Photo by Jan Mitchell
Jared Sayre
Reporter
March 3, 2006
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German students hiked Buffalo Mountain and marveled at nature's
beauty, all in German, of course. Photo by Jan Mitchell |
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Last weekend 10 Milligan College students and various others participated in the first annual German 'Sprachbad' at at Buffalo Mountain Camp in Johnson City. The retreat was planned by Associate Professor of German Ted Thomas for his Intermediate German class.
“This is the first time we have done a ‘Sprachbad,’ literally a language bath, at Milligan,” Thomas said. “Overall the language bath was a successful attempt for students to practice speaking German.”
Each participant signed a contract to not speak English from 10:00 a.m. Saturday through 2:00 p.m. Sunday.
“There were a few breaches of contract, but nothing serious,” Thomas said. “On occasion when something slipped out in English, there was a Tupperware bowl into which the guilty tossed a penny per infraction.”
Professor emeritus of German Donald Shaffer participated in the weekend retreat, coaching German syntax and leading a Saturday afternoon hike into the foothills of Buffalo Mountain.
Ten students attended the weekend retreat: seniors Rachel Eng, Beth Harkey and Marta Zimon, juniors Josh Ferry, Beth McAvoy, Angela McCann, Jan Mitchell, Amanda Moore and Luke Rogers and sophomore Amos Nidiffer.
“This has greatly improved my speaking and listening abilities,” Rogers said. “Being in an environment where I cannot rely on English made me think about what I knew and what I had learned.”
Rogers admitted it was hard speaking only German, but said, “By the end of the weekend I was thinking in German more than in English.”
Events for the weekend included hiking, cooking, cleaning and watching movies in German. The participants watched a German variety show filmed at Hamburg harbor.
“Students did puzzles, sang, acted out skits, played Pictionary, told stories, played cards and other games and watched Herr der Ringe – Lord of the Rings – in German” said Thomas.
After Saturday’s hike, Rosemarie Shields, assistant professor emeritus of humanities, and her husband Bruce Shields, Emmanuel professor, joined the group for a typical German midday meal, which included ‘Kaffee und Kuchen’ – coffee and dessert.
Associate Professor of History and Humanities Craig Farmer joined the group for Sunday morning service. He preached the entire sermon in German.
Thomas said Shaffer and Farmer were “crucial ingredients to the success of the weekend.”