OLD BRIDGE— Four years ago, there was one German language teacher on the faculty of Old Bridge High School (OBHS), with about 100 students studying the language.
For the 2015-2016 school year, the number of German language teachers has grown to four and the number of students studying the language has soared to 290.
Anahita Keiller, director of arts, cultures and ESL, said the growth is a testament to everyone involved in the program.
“We have four phenomenal and dedicated German teachers,” she said.
In 2012, the German language program at Old Bridge High School began a German exchange program. And in October, German students from Duisburg were the guests of OBHS families who served as hosts for two weeks. In April, OBHS students will then travel to Duisburg, where students’ families will return the favor and be the hosts
Keiller said the students spend three to four hours at school and experience life with their host families.
German teacher Anna Cotis, who was instrumental in creating the German exchange program for the district, said she had the same program when she was in high school.
“It changed my life,” she said. “The German students came to us in October and we went to Germany in the spring. It opened my eyes on what I wanted to pursue in my life.”
Cotis said four years ago that she approached Keiller about implementing a German exchange program in the district —and the rest is history.
Lydia DeJonge, a senior at Old Bridge High School, and Daniel Rodzik, a junior, said they enjoyed their time participating in the program and they still keep in contact with their German friends.
The students said the independence of the students in Germany and the easy use of the transportation system stood out to them.
“Traveling in Germany sometimes by myself has given me more confidence when I am home,” said DeJonge.
As for food, Rodzik said the currywurst, a sausage dish, is delicious.
Keiller said there are food trucks just like in New York City where people can buy currywurst.
Cotis said DeJonge and Rodzik were spoken to in German by their host families and they responded in German to help them learn the language.
“They took the program so seriously and embraced their surroundings as much as I hoped,” she said.
The success of the German program has prompted the expansion of a number of world language offerings at the high school.
Keiller said the district is in the second year of an Italian exchange program and is working to initiate a Chinese exchange program.
She said the district has received several grants to fund a visit by a Chinese guest teacher through HanBan, a Chinese government sponsored teaching program.
Keiller said the success of the world language program goes hand in hand with the district’s theme for the 2015-2016 school year of “Local Pride Global Impact.”
She said world languages are introduced in all 12 elementary schools and five languages are rotated in the two middle schools.
“We give the students a flavor [of languages] and they have the choice and opportunity [from there],” she said.