August was a busy time for a group of RWC German language students. They spent a majority of the month in Germany participating in the RWC German study abroad program. The group traveled to Ilmenau, Germany, the sister city of Blue Ash. The trip was headed by Professor Debbie Page, Head of the RWC Foreign Language Department and a German professor here. Professor Page had nothing but positive and exciting things to say about the trip.The trip consisted of nine RWC students. To be eligible to participate, the students had to have completed one year of college-level German. By going on the trip, they received three credits towards German Culture and Civilization.
The itinerary was the same throughout the week and a little different on weekends. Monday through Friday, the students took language and grammar classes from 8:30 until noon. They would then have a lunch break and resume in the afternoon with cultural classes, lectures, or educational outings.
In the evening they were able to pick different leisure activities of their choice, or they could just relax. Their only assignments were to keep a blog to post their experience and thoughts on the trip, and to complete some readings prepared by the professors.
On the weekends, they had many different excursions to different towns and cities traveling on the German train system, the ICE. The cities included Dresden, Berlin, Wartburg, Erfurt, and Eisenach. In Wartburg, the students saw first hand the room in which Martin Luther first translated the Bible into the German language. And in Erfurt, which I was later told was the favorite city of many, they experienced a city that was still in its original medieval state. A few of the students even chose to go back for a second experience in the beautiful town. The program offered a 10-mile hiking excursion, but only two of the RWC group chose to brave the trails.
I asked Professor Page if there was a shining moment to the trip, and I was told that the Mayor of Ilmenau hosted a dinner at a fine dining restaurant in honor of the RWC group before they left. She said they were treated like royalty to a beautiful five course meal.
In fact, a few of the students grew so fond of Germany that they stayed past the duration of their study abroad program and ventured on to Amsterdam. Professor Page stated, “The trip was great. It really improved the students’ ability to speak and understand German, and we had such a great group. The group was very diverse, but got along so well.”
The trip was definitely a success. And if any students are interested, there is another trip in the works for 2010. You can contact Professor Page by email at , or you can find her in her office at 323 Muntz Hall.