German 1 by Shantelle

German 1 by Shantelle - August 2016 Scholarship Essay

Shantelle Hemmert
August 6, 2016

While there are great main course classes that I have taken through my schooling, I never really learned a lot. The things which the teachers taught me cannot be compared to one single school year in the German 1 course that I took. The teacher was a fantastic lady, and she was one of the best teachers that I ever had. She connected with the students as someone on the same level, and was always more of a friend than a teacher.

I hardly remember the German that she taught my class, but it did not belie the point that she taught us the language as a requirement, and the culture foremost. Seeing as she moved to Germany to help her, “sick,” grandmother, she was almost thrust into the European culture at once. There is such a beauty to the way she spoke of Germany, and I am pretty sure that every student that she ever taught wants to go there as soon as is possible for each of us, at least once.

There is nothing that is more fun to learn about than other people. The way they live and interact is so fascinating. Then, when compared to the culture with which you had the opportunity to grow-up in, it is so much fun to find the differences that the cultures have. For example, in Germany and all of Europe, they eat very differently. I do not know what cow brains taste like, but I do not think I want to. The way people respect each other in Germany is also very surprising.

While Germans are not as stiff as the French in manners, they have a great standing respect for the police officers over there. If a man were to insult the officers, the officers could beat him to a pulp and then proceed to lock him up. While that is a little scary, when compared to the way some Americans treat the officers here it is a lot better. Though Germany is socialistic, there are still many things that Americans can learn from their culture.

Yet, this is only a small fraction of the things that can be learned from the people who have experienced the cultures out in the world. There is still so much to learn, and frankly, I am slightly addicted to the knowledge that people can share through example. Just from the short school year that I was able to spend with my favorite teacher, she was able to show my class the beauty and optimism that you should have in people, while so many others focus on the pessimistic views of others. The greatest thing that she taught me personally, is to not be afraid to learn about someone else and become their friend. This world may fall apart without the lesson of friendship, and so much already has.