
The University of New Mexico
NEWS RELEASE
Contact : Carolyn Gonzales 277-5920
cgonzal@unm.edu
August 22, 2006
UNM's German Summer School Featured in National Magazine
The August/September issue of “German Life” features an article on total immersion German programs in the United States. UNM's German Summer School, or Deutsche Sommerschule von New Mexico, is among the programs featured alongside those from the University of Rhode Island, Portland State and Middlebury College in Vermont.
The school's director, Susanne Baackmann, said that the total immersion approach aims to make the language “come alive” for learners.
“Linguists have identified a factor called language interference. This refers to the fact that it's much harder to go back and forth between two languages than it is to stay in one. Since the total immersion approach focuses on the target language only, students make remarkable progress in German in just four weeks.”
Baackmann also said that the total immersion program UNM's hosts annually in June and July in the Taos Ski Valley is worth more in language improvement than a full academic year in Germany.
She said, “During their stay in Germany, many American exchange students meet Germans who would rather speak English with them than go through a halting conversation in German.” By contrast, the instructors and participants speak Nur Deutsche, only German, throughout the program.
UNM's program was established by Professors George Peters and Peter Pabisch more than 30 years ago. The Deutsche Sommerschule continues to attract students from across the United States and includes faculty from the U.S. and the German-speaking world.
“German Life” is available at newsstands and by subscription. For information about receiving the magazine, email Matt Strickler at mstrickler@germanlife.com .www.unm.edu