Location: Wust, Saxony-Anhalt, Germany

Position: English counselor/teacher

Description: So much fun––we spent mornings teaching English to our assigned age group (based on preference, ranging from 7 to 50+), then afternoons giving workshops in English on any topic (sports, music, English grammar, US culture, cooking etc), and evenings we provided entertainment for campers and also grilled for them/served them food. Mostly we made fantastic connections with fellow US and British language geeks as well as with German kids, teens, and adults.

Language Requirement: German

Language Use: German was really important for connecting with our host family and making meaningful relationships with Germans. It's also nice to be on your toes, as a teacher/counselor, by understanding when students may try to talk behind your back. For traveling outside of camp, using German was also very helpful for navigating situations in Berlin and Leipzig. 

Impact on Language Skills: I became much more comfortable with my conversational German, made long-term friends with whom I communicate in German, and learned how to get through problems in the big cities (such as on public transit, getting lost etc) using only German.

Opportunity Found Through: recommended by a professor/advisor 

Paid: Yes; lived with host family, had field trips in the region and opportunities to visit Berlin and Leipzig, travel expenses covered

Application Process: We had to write an application letter, then have an interview with Prof. Sokolosky.

Contact Information: Olivia Howe '22 (olivia_howe@brown.edu), Meg Lorraine (Margaret_lorraine@brown.edu)

Location: Germany

Description: RISE Germany  is a summer internship program for undergraduate students in the STEM fields. Students work with research groups at universities and top research institutions for a duration of three months (minimum stay ten weeks) during the summer. We have had several Brown students accepted into this program.

Link: https://www.daad.de/rise/en/ 

Recommended by: Jane Sokolosky (jane_sokolosky@brown.edu) 

Location: Berlin, Germany 

Description: EMGIP (Émigré Memorial German Internship Program) offers internship opportunities in the German parliament, the Bundestag, for Brown graduates. Internships last for two months. We have had several Brown students accepted into this program. 

Link: https://www.daad.org/en/find-funding/graduate-opportunities/emgip-bundestag-internship/

Recommended by: Jane Sokolosky (jane_sokolosky@brown.edu)

Location: Germany

Description:  A fully-funded fellowship program to intern for eight weeks with organizations in Argentina, Germany, or Southeast Asia. We have had several Brown students accepted into the program in Germany. 

Link: https://culturalvistas.org/programs/abroad/cultural-vistas-fellowship/

(https://culturalvistas.org/programs/abroad/congress-bundestag-youth-exchange-young-professionals/)

Recommended by: Jane Sokolosky (jane_sokolosky@brown.edu)

Location: Berlin, Germany

Description: I was working for the Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange / Parlamentarisches Patenschafts-Programm, where I completed German university applications for American participants of the program, wrote a handbook with advice about navigating culture shock, moving to Germany/abroad for the first time, and advice about the program, CBYX, itself. I also helped organize materials for the welcome seminar and conduct outreach for host families throughout Germany.

Language Use: The position was conducted entirely in German, so I was interacting with my colleagues and receiving directions entirely in German. I was in a completely immersive German-language setting for about 30 hours a week, so it helped me a lot with navigating the language and gaining confidence in speaking and understanding.

Link: https://culturalvistas.eu/jobs/ 

Recommended by: Gidget Rosen (gidget_rosen@brown.edu)

Location: Germany

Description: Funded by German Bundestag and US Department of State, students first paticipate in a 2 month intensive language course, followed by a semester at a German University and volunteer hours, followed by a 6-month internship which participants obtain themselves. Ther is a lengthy application process including a panel interview. There are housing and food stipends, health insurance, and cultural activities included. 

Link: https://exchanges.state.gov/us/program/congress-bundestag-youth-exchange-young-professionals-cbyx

Recommended by: Jessica Stewart (jessica_stewart@brown.edu)

Location: Germany

Description: Lots of funding opportunities for study abroad and information about learning German and studying in Germany. 

Link: https://www.daad.org/en/find-funding/undergraduate-opportunities/

Location: Germany 

Description: a fellowship opportunity to spend one year in Germany: two months of intensive German language training, one semester of classes in one’s academic or career field at a university, technical or professional school, three-month internships in one’s career field. We have had several Brown students accepted into this program. 

Link: https://culturalvistas.org/programs/abroad/congress-bundestag-youth-exchange-young-professionals/

Recommended by: Jane Sokolosky (jane_sokolosky@brown.edu)