Spotlight on German at UND

Two UND Students Win Prestigious Study Abroad Scholarships

Amy Shirek, Fulbright Teaching Assistant

Majoring in German Studies at UND truly changed the course of my future. While a career in education was something that I had thought about during my first year in college, it wasn’t until I began taking courses in German Studies that I decided a career in language education was something I was really interested in. With the determined help of the awesome faculty in the Languages department I was able to take a passion for the German culture and language that I learned about in my classes, and turn it into the opportunity to teach English in Germany. Now, through the Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship Program I get to spend my time working with German children from the first through the tenth grade, working on their English skills and my German skills, and building bridges between the two countries. I couldn’t imagine a better way grow personally while helping others and traveling the world at the same time!

Seth Grundstad, Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange for Young Professionals

I studied German and Mechanical Engineering at UND. Throughout my studies, I always wanted to participate in a study abroad program, but I felt there was never the perfect opportunity. Engineering demanded a strict schedule and did not allow for the normal semester/year abroad program. Luckily, through my German Advanced Grammar class I became familiar with the Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange for Young Professionals (CBYX). CBYX is a program that allows for 75 young American professionals, ages 18-24, to study and work in Germany for one year. The program year is broken up into three separate phases: a two month advanced-language course, a five month study period at a German university, and a five moth internship at a German company. The CBYX program was the best one for me because it combines all of the best aspects of different programs into one. I also enjoyed the fact that it allowed for me to go abroad after graduation.

Outside of simply graduating, the hardest part of my university experience was balancing my two majors. It would have made life a lot easier to just study Engineering, but I know that then I would not have felt whole. Learning a foreign language is a wonder full experience, which simply cannot be replaced. Sticking with both majors and pursuing my passion is the only reason why I am currently enjoying this wonderful experience. I strongly recommend those who are struggling to find time for an abroad experience to look into the CBYX program