MG
Melissa Gunlogson
  • Neuroscience, German
  • Class of 2014
  • Saint Charles, IL

Augustana College's Melissa Gunlogson to Study in Germany

2011 Aug 31

Augustana College professors and a group of advanced German students are spending 12 weeks in Wittenberg, Germany, in a language immersion program this fall. This is the fifth year Augustana students have participated in the program.

Melissa Gunlogson, a sophomore from Saint Charles, Ill. majoring in neuroscience will participate in the program.

"A main feature is that students will stay with guest families for over nine weeks," said Dr. Kim Vivian, a professor in Augustana's German department. "This enables them to experience German culture firsthand and to use their German in a family setting."

The Fall Term in Wittenberg Program takes students to Wittenberg in eastern Germany, where they take courses in literature, history, religion, art history and regional culture. All courses are taught in German. Before they move in with guest families, students will live at the historical Cranach-Herberge hostel.

Robert Neilly, a junior from Villa Park, Ill., said he was interested not only in becoming more fluent in German but also sampling Germany's food stands. He is majoring in neuroscience and German. Jamie Fritz, a senior from Cincinnati, Ohio, hopes to improve her German and experience the differences in German and American culture. "I would like to see the Berlin Zoo, and just walk around to see how their schools, stores and museums are different from ours in the United States," said Fritz, who plans a career in oncology.

Included in the immersion program is a group trip to Weimar in addition to Berlin, and students have many opportunities on three-day weekends and during a mid-term break to travel to other parts of Germany and Europe, according to Dr. Vivian. Dr. David Ellis, associate professor of history at Augustana, will share teaching responsibilities with Dr. Vivian during the 12-week program. The Wittenberg Program ends November 3.

All 12 students studying in Wittenberg applied for and received $2,000 through the college's Augie Choice program. Augie Choice provides students with the opportunity for the kinds of learning that will make them stand out when they start careers or go on to graduate school.