We said goodbye to our German exchange teachers recently, but before they left we got to learn a great deal about them and their experiences here at Stroudsburg High School.

The three teachers we interviewed were Joanne, Jasmina, and Hanna.

How has your overall experience in Stroudsburg been? 

Joanne: It’s my first time in America and I think it’s very interesting here. It’s like home in many ways and it’s very friendly here. Being in the school reminded me of High School Musical or some kind of movie.

Jasmina: I agree, I think the experience would have been a lot different if we were in a city like New York.

Hanna: I really like it here, but the school systems are definitely different.

What are some differences between here and your home in Germany? 

Joanne: We don’t have big bookstores at home, not like here at least. The most popular one is called Thalia. We can have our phones with us in school and we don’t need to stay in school, we can leave during our break periods.

Jasmina: In Germany, we don’t have any kind of art classes because we focus more on technical things like math and science. The desks and chairs are separated back at home and the streets are wider. The houses are much more far apart. The relationships between teachers and students are very different here, back in Germany they’re much more formal. It’s shocking to see teachers and students talk about things like family.

Hanna: The bathrooms, we don’t have gaps in the stalls. It’s pretty weird they have that here.

Why did you participate in the exchange program? 

Joanne: We have to spend three months abroad for school and it’s interesting to get to know the school systems in America. 

What’s something new you learned during your time in America? 

Joanne: When you’re forced to be in close spaces with people, you become much better friends than you would just going to school. 

Jasmina: I learned that you can build good relationships with students and stay professional and that if I can make it four weeks with fifteen strangers, then I can manage anything.

What has been the most fun about your time here? 

Joanne: The car rides and road trips to different restaurants and stores. 

Jasmina: How people just come, knock on your door, and want to talk to you. I had fun talking to my mentors too, they were great.

Hanna: I like that we got to see college life at ESU. It’s all really different.

What’s the hardest word to say in English? 

Joanne: I have the hardest time saying “squirrel”. I think it’s because of the “r” sounds. It’s not the same in German.