Schools
German Exchange Students immersed in American, Andrew High School culture
2-week exchange goes far beyond sightseeing - American and German students learn from one another
Willis Tower, Museum of Science and Industry, Lincoln Park Zoo, and Chicago History Museum are just a few of the sites on the itinerary for 13 German exchange students and their teachers visiting Victor J. Andrew High School this month from Tinley Park’s Sister City, Büdingen.
The 2-week exchange goes far beyond sightseeing. The students from the Wolfgang Ernst Gymnasium are immersed in American culture; they live with host families, attend school, and take part in everyday life as teenagers. School shadow days, outdoor adventure activities, a ceramic painting project, and a potluck dinner are also components of the trip.
German Exchange student Melina Knaf said, "I am most looking forward to learning how life is different between Germany and America." Classmate Juliane Mordier added, "Here in America, people are much nicer. Everyone says hi and talks to you.”
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Knaf added, "Budingen is a small town and our school has only about 1,000 students. I cannot wait to see Chicago."
Andrew students learn from their German counterparts as well. The German students spend a day giving presentations and sharing insights with the entire World Language Department about the life of a German teenager.
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Andrew High School German teacher Erika Lupacchino says, “The connections these students make with one another are like no others. The field trips are exciting, but more importantly, the immersion experience and the efforts to make themselves understood will last a lifetime. Their communication skills are really put to the test. That’s where the real learning takes place.”
This year marks Andrew’s 7th exchange since 2012. This coming summer, Andrew students will travel to Germany, where they will reconnect with their partners, attend school, enjoy family life abroad, and take part in exciting excursions. This unique program opens doors to global thinking, strengthens German skills, and deepens cultural understanding. Students return home with a sense of independence, self-confidence, new perspectives, and lifelong friendships. Lupacchino noted that it is not unusual for student pairs to visit one another well beyond their high school exchange.
