In the years that I've visited schools in Germany and have made German friends, here's something I have come to learn: high schools in Germany don't typically offer sports as an extracurricular activity the way American high schools do.
Now, that is not to say that German students don't play any sports at all. Quite the contrary: I've met a number of students who told me they play on a community team or other club in their neighborhood. That goes for students in primary school, secondary school, and on into the university level. In fact, my roommate plays regularly for a team as well.
When I say play though, I'm mainly talking about soccer (or as they call it here, "football"). Sure, there are other sports too, but none lights up the students' eyes like soccer.
Well, today, I visited another school as part of my Fulbright research project, and as soon as I stepped through the entrance, I felt almost transported back to the U.S.
The double-glassed doorway opened to a long, spacious area that doubled as a cafeteria and a student-gathering spot. On the wall hung a number of flyers and exhibits—showcasing the school's history in relation to its sports prowess.
This particular school is known as an elite school for football (soccer) and offers a wide range of other sports as well. In other upper secondary schools (this particular school is also an upper secondary school), students tend to take a few Leistungskurse in academic fields like English, German, or physics (Leistungskurse are specific areas in which they spend the majority of their time—almost like a mini-major of sorts). At the school I visited today, the students have a Leistungssport or something like that. This means, they really train hard in one particular sport.
In the class I spoke to today, I met students (guys and girls) who focus specifically on soccer, others who focused on tennis, still others who focused on swimming, etc. Other sports included Latin dancing and rowing. I asked how many of them wanted to play professionally, and several of them raised their hands. In fact, a few already do. Two of the guys in the class play for the junior teams of professional soccer clubs in Berlin. Pretty impressive.
I only had about 30 minutes to speak with the students today, so we didn't do any interviews. Rather, I spent the time I had in class getting to know them a bit more. They asked me questions, and I asked them questions as well. They had a bit more trouble understanding me in English, but we understood each other fine when they asked a question in German and I answered in English. A few times I answered in German too. Students always seem to find that rather amusing.
On the way out, I checked the display windows and saw a feature from 2005, in which NBA stars had come to the school. I snapped a picture of this photo. It took me a second to recognize him, but it seems to be Detlef Schrempf, who played—among other NBA stops—in Seattle and Portland. Oh, bad quality pictures because I used my cell phone.
As I walked through the doors, I took a picture of the Obama painting on the wall. I had noticed it when I first walked in the school. It's a copy of Shepard Fairey's famous work.
I will return to the school again on Friday, when they have a double-period in which I can actually do a few interviews. Should be fun. Looking forward to it.
It's nearly dinner time now, so I think I'm gonna give that salmon another try. I have one more piece, and I should finish it before it goes bad. I also picked up some pretty solid beer from the Czech Republic today. Guess how much a bottle cost? A whopping 23 cents (plus 8 cents deposit). Stellar, I say.
Till next time,
Sam
Now, that is not to say that German students don't play any sports at all. Quite the contrary: I've met a number of students who told me they play on a community team or other club in their neighborhood. That goes for students in primary school, secondary school, and on into the university level. In fact, my roommate plays regularly for a team as well.
When I say play though, I'm mainly talking about soccer (or as they call it here, "football"). Sure, there are other sports too, but none lights up the students' eyes like soccer.
Well, today, I visited another school as part of my Fulbright research project, and as soon as I stepped through the entrance, I felt almost transported back to the U.S.
The double-glassed doorway opened to a long, spacious area that doubled as a cafeteria and a student-gathering spot. On the wall hung a number of flyers and exhibits—showcasing the school's history in relation to its sports prowess.
This particular school is known as an elite school for football (soccer) and offers a wide range of other sports as well. In other upper secondary schools (this particular school is also an upper secondary school), students tend to take a few Leistungskurse in academic fields like English, German, or physics (Leistungskurse are specific areas in which they spend the majority of their time—almost like a mini-major of sorts). At the school I visited today, the students have a Leistungssport or something like that. This means, they really train hard in one particular sport.
In the class I spoke to today, I met students (guys and girls) who focus specifically on soccer, others who focused on tennis, still others who focused on swimming, etc. Other sports included Latin dancing and rowing. I asked how many of them wanted to play professionally, and several of them raised their hands. In fact, a few already do. Two of the guys in the class play for the junior teams of professional soccer clubs in Berlin. Pretty impressive.
I only had about 30 minutes to speak with the students today, so we didn't do any interviews. Rather, I spent the time I had in class getting to know them a bit more. They asked me questions, and I asked them questions as well. They had a bit more trouble understanding me in English, but we understood each other fine when they asked a question in German and I answered in English. A few times I answered in German too. Students always seem to find that rather amusing.
On the way out, I checked the display windows and saw a feature from 2005, in which NBA stars had come to the school. I snapped a picture of this photo. It took me a second to recognize him, but it seems to be Detlef Schrempf, who played—among other NBA stops—in Seattle and Portland. Oh, bad quality pictures because I used my cell phone.
As I walked through the doors, I took a picture of the Obama painting on the wall. I had noticed it when I first walked in the school. It's a copy of Shepard Fairey's famous work.
I will return to the school again on Friday, when they have a double-period in which I can actually do a few interviews. Should be fun. Looking forward to it.
It's nearly dinner time now, so I think I'm gonna give that salmon another try. I have one more piece, and I should finish it before it goes bad. I also picked up some pretty solid beer from the Czech Republic today. Guess how much a bottle cost? A whopping 23 cents (plus 8 cents deposit). Stellar, I say.
Till next time,
Sam
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