This internship report was written by Dilay Deniz during her teaching internship at German School Campus in Newport Beach, California. The following text documents her first two weeks, including classroom support, cultural experiences, and early impressions of teaching German as a foreign language in the United States.

Hello, my name is Dilay, I am 23 years old and come from Paderborn, Germany. Since August 9th, I have been in Newport Beach to support the teachers at the German School Campus and to gain important experience for my future career as a teacher.

On Friday, I arrived, and Mrs. Schoeneich picked me up. We immediately went to Trader Joe’s to buy the essential groceries. I spent the rest of the weekend getting used to the time difference, mostly just staying in bed or by the pool.

Planning at Sea: Teacher Meeting on a Boat

On Monday, we got started right away with a meeting for all the teachers to plan the new school year. And when your school is located at a harbor, it’s only natural to do this on a boat in Newport Beach. With coffee and cake, we were out on the open sea, making plans for the upcoming school year.

Exploring California: From Sunset Cliffs to Griffith Observatory

I had the rest of the week to settle into Newport Beach and the surrounding area, and I made the most of every second. Whether it was a visit to San Diego to see the university and the Sunset Cliffs, a quick trip to Los Angeles to visit the Griffith Observatory and experience the nightlife in Downtown LA in the evening, or just relaxing by the sea, playing volleyball, or swimming in the water. There are endless possibilities, and I want to try them all.

Crafting German Schultüten & First Day of School

Together with another intern, we made traditional German Schultüten (school cones) filled with school supplies and sweets for the new students. Rolling them up did take some effort, but it was definitely worth it.

Finally, on Monday, August 19th, the big day arrived. Flags, slogans, coffee, and cake were set up, and the first parents with their children started arriving. After a relaxed introduction, the Schultüten were handed out, and some memorable photos were taken. Then we went into the individual classes with the students and played icebreaker games. Sarah (a teacher at the German School Campus) asked her students to build a tower out of marshmallows and spaghetti.

Presentations, Exams, & Teaching Seminars

Afterward, I showed everyone my PowerPoint about my city to explain where I come from and what makes my city special. The children were enthusiastic and asked a lot of questions.

Two days later, two students had their exams, and it was exciting to sit in and see how such an exam is conducted. The exams consist of a reading, writing, listening, and speaking part, all of which are completed on the same day.

On Thursday, we participated in a seminar designed to better prepare us for teaching, offering various icebreaker games, teaching aids, and examples of brain breaks. To conclude, questions were asked, and experiences were shared, which was very helpful since I have never taught properly before.

The first two weeks have been very exciting and varied, and I am curious to see what will come in the next few weeks. I look forward to a great time and a lot to take away in this sunny California weather.