From Frankfurt to Chicago: German exchange students experience life at District 88

This month, District 88 is getting a little taste of Germany, as 24 students and two teachers from the Helmholtzschule in Frankfurt, Germany, arrived on Oct. 12 as part of the German American Partnership Program (GAPP) exchange. The students are staying with American host families from Addison Trail and Willowbrook, attending classes, exploring the Chicago area and experiencing everyday life as American high school students before returning to Germany on Oct. 26.

Accompanying the students are Johannes Falter and Laura Kunzelmann, English teachers at the Helmholtzschule, a Gymnasium in Frankfurt. District 88 students and families are sharing not only their homes, but also their school traditions, favorite foods, activities and everyday routines.

For many of the German students, one of the highlights of the exchange has been exploring Chicago. The group visited the Griffin Museum of Science and Industry, the Art Institute of Chicago, Navy Pier and Skydeck Chicago and also will experience the city from the Chicago River during an architectural boat tour. The students also attended a Chicago Bulls basketball game and joined Willowbrook's Multicultural Club for a day at Six Flags Great America.

“One of the best parts of an exchange is that students aren't simply visiting another country; they actually get to experience what it is like to live there,” said one of the participating teachers. “They become part of a family, attend school, make friends and experience the culture firsthand.”

In June, the roles will be reversed when 24 District 88 students travel to Germany with District 88 staff members Macy Sherwood, Nilay Woodbury and Yusuf Shah.

The American students will spend time in Frankfurt and stay with their German host brothers and sisters, giving those who visited District 88 this fall an opportunity to return the hospitality. Students will attend school in Germany, experience daily German life and put their language skills to use.

The group also will spend four days in Berlin, where students will explore Germany's history, culture and government. The itinerary includes attending a parliamentary session, seeing the German capital by bicycle on a guided bike tour and visiting a former concentration camp memorial.

At its heart, the GAPP exchange gives students from two countries the opportunity to build friendships, experience another culture, practice their language skills in authentic situations and discover how much they have in common despite living thousands of miles apart.