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SPARK for German

Spark for German logo.

Middlebury Language Schools offer 8 SPARK for German Fellowships, made possible by the Goethe-Institut, American Association of Teachers of German (AATG), and Middlebury College, to students in the German School (both 7-week Immersion and Graduate).

Funding

Fellowships are $1500 to attend the Middlebury Language Schools in German. The fellowship can be in addition to need-based financial aid.

SPARK fellows will attend an interactive twice-weekly workshop on teaching German as a foreign language in addition to classes in the German School. This hands-on workshop will introduce participants to the most current theories in and approaches to teaching German to children and include practical and fun ways to apply their new knowledge.

Eligibility

·       B1+ level minimum, German (equivalent to 2+ years of College-level German)*

·       Enrolled as a student at a SPARK College or University in the US (“SPARK Labs”)

·       Interest in exploring a career as a K-12 teacher for German (no experience required)

·       Good academic standing

·       Available in fall 2023 or spring 2024 to support an after-school program in German once a week as a SPARK Fellow. These programs might be in person or online.

*Highly motivated applicants with lesser linguistic abilities can apply for a grant to reach the required linguistic proficiency prior to summer 2023 by enrolling in an online German course offered by the Goethe-Institute.

Deadline

Applications are due by 11:59 PM EST, January 3.

Application Instructions

To apply for the SPARK Fellowship:

  1. Submit a complete Language Schools application to the German School.
  2. Email Professor Susanne Rinner (Director, SPARK for German, susanne.rinner@goethe.de) and Professor Bettina Matthias (Director, Middlebury German School, bmatthia@middlebury.edu):
    1. Letter of interest (including information on your motivation and possible experience with teaching)
    2. Current CV
    3. Letter of recommendation (current or recent German professor/ teacher)

Notification of Fellowship

Students will be notified about the status of the fellowship by email on or around February 1.