Special Session

German / Professional and Pedagogy

Peter Schroeck (Seton Hall University)
pete@****.com (Log-in to reveal)

Renate Ludanyi (Western Connecticut State University)
tlud@****.com (Log-in to reveal)

This roundtable explores the collaborative practices of German language schools affiliated with the German Language School Conference (GLSC) and how this network strengthens German-language education across the United States. Participants will discuss initiatives linking schools from both the East Coast and West Coast, including shared programming, teacher exchanges, and joint cultural and pedagogical projects. These efforts not only facilitate the exchange of best practices among educators but also foster a sense of community across regional boundaries, contributing to the sustainability of German-language programs nationwide.

This roundtable explores the collaborative practices of German language schools affiliated with the German Language School Conference (GLSC) and how this network strengthens German-language education across the United States. Participants will discuss initiatives linking schools from both the East Coast and West Coast, including shared programming, teacher exchanges, and joint cultural and pedagogical projects. These efforts not only facilitate the exchange of best practices among educators but also foster a sense of community across regional boundaries, contributing to the sustainability of German-language programs nationwide.

A key aspect of GLSC’s work is its annual professional development conferences for German teachers, which provide a platform for educators to share strategies, curricular innovations, and cultural programming ideas. The most recent conference, held for the first time on the West Coast in San Francisco, California, exemplifies the growing collaboration and reach of GLSC, demonstrating how East and West Coast schools can come together to strengthen professional networks and enrich learning opportunities for students.

The roundtable discussion will highlight how GLSC member schools integrate German literature, history, and culture into diverse learning contexts, serving both heritage speakers and learners of German as a foreign language. By examining strategies for inter-school cooperation, curricular development, and community-building, the roundtable will provide insights into sustaining vibrant German-language networks and enriching students’ linguistic and cultural experiences.

We hope this roundtable will provide those in attendance a variety of regional perspectives and experiences. Panelists will share concrete examples of collaborative initiatives, curricular innovations, and cultural programming that illustrate the benefits of a connected national network of German-language schools. Participants in the roundtable will leave with a deeper understanding of how cooperative strategies, regional connections, and shared cultural programming can enhance German-language education while fostering cross-regional dialogue and community among teachers and students alike.