Sprachelager: Learning German…

The Monastery

Before leaving to live with our host-families, we (the American students) are studying for four weeks at a language camp, or “Sprachelager”. Sprachelager is located in the very small village of Hedersleben, Sachsen-Anhalt. The village, or "Dorf", consists of around 1400 people, two mom-and-pop grocery stores, a pharmacy, a Biergarden, and of course being in Germany, two soccer fields. The camp itself is held in an ancient, gothic monastery built in the 1200s, complete with vaulted ceilings, one-meter thick walls, and hidden gardens. The building is square-shaped, with buildings around the edge and a courtyard in the middle. The classrooms, lounges, auditorium, kitchen, and dining room are all on the first floor and our bedrooms are all on the second and third floors. I lucked out and received a single room on the third floor with a beautiful view of the courtyard.

We eat three traditional and delicious German meals everyday. Usually, Musli, a Brödchen with jam, and fresh picked fruit for the orchard for breakfast, a hot meal consisting of potatoes, a cooked vegetable, Kraut, and meat for lunch, and bread with salami, cheese, cucumbers, and tomatoes for dinner. In addition, we always have “Kaffee Zeit” everyday at 3 O’clock, where the most delicious cakes and tarts are served along with steaming hot tea and coffees.

There are four German classes, and they are split based on language experience and skill (I am in the highest one). We typically have class for six hours a day (9-12 and 15-18), six days a week with a free day on Sunday. The classes are interactive, and we learn not only about the German language, but also about the German political system, food, behavior and general way of life. Our teachers (Gerd, Karin, Rolph, and Evelyn) are all amazing. They are all excellent teachers and very approachable. I see them more as friends rather than “teachers”. So far, my German has improved a lot, but I still have a long way to go.

Hedersleben is a great place to hangout in during free time. From exploring the town and on the monastery, playing soccer with the locals, to picking and eating fruit for a nearby orchard, there seems to be an endless stream of possible activities. We have also has several organized outings. We visited Leipzig and saw the Thomaskirche and the DDR museum there. We went to Quedlingburg to see the Fachwerkhäusers, and to Halberstadt to tour a Würstchenfabrik (sausage factory. Very interesting, but also quite disturbing.) Some other memorable activities in Hedersleben itself include: visiting the local Feuerwehrstation (fire station) and riding in the fire truck, going bowling at participating in a dance class at the local youth center, painting a mural at the local playground, eating dinner with the Burgermeisterin (Mayor), meeting the local member of the Bundestag (Congress), listening to an organ concert and eating ice cream with the minister afterwards, watching two talent shows, sharing apple pie and quesadillas with our German teachers, and eating a medieval feast.

Tomorrow, I am taking the train to Berlin, to meet my host family and start my “new” life in Germany… wish me luck!