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SPARK for German

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SIU Carbondale is offering after-school SPARK German language and culture courses at area high schools. SPARK for German is a joint project of the American Association of Teachers of German (AATG) and the Goethe-Institut. The AATG supports the teaching of the German language and German-speaking cultures in elementary, secondary, and post-secondary education in the United States. The Goethe-Institut is the cultural institute of the Federal Republic of Germany with a global reach.

Southern Illinois University Carbondale’s SPARK Lab offers a playful approach to German lessons in after-school programs—providing early access to language instruction and creating opportunities for students to learn German. The trainers are undergraduate students and prospective teachers at Southern Illinois University Carbondale. Teaching a SPARK for German course allows them to gain first-hand teaching experience in K-12 schools and to develop their curriculum development skills. Our highly motivated trainers from Southern Illinois University Carbondale are currently presenting these afternoon sessions for high school students at Murphysboro High School and at Vienna High School on a weekly basis for up to 6 weeks in the fall of 2023.

Our trainers are upper classmen with a German specialization, including German Studies, German Teacher Education, and German Foreign Language and International Trade. They have completed Summer SPARK pedagogical training offered by American Association of Teachers of German (AATG) and the Goethe-Institut. Nathan Bailey and Audrey Ward are trainers at Vienna and Murphysboro High School.     

We offer after-school programs based on age appropriate, and engaging curricula that allow students to learn some basic German, get to know the cultures of the German-speaking world, and delve into topics related to STEM, sustainability, and the humanities. We are offering this program free of charge. Enrollment is limited.

Contact: Mary Bricker, Ph. D., SIU German SPARK Lab Director, mbricker@siu.edu


SPARK Program Trainers

Nathan Bailey

Nathan BaileyHallo! My name is Nathan T. Bailey. I have been studying German now for four years and am very proud to be studying it alongside sociocultural anthropology at SIU. I am from Vienna, Illinois originally but have spent time living in Ulm, Baden-Württemberg in 2016. I really enjoyed my time in Ulm. It is the home city of Albert Einstein and home to the world’s tallest church—the Ulmer Münster! When I moved to Germany, I had no prior experience in German, so it was an incredibly terrifying experience at first. The students and faculty at the Poligenius Realschule in Ulm, however, were very accommodating and helpful in teaching me elementary German. After my study abroad, I completed high school remotely, thus I was mostly self taught until I began my studies here. German culture has been a huge part of my life, from the time I was four years old being read fairy tales by my grandmother all the way up to now. I hope I can eventually live some of my future years in Germanic Europe and I plan to study abroad in Salzburg, Austria during my time at SIU.

Audrey Ward

 audrey-ward.jpeg(Canton High School, Teacher: Kim Malone)

Hi! My name is Audrey Ward and I’m from Canton, Illinois. I am currently studying German and Education. German truly reignited my love for learning, and it was helped in no small part by my German teacher, Frau Malone. Frau Malone cares about her students and is passionate about fueling each students’ needs. She is the one who introduced me to the scholarship and then to SIU, where I am now attending. During my time here, I wish to learn as much as I can about the German language, culture, and history. German club at my high school was truly my place to be. That is where I made my strongest bonds and have my fondest memories. My hopes are to one day be like Frau Malone and inspire other students, to ignite that passion for learning and German. 

Recent SPARK Trainers