2023 National German Exam
Chapter Testing Chair Guidelines FOR STUDENT INTERVIEWS OF THE AATG/PAD NATIONAL GERMAN EXAM SCHOLARSHIP AND MEDAL PRIZES (AND POSSIBLE BOOK PRIZES)
PREPARED FOR
Chapter Testing Chairs
QUESTIONS:
marisa@aatg.org
Thank you chapter testing chairs...
for helping us send fantastic students to Germany in 2022!
American Association of Teachers of German, Inc.
112 Haddontowne Court #104, Cherry Hill, NJ 08034 856-795-5553 nge@aatg.org www.aatg.org
2023 National German Exam Chapter Testing Chair Guidelines Thank you for serving as Chapter Testing Chair for this year’s National German Exam. As Chapter Testing Chair, you are responsible for: • selecting your chapter’s Nominees for the AATG/PAD National German Exam Scholarship, and • distributing medal (and possibly book prizes) for students in your chapter. Please read these guidelines carefully before starting to review student applications. Contact Marisa Minard (marisa@aatg.org) with any questions before starting the interview process.
1. National German Exam Score Reports
For teachers - (Class and Individual Student Reports): Results for the 2023 National German Exam will be posted directly in teachers’ Lingco accounts by February 10. Teachers will receive reports in two formats, as PDF files and Excel (csv) files. For Chapter Testing Chairs - (Chapter Report): You will receive a chapter report, as an Excel (csv) file, sent to your email by February 10. The email will be sent from Marisa Minard (marisa@aatg.org). Unlike in previous years, you will receive one report for ALL exam levels, sorted by exam level. Teachers receive scores to distribute to their students directly in their Lingco accounts. If teachers contact you to say they did not receive score reports, those scores may not have been released because payment for those exams has not been received. Please do not provide scores to teachers, but rather ask the teachers to contact AATG (marisa@aatg.org) to receive score reports. Starting in 2023, score reports will be posted directly in the teacher’s Lingco account to preview and download.
2. National German Exam Scholarship
For over 60 years, the Federal Republic of Germany, through the German Foreign Office (Auswärtiges Amt) and its Pedagogical Exchange Service (Pädagogischer Austauschdienst), has provided the AATG/PAD National German Exam Scholarship (formerly Study Trip Award), a three-week trip to Germany in the summer following the Exam. Students attend classes at an academic high school, stay in homestays, and participate in various excursions to places of cultural significance.
2a). National German Exam Scholarship Eligibility
To be eligible to apply for the AATG/PAD National German Exam Scholarship, students must score in the 90th percentile or higher on the National German Exam of the current academic 1
American Association of Teachers of German, Inc.
112 Haddontowne Court #104, Cherry Hill, NJ 08034 856-795-5553 nge@aatg.org www.aatg.org
year. In order to apply, students must also: • • • • • • • • • • •
be in high school be of good academic standing (“B” GPA or higher) be between the ages of 15 and 17 for the duration of the program (June-July 2023) be in good physical and mental health be a US citizen or have permanent resident status in the US not live in a household in which any daily conversation is conducted in German never have been enrolled in a school in which the language of instruction was German not have visited a German-speaking country for more than two consecutive weeks since the age of six not have previously won this or similar awards be able to provide documentation for measles and COVID 19 vaccinations if chosen as a scholarship recipient be willing to take the Avant STAMP 4S Language Proficiency Test if chosen by their chapter as a chapter nominee, with a proctor, between March 1-15, 2023 (Required for advancement to the National Selection Round)
Lingco Score Report: The “Y” in the “Eligible for Travel Award” column of the score report indicates the student has met the criteria of scoring above the 90th percentile and that the student responded NO to these four questions of the student questionnaire: • Is German spoken regularly in your home? • Have you visited a German‐speaking country for more than two consecutive weeks since the age of six? • Have you ever been enrolled in a school where German is the primary language of instruction? (Ex: German immersion school, dual language school, and/or international school) • Have you ever traveled to Germany on an AATG scholarship or participated in a GAPP exchange? (Ex: NGE Scholarship, Summer Study Program Scholarship, GAPP Exchange) Avant Test: Nationwide, 100 Semifinalists (Chapter Nominees) will advance to National Selection Round and all Semifinalists must agree to take an Avant STAMP 4S Language Proficiency Test in Reading, Writing, Listening, and Speaking. More information is found in the “National Selection Round” section of these Guidelines.
2b). National German Exam Scholarship Application
Teachers will be asked by AATG to provide each eligible student with the link for the application, which is available on the National German Exam Scholarship page 2
American Association of Teachers of German, Inc.
