Week 19

Monday marked the beginning of the spring break, which Luca spent alongside his parents near Yosemite National Park. After arriving at their Airbnb, they used the day to explore both the breath-taking scenery of the national park and the surrounding region. Among other spots, they visited the small town of Mariposa, which provided an authentic insight into American life outside major cities through its local shops and classic small-town charm.

The following day, they headed back into Yosemite National Park for a scenic hike, allowing them to experience the stunning natural environment up close. The day concluded with a visit to the famous Tunnel View lookout point, which offers a magnificent panoramic view over Yosemite Valley. Afterward, they began their journey onward to San Francisco, reaching their hotel in the city center after a long drive.

Wednesday was fully dedicated to an extensive sightseeing tour of San Francisco. They visited iconic locations such as Union Square, Fisherman’s Wharf, and the absolute highlight of the trip, the Golden Gate Bridge. Following this, their route led them through the expansive Golden Gate Park, allowing them to discover more parts of the city and build a multi-faceted impression of San Francisco.

Thursday was similarly spent exploring more of the city. A particular highlight was riding the famous cable car, a signature landmark of San Francisco. Alongside walks through various distinct neighborhoods, this allowed them to deeply experience the city’s unique atmosphere.

Friday was marked by the departure of Luca’s parents. Following a warm goodbye, Luca traveled back to Fountain Valley. Manuel picked him up at John Wayne Airport, and they returned together to their accommodation.

On Saturday, we spent our shared free time hiking through the Santa Monica Mountains, once again experiencing California’s diverse natural landscapes. We wrapped up the day in a relaxed setting by dining out together at a local restaurant.

Week 20

With the start of Week 20, regular classes at the German School Campus resumed dynamically. On Monday, Kira joined us back on-site, allowing all of us to support Mrs. Wuerfler in the classroom together. The core focus remained centered on the language acquisition and development of our students. Luca and Manuel worked within smaller groups to targetedly address individual learning requirements. Following the group work phases, the reading competition continued to move forward. The individual winners began to emerge clearly, generating an extra wave of enthusiasm and motivation among the students.

Wednesday centered heavily around official exam preparations. A major priority was the C1 ÖSD exam, for which the students received intensive training. Additionally, Luca worked with a segment of the class on preparing for the AP German exam, while Manuel continued teaching German cultural and regional history units to the remaining group panels.

On Friday, we took advantage of our free time to visit the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles. This museum trip stood out as an exceptional highlight, providing us with comprehensive insights into North American wildlife systems as well as the history of dinosaurs. The displays were highly engaging and interactive, making the visit truly unforgettable.

On Saturday, we traveled into Los Angeles once again, this time visiting the California Science Center along with a special mummy exhibition. Here, we collected a wealth of new perspectives across science and historical timelines, further deepening our cultural and educational understandings.

Conclusion

Weeks 19 and 20 proved to be incredibly rewarding on both a cultural and professional level. Travelling through Yosemite National Park and exploring San Francisco allowed us to deeply connect with California’s environmental variety and unique lifestyle. Within the school framework, we successfully enhanced our instructional strategies, particularly in personalized student monitoring, group management, and high-level exam tracking layouts.

The ongoing reading competition clearly illustrated how valuable incentive models and healthy competitive structures are to the language learning process. Furthermore, visiting diverse world-class museums expanded our general knowledge base and intercultural awareness. Overall, these two weeks played an essential role in defining our path as developing educators, substantially strengthening both our practical teaching abilities and personal growth metrics.