expected to cover incidental expenses as well as represent the United States diplomatically while abroad.

Program Benefits

•Full-year scholarship including round-trip transatlantic flight, university tuition, language training, living stipend, and program-related travel costs in Germany

•Two-months German language training in Germany

•Four months of study at a German university or university of applied sciences

•Five-month internship in a German-speaking work environment

•Accommodation in a German home or student residence

•Orientation, midyear, and final evaluation seminars

•In-country support throughout the program

•Health and accident insurance

Eligibility

Candidates for CBYX must meet the following eligibility requirements:

•U.S. citizen or permanent resident

•18-24 years old at the beginning of the program

•Minimum of high school diploma or equivalent

•Completed general coursework in target internship field at a community college, college, or university

•Completed some relevant work experience (short-term, volunteer, or internship) in target internship field

•Previous knowledge of the German language is preferred, but is not required

•Ideal candidates have clear career goals, good communication skills, and exhibit flexibility and diplomacy

Applcation Deadline:  December 1, 2012 for the 2013–2014 program year.

For more information click here.

Movie Night! Das Wunder von Bern

    Movie Description: The title is in reference to the unexpected German victory over the Hungarians at the 1954 World Cup in Bern, Switzerland. The Lubanski family eagerly awaits husband and father Richard to be released from the Soviet POW camp. During his absence, son Matthias has developed an interest in soccer. He idolizes local player Helmut Rahn, but his father doesn't approve of it.

John Chambers Starts Student Teaching in Richfield MN

Kristine Bornus Spends Five Weeks in Trier

This summer I had the privilege to study in Trier, Germany for five weeks. The summer study program was through Georgetown University and classes were held at the University of Trier. During my five weeks in Germany I stayed with a host family, which initially I was nervous about, but my host parents were great. They made my roommate and me breakfast and coffee in the morning, and my host mother provided us with plenty of sweets. I quickly found out that when I was offered a piece of cake that it meant two pieces of cake would be served to me-Good thing I had to do a lot of walking!


One of the hardest things to get used to in Germany was not the language, rather it was having to use the public transportation system. I lived in Igel, a small town about 20 minutes away from Trier, which meant an hour long bus ride to the university every day. I had to quickly learn what bus line to take and which buses from that bus line were traveling to Igel-Stressful for a person who is used to being able to drive everywhere!

The classes were taught by Georgetown professors, and English was not allowed to be used. That meant not only no English speaking, but also that all of our homework and papers had to be completely in German. I was also under a language contract that stated I was not allowed to speak English to my study abroad group members. Not being able to use English was sometimes a challenge, but it helped to create a full immersion into the language and ultimately helped me to feel less “foreign” in Germany.

If I had to pick one thing to be the highlight of my time in Germany, it would be the public viewings of the soccer games. It was amazing to see how excited the Germans got for each game and how it created a sense of national pride. Throughout Trier, cars would be decorated with German flags, people would paint their faces, and wear Germany colors-They made as big of a deal out of each soccer game as we do for the Super Bowl. Each win resulted in dancing in the streets and a big celebration.

I would recommend this program to other students who are considering studying abroad. This program was a perfect fit for me because I didn’t want to study abroad for a whole semester and Trier is in the area of Germany that my family is from. My advice: If your school doesn’t have a study abroad program that you are interested in, look online and research programs at other Universities because you just might find a program that is a perfect fit for you. Study abroad because you won’t regret it if you do, but will definitely regret it if you don’t!

Kristine Bornus

MN Council on Teaching of Languages and Cultures Meets at SJU

Nearly 20 executive board members, regional representatives, and affiliate organization representatives of MCTLC met at Saint John's on July 25-26 for its annual planning retreat. Much progress was made in organizing the fall conference as well as regional activities for MCTLC members. 

German Major Chris Pignato to Teach in the Alpine Town of Imst in 2012-2013.

The Austrian-American Educational Commission in Vienna, in conjunction with the Austrian Fulbright Commission, has awarded Chris Pignato a teaching position in the town Imst, Austria, for the coming year.  Chris will be living just minutes from the university city of Innsbruck in the beautiful alpine mountains.  Chris is excited about this award and about teaching in Europe: "I am hoping to learn a lot about this part of Austria after having lived in Salzburg for fall term my junior year.  I will be teaching  in two different schools and will have time to explore Southern Germany, Switzerland and Italy as well.  It's a dream come true."  
             Congratulations Chris!  This is an honor well deserved.  We are proud of you.

CSB/SJU Hosts State High School Awards Banquet

  On Saturday April 28 forty of Minnesota's most accomplished high school students of German gathered with their teachers and families to be honored at the Saint John's/ Saint Ben's awards banquet.  More than 650 Minnesota students took the written exams.  Those placing in the 90th percentile also participated in oral interviews at the College of Saint Benedict on February 25.  Saint John's Preparatory was awarded a $2,025 scholarship from the Max Kade Foundation to be used for sumemr courses at Concordia Language Villages.  Kelsey Murphy of Moundsview Senior High was awarded national honors and a all-expenses paid trip to Germany.

Pictured L to R in the Great Hall: Kelsey Murphy (awarded a trip to Germany), Leyla Soykan, Jessica Trost (German teacher), and John Spear, Mounds View High School

Megan Boettcher to Work and Study in Germany Starting End of May

  I will depart for my Swiss adventure on Sunday, May 20 and will arrive in Zürich, Switzerland on Monday, May 21. That is when my immersion into the German-speaking culture will begin. Luckily, two of the families have young girls which may help ease me into mainly speaking German, since they are somewhat learning to speak as well and are used to repeating themselves. It will also greatly challenge me because they probably only speak German and that is the only way I will be able to communicate with them. Plus, one of the girls is 7 and can already speak in full sentences, which will propose a major challenge for me, but I am up for whatever I need to do in order to further learn the German language.
    As for continuing my schooling in Germany, I know that it will be a great challenge but I am willing to take it on and do my best to study in my second language. I hope to be admitted into an art school and explore subject matter that may be better accepted in the European culture. Even though I want to challenge myself and push my German-speaking boundaries, I realize that the language barrier may propose some problems and I am willing to take longer to complete my education than I originally would have in the United States, if necessary. I truly hope this ideal of going to college in Germany works out so I can broaden my horizons and spend the next years of my life abroad!