112 Haddontowne Court #104, Cherry Hill, NJ 08034 856-795-5553 nge@aatg.org www.aatg.org
(https://www.aatg.org/page/NGEScholarshipApplication) starting February 10. Students will complete the short online application form. Teachers will complete the short recommendation form. All student applications and teacher recommendations must be completed by February 20. Unfortunately, AATG cannot grant any application extension requests. Please send an email reminder to the teachers in your chapter about the deadline. On February 21, AATG will send Chapter Testing Chairs the student and teacher forms, which will be Excel files.
2c). Chapter Selection Round
Number of Chapter Nominees The number of candidates to be nominated by each chapter is determined proportionally by the volume of overall exams taken. You will be notified of the total number of allowable nominations for your chapter on February 21. Each chapter will be able to nominate at least one candidate. Chapter Interviews Your Chapter Testing Committee will select Chapter Nominees from the pool of applicants. If you have not already done so, you should select 2 or 3 chapter members to serve on the committee with you. Please note your committee is selecting Chapter Nominees to be considered by the National Selection Committee. Your Nominees are not guaranteed to be National German Exam Scholarship winners. After receiving all of the student applications and teacher recommendations on February 21, please review them before beginning the interview process. The same interview format should be used with all students, and students may be interviewed either by phone or video call. You can find Study Trip Applicant Interview Guidelines at the end of this document. Chapter Nominee Form After your Chapter Testing Committee reviews applications and interviews the candidates, fill out the Chapter Nominee Form (https://sprw.io/stt-98VkUymoMdc7MvGY7UtJe4) to notify the national office of your Chapter Nominee(s). You must send us your decisions through this form, which will ask you to provide the name(s) of your Nominee(s) and a brief statement describing why you selected them. There is a word limit of 350 words per recommendation. The form is due March 6. The earlier you submit the Chapter Nominee Form, the earlier your Chapter Nominee(s) can begin the STAMP test. The earliest possible date that the Chapter Nominee(s) can begin the STAMP test is March 1. More information about the STAMP test is found under the “National Selection Round” section of these Guidelines. 3
American Association of Teachers of German, Inc.
112 Haddontowne Court #104, Cherry Hill, NJ 08034 856-795-5553 nge@aatg.org www.aatg.org
Notifying Interviewee(s) of your decision After your Chapter Testing Committee has selected its Nominee(s), you should inform all students who applied for the scholarship no later than March 6 if their application is advancing to the National Selection Round or not. A message from you highlighting the significance of their achievement in qualifying to apply for the award is an effective strategy for assuring continued study of German.
2d). National Selection Round
About the Avant Test Nationwide, 100 Semifinalists (Chapter Nominees) will advance to National Selection Round and all Semifinalists must agree to take an Avant STAMP 4S Language Proficiency Test in Reading, Writing, Listening, and Speaking. The Semifinalist must arrange testing with a proctor and complete the test between March 1 – March 15, 2023. This requirement (as of 2022) will help to assess a student’s readiness for the National German Exam Scholarship program, a three- to four-week language and cultural immersion trip to Germany in the summer following the Exam, and help to determine group placement. The STAMP 4S Test also qualifies the student for the Global Seal of Biliteracy and provides additional verification of their language ability. Avant Test Proctoring The proctor can be the student’s German teacher, a school administrator, the chapter testing chair, or another chapter member. Parents/guardians cannot serve as proctors. The student must email AATG (marisa@aatg.org) the name and email address of their proctor before beginning the test. The test login and password will be sent directly to the proctor, who will provide that information to the student. The test can be proctored remotely or in person. Avant Practice Tests While formal preparation is not required for the test, students can access practice tests online at https://avantassessment.com/sample-tests#stamp4s. National Selection The National Selection Committee chooses winners of the National German Exam Scholarship from the pool of Chapter Nominees. The Semifinalist’s initial application, chapter testing chair recommendation, and Avant test scores will be made available to the Committee to aid in the final decision making. AATG will notify Chapter Nominees and their teachers of final selection. Chapter Testing Chairs will receive information on final selections after all students have accepted their scholarships by early April. (See calendar of important dates below). 4
American Association of Teachers of German, Inc.
112 Haddontowne Court #104, Cherry Hill, NJ 08034 856-795-5553 nge@aatg.org www.aatg.org
3. NGE Post-Graduate Scholarship for high school seniors
Graduating seniors who don’t meet the age requirement [be between the ages of 15 and 17 for the duration of the program (June-July 2023)] for the National German Exam Scholarship may be eligible for the NGE Post-Graduate Scholarship for high school seniors. The requirements and application details can be found on the AATG website (https://www.aatg.org/page/NGESeniorScholarship). Encourage eligible seniors in your chapter to apply! The deadline for student applications is March 23.
