German Day: A Practical Guide to Connecting High School and Post‐Secondary Programs

Abstract

An annual German Day event can be a powerful tool to motivate students, increase visibility of state and local German programs, and, ultimately, boost enrollments. However, it can also be a daunting undertaking that is often orchestrated by a single person. This article offers a user guide that can help others plan their own German Day, be it a university‐hosted statewide event or contained within a single school district and offered at a high school. Written from the dual perspective of hosts and participating teachers, this article provides instructions and insights into the basics of the event and its composite parts as well as logistical information. Sample events and schedules are included for those who wish to host their own German Day. States with existing German Days might learn from the experiences described and use new ideas to invigorate their own events.

Sparking Interest in German through the Goethe/AATG‐sponsored SPARK Program

“…Outreach can take many forms: Many states organize an annual German Day that brings high school and college students together for a day of good‐natured competition (Howards et al, 2018). Others add cultural programming: For example, the team at Washington and Lee University developed a well‐integrated cultural program to attract students to the department and allow them to bond outside classroom walls (Prager & Kramer, 2014).…”

“…Of the 365 Utah public high schools, only 35 still teach German (numbers provided by Utah German task force), and only two elementary schools are engaged in the dual German-English immersion program. Outreach, that is, sparking interest in learning German among elementary, middle, and high school students, is thus a crucial component of our department's long-term survival.Outreach can take many forms: Many states organize an annual German Day that brings high school and college students together for a day of good-natured competition (Howards et al, 2018). Others add cultural programming: For example, the team at Washington and Lee University developed a well-integrated cultural program to attract students to the department and allow them to bond outside classroom walls (Prager & Kramer, 2014).…”