Issue link: http://frankenmuthcvb.uberflip.com/i/1078059
According to Italian filmmaker Federico Fellini, "A different language is a different vision of life." This Summer, nineteen German students and twenty-six Spanish students embraced "different" renderings of life and traveled to Germany and Costa Rica, respectively. During their travels, our students had the opportunity to put their language skills to use as they were experiencing the cultural highlights of these two nations. Some participated in homestays where they learned the ins-and-outs of daily life in a different country. Some made lifetime friends. Some visited schools and donated supplies to those in need, and some sampled every possible food available! Castles were visited, rivers were conquered, and in the midst of these experiences, all learned more about humanity. ey experienced firsthand a "different vision of life" that cannot be replicated in classrooms. In a nutshell, that is the real purpose behind travel abroad. As Goethe put it, "Wer eine Fremdsprache nicht kennt, weiss nichts von seiner eigenen" which translates to, "He who knows no foreign language knows nothing of his own." By learning a second language, students' skills in their native language increases. They begin to think more carefully about the words they are choosing because they witnessed the subtle differences in meaning when conversing in another language. In the same manner, experiencing a different culture through its native language enhances our students' ability to understand our own culture. We extend our sincere gratitude to the many who helped our students as they worked at festivals, ran car washes, and supported fundraisers in order to make this experience affordable. The long-term benefits are priceless. Forty-five Frankenmuth students embraced the opportunity to see how others live and build relationships that transcend cultural differences, national borders and foreign languages. They learned that people are just people, no matter where they live. All have hopes and dreams, fears and needs, regardless of nationality. Our students gained a deeper understanding of what makes people who they are. And in turn, they gained a new lens through which to consider their own vision of life. Student Exchanges Open New Worlds Jennifer Fruendt, Frankenmuth High School German Teacher Frankenmuth students group together during Spanish field trip to Costa Rica Frankenmuth students stop for a photo op on their German trip 11