4. National German Exam Scholarship Important Dates
February 20: Deadline for online student applications and teacher recommendations. Links for student applications and teacher recommendations are available online starting February 10 (https://www.aatg.org/page/NGEScholarshipApplication). February 21: AATG sends you the Excel files of student applications and teacher recommendations, and lets you know how many Chapter Nominee(s) you may nominate. February 21 – March 6: Your Chapter Testing Committee reviews applications and conducts student interviews by video or phone call. March 1: STAMP testing begins for Chapter Nominees who have advanced to the National Selection Round on a rolling basis. Chapter Nominees must arrange testing with their proctor and complete the Avant STAMP 4S Test by March 15, 2023. Students must email AATG (marisa@aatg.org) the name and email address of their proctor before beginning the test. March 6: Deadline for you to fill out the Chapter Nominee Form (https://sprw.io/stt98VkUymoMdc7MvGY7UtJe4) informing AATG of your Chapter Nominee(s). You should notify all student interviewees no later than March 6 about your Chapter Testing Committee’s decision. March 6: AATG contacts all Chapter Nominees informing them of their advancement to the National Selection Round. AATG invites Chapter Nominees to take the STAMP 4S Test, with a proctor, by March 15, 2023. Students must email AATG (marisa@aatg.org) the name and email address of their proctor before beginning the test. March 15: STAMP testing ends for Chapter Nominees who have advanced to the National Selection Round. Chapter Nominees must arrange testing with their proctor and complete the Avant STAMP 4S Test by March 15, 2023. March 24-25: AATG notifies National German Exam Scholarship winners. AATG asks scholarship winners to confirm their acceptance into the program by March 28. 5
American Association of Teachers of German, Inc.
112 Haddontowne Court #104, Cherry Hill, NJ 08034 856-795-5553 nge@aatg.org www.aatg.org
March 28: Deadline for National German Exam Scholarship winners to confirm their acceptance into the program and notification of alternates March 30: Deadline for National German Exam Scholarship alternates to confirm their acceptance into the program Early April: AATG announces recipients of the AATG/PAD National German Exam Scholarship on our website and in an organization-wide email
5. Chapter Prizes and Award Ceremonies
Medals (and possibly book prizes) for students in your chapter who performed well on the Exam will be sent to you in late March/early April for distribution. You will receive another e‐mail detailing the prize mailing contents. In many chapters, Chapter Testing Chairs organize an awards ceremony (in person or virtual) for students, parents, and administrators. Award ceremonies hosted by your chapter or in individual schools are wonderful opportunities for positive publicity for German programs. Certificates (https://www.aatg.org/page/NGEAwards) recognizing each level of performance can be found on our website starting February 10. Individual teachers or you as Chapter Testing Chair can download and print certificates to honor students. Certificate seals (https://www.aatg.org/store/viewproduct.aspx?id=2127561) are available for purchase in our store. If you have any questions about the National German Exam Scholarship application process or eligibility requirements, chapter awards, or related matters, please contact Marisa Minard (marisa@aatg.org).
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American Association of Teachers of German, Inc.
112 Haddontowne Court #104, Cherry Hill, NJ 08034 856-795-5553 nge@aatg.org www.aatg.org
AATG‐PAD NGE Scholarship Interview Guidelines Your interview should be designed to assess the student’s • interpersonal skills. • commitment to German. • willingness and ability to share experiences upon return. • flexibility and adaptability. • enthusiasm for speaking German. • long‐range plans for using German. Warm‐up (in German). Start with questions to put the student at ease and to determine listening comprehension and basic proficiency. Ask about the student, family, and school, and everyday life. Wie heißt du? Wie alt bist du? Wie lange lernst du schon Deutsch? Erzähl uns etwas über deine Familie. Woher kommst du? Erzähl uns etwas über deine Stadt. Language Assessment (in German). Ask open‐ended questions to assess the student’s spoken German. Ask the student to elaborate, where appropriate. Erzähl uns von deinem Schultag. Wie verbringst du deine Freizeit? Wie hast du die Winterferien verbracht? Was hast du nach diesem Interview vor? Welche Qualitäten findest du besonders wichtig bei Freunden? Follow up (in English or German). Ask open‐ended questions to find out about the student’s enthusiasm for German and long‐range plans for using German.
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