To the German Language,

When I was first introduced to you during my Exploratory Language class in seventh grade, I can’t lie: I did not count on a long-lasting connection or experience. My teacher was notoriously light on grading, relaxed in her environment and entertaining to say the least. Everyone knew that taking German 1 the following year meant an easy “A” and some funny memories. I decided to follow the path of least resistance, even if that wasn’t the greatest justification.

Coming back to school the next fall taller, tanner and masked (2021 vibes), it was a shock to me and all of my friends who had taken German 1 that we had a new teacher, one whose grading practices we couldn’t know. Oh no, we might have to actually learn a language! The horror! We walked into our new class during ninth period, unsure of what to expect.

Luckily, our new teacher cared deeply about you, dear German, and the foundations of learning a language in general. She emphasized the importance of fundamentals, of basics, of repetition and practice. Had it not been for her, I wouldn’t have had the drive or motivation to push through pronunciation woes (Try being a 14-year-old American attempting to say “gehört”) or to accept the fact that saying “you” just became four grammatical cases more difficult. Although it was a little harder than expected, it was through this class that I truly got to know you. I found myself slowly but surely becoming sound in my understanding of the basics and making grammatical connections to English, which helped me in other aspects of my education. Thanks to you, my comprehension improved tenfold, my speaking became more confident and I had a new community that I was a part of upon entering the next stage of my schooling journey in high school.

I was fortunate enough to have the same German teacher during my freshman year, making my transition smoother and the continuity of my learning more fluid. I was able to build on the foundation of my language skills while also being exposed to a wider realm of activities within our school community. As a freshman, I was nervous to interact with the older students, but you gave me a multitude of opportunities to do so. Our annual International Club potluck brought together students from all over the world to bring dishes and share a bit of their culture, something that participating in German classes allowed me to attend. Oktoberfest encouraged me to meet the other students in the program. You gave me an outlet, a community, in my first year of high school that was different and invaluable to all of my other activities.

Sophomore year brought new beginnings to my German education. I was now in the upper level classes, with some new classmates and a new teacher, one who emphasized connecting with those around you and making the world a better place. This perception of what is important truly shaped my outlook today, not just in language learning, but in all aspects of my life. I spent the next three years taking his classes, and each year, getting closer and closer with my classmates and you, the language itself. German became bigger than the basics, bigger than a community for an anxious freshman. It meant connecting with your classmates on a personal level and truly seeing each and every one of them as a whole individual. I, of course, continued to learn fundamentals, worked my way up the ranks of German Club and became a member and officer of German National Honor Society, but the core value I extracted from my time in these classes was derived from the personal connections and lessons these classes taught me. That is something I can never thank you for enough.

The culmination of my high school German experience was a two-week trip to France, Germany and the Alps, which I’d signed up for sophomore year and took place just a few weeks after my graduation. With German and French students alike, I embarked on the most impactful journey of my life, seeing iconic landmarks as well as simply experiencing European society. Being able to utilize my language skills that I’d been honing for five years at that point was so rewarding and inspiring. It was truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience, one that I owe entirely to you for what you’ve given me over the years.

I had not planned to continue German in college. It was daunting, and my experiences in high school made my language learning feel complete. However, upon returning from my Europe trip, I decided that taking a language was something that I needed in my life. I realized how much you had opened up for me throughout my time, and I wasn’t ready to let that go. So, I decided to take a language placement test and see what happened.

I tested into German 250, and, in a full-circle moment, entered Ruter Hall as a nervous freshman seeking community once more. I didn’t know what to expect, and hoped that I’d made the right decision in continuing my education.

It only took a few classes to get my answer. My experience with you at Allegheny, I am extremely fortunate to say, has been nothing short of incredible. I feel that I am getting the best of both worlds in regards to my previous German classes, with both high emphasis on grammatical structure as well as on cultural connection. I’ve participated in German movie events, Culture Night, readings and activities that have brought me closer to the language and the people involved in it. I couldn’t be happier with my choice to take German this year and can’t wait to continue in the future.

So much of my life has changed over the past few years, yet you have remained a constant. I cannot fully or adequately express how much you, as a language, as a skill, as a community, have meant to me. I hope to somehow apply all that I’ve learned from you in whatever my future career may be, and I am confident in saying that I would not be who I am today without you.

Danke für alles,
Lilly