IRMO – Dutch Fork High School student Lydia Jones has been selected by the American Association of German Teachers to participate in the prestigious German Summer Study Program for High School Students.
Sponsored in cooperation with the German government’s Pedagogical Exchange Service, the highly competitive program selects students from hundreds of applicants nationwide. Jones earned one of the limited spots for this summer’s experience in Gera.
The three-week program provides a homestay and immersive school experience. Participants attend classes at a German Gesamtschule or Gymnasium, live with a host family connected to the school, visit regional attractions, and engage directly with German language and culture.
Gera, with a population of approximately 93,000, is the largest city in the Vogtland region of Thuringia and the state’s third largest city. It is the birthplace of renowned German painter Otto Dix and features several museums, one of Germany’s largest Renaissance-era town halls, the historic Höhler cellar system, and a botanical garden. The host school, Staatliche Integrierte Gesamtschule (IGS) Gera, recently celebrated its 30th anniversary and will welcome students from the United States this summer.
“Lydia is in her second year of German here at Dutch Fork,” said German teacher Frau Karla Bell. “She is an excellent student who is open to new experiences and enjoys learning about culture and language. Students who participate in exchange programs return to us with enhanced language proficiency, increased self-confidence, improved adaptability, and a broader global perspective. They gain valuable intercultural skills, along with a widened international network of friends and mentors.”
