Report from Alabama AATG

By Chase Trautwein

“ By Angel Lane, President, AZ Chapter The Alabama chapter welcomes new members, celebrates

achievements, and looks forward to supporting German this academic year.”

As the 2021-22 academic year begins, the Alabama chapter of AATG welcomes new members, celebrates achievements of the previous year, and looks forward to promoting the study of German language and culture throughout the state.

The University of Alabama’s German Department welcomes three new members. Corinne Crane is serving as the German Language Program Director. Johannes Frohlich’s research focuses on 18th and 19th century emblematics. His research approach lies in queer theory, visual studies, and intermediality. He is teaching introductory German courses this semester. Charles Brown is teaching elementary German and German literature in translation. His research focuses on German drama, specifically tragedies and tragic philosophy in the German tradition.

By Jennifer McArthur, Staff WriterThe Vestavia Hills City Schools System is grateful to welcome Lauren Davidson, who is teaching Level 1 German at Pizitz Middle School and the district’s Freshman Campus. Laura Buder teaches Levels 1, 2, and 4 Honors; AP German; and Level 5 Honors at Vestavia Hills High School. Tracey Patterson is teaching two sections of Level 2 German and three sections of Level 3 at VHHS. Student Christina Sorochinsky received the virtual scholarship “The Next Best Thing to Being There” from AATG. Eighteen Level 1 high school students received achievements on the National German Exam, while seventeen Level 2 students received achievements. Chase Trautwein is continuing to build the Teach German Day 2020 at Liberty Park Middle School German program at Liberty Park Middle School, which participated in the Meet a German Day on October 5-6, 2020. Chase teaches two sections of Level 1 German.

Peggy Boynton is teaching Levels 1-5 (AP) at James Clemens High School in Madison. Teresa Bruce is teaching German I, II, III, and IB SL German 1 and 2 at the Jefferson County International Baccalaureate School (JCIB Irondale Campus). Ninety-four percent of their seniors achieved qualifying scores on their German IB exams.

In June 2021, Anja Werth of Auburn University received the Barbara Fischer Award, which is the top education honor of the Alabama Germany Partnership (AGP). Her colleague, Traci O’Brien had this to say about Anja: “Frau Werth has the unique ability to create both a safe and challenging learning environment where intermediatelevel students were using the target language exclusively and accurately.” She also described Anja as “a team

Katie Lightfoot will be a Fulbright English Teaching Assistant in Niedersachsen during the 2021-2022 academic year.

Brandon Blevins is a Mit Deutsch in die Zukunft scholarship recipient. player who does more than her fair share of teaching and service,” and someone who takes initiative in development projects, as well as continues to innovate her teaching methods, both in-person and online.

Two students and members of the Alabama chapter received the Mit Deutsch in die Zukunft scholarship: Katie Lightfoot of the University of Alabama and Brandon Blevins of the University of North Alabama. Based in Leipzig, Mit Deutsch in die Zukunft offers invaluable insights into methodology, networking, culture, and more for participants at the beginning of their teaching career.

The University of North Alabama (UNA) has much to celebrate from the past year. Congratulations to Rebecca Linam for earning the title Doctor of Modern Languages! UNA also received the AATG Deutsch macht Spaß grant and the Mini FLA-CH grant. Mary Filiatrault was awarded the Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship. Seth Jacobs took first place in the Delta Phi Alpha German Honor Society essay contest. Eleanor Thompson was awarded the Hufstedler Departmental Scholarship, in addition to taking second place in the Dürrenmatt Centennial Essay Contest. Brandon Blevins was awarded the Hufstedler Scholarship, the SPARK for German scholarship to Middlebury Language School and achieved second place in the Delta Phi Alpha German Honor Society essay contest.

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