Spencer and Sophie attend high schools on opposite sides of the globe, but thanks to Niskayuna’s Cultural and Linguistic Exchange Program, the two students say they’ll now have a lifelong friendship.
The program, available to students for the first time since 2020, offered students from Niskayuna High School and Integrated Comprehensive School of Koblenz (IGS) in Germany an immersive cultural experience. The program builds international partnerships, an understanding of different cultures and provides our students with a unique opportunity to learn in a global classroom.
In February, after going through an application process that included an interview, a group of Niskayuna students traveled to Germany to stay in the homes of their exchange partners, who then in return visited Niskayuna in April. Spencer, a Niskayuna junior, and Sophie, an IGS 9th grader, were exchange partners.
“You learn to appreciate each other maybe on a deeper level,” explained Spencer, when asked what was gained from the experience. “I also learned to appreciate all of the stuff here, like all of the little things that we have that they don’t and all of the little things that are different.”
“It’s so interesting to see all of these differences and to just learn more about a completely different culture,” agreed Sophie. “The people here are just so nice and friendly, it’s wonderful.”
Students participating in the exchange enter actively into daily life in the host country. They visit historical sites, attend classes with their hosts, and give presentations in German and in English to classes, at the request of teachers. Niskayuna students spent 14 days abroad: the first four nights were spent in Berlin before the students met up with their host families in Koblenz.
“It gives so much more than just the experience of immersion in a new language,” added Spencer. “It was a different thing living somewhere else in a different country for so long. Definitely worth it, it was so great.”
While participating in the program often increases students’ language skills, the goal is also to help students gain a deeper understanding of each other’s cultures through travel.
“School exchanges can open up real possibilities for these students’ futures,” said Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum & Instruction Jess Moore. “It gives them a chance to deepen their cultural and historical understanding, bridge the cultural gap, and really grow personally.”
While in Germany, Niskayuna students also met up with a handful of alumni who all took part in previous exchange programs. Two are current Fulbright scholars, one has a permanent residence in Germany and recently achieved German citizenship, and one is completing a Master’s program in Belgium.
And when the German students came to Niskayuna, their schedule included visits to nearby colleges, hiking trips, and opportunities to watch Niskayuna student-athletes in action. Their trip to the states concluded with a farewell brunch and bowling party.
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