A Lasting Impression
By Jake Winchester '09
Concordia Language Villages has had the biggest impact on my time at Concordia because it led me to the college in the first place. I was actually planning on attending a Nebraska community college until I spent two weeks at Waldsee, the German Language Village. Then I just knew I had to pursue German language education. Concordia's staff and programs really caught my eye - it definitely has one of the best German departments I've seen.
I really like the fact the professors encourage you to study abroad. My freshman year I took a 300 level German and music class which included an Exploration Seminar, one of Concordia's newest study abroad experiences. During spring break a portion of my class traveled to Vienna, Austria, to visit museum and galleries.
The Vienna trip really piqued my interest in traveling abroad. This summer I will spend five weeks with other Concordia German students and German Chair Dr. Jon Clark studying in Wittenberg, Germany. When I return I hope to land a summer counseling position at Waldsee, where I worked during the school year as a weekend program counselor.
As a German Education major, I'm thankful for all of the experiences I've had at Concordia and the Language Villages. From counseling to getting involved with the theatre, gaming club and interhall council, I've gained everything from leadership experience to opportunities to define my creativity. Honestly, my freshman year at Concordia was one of the best in my life and I can't wait for next year!
