Executive Director Report, News from the National Office

It’s been almost one year since I took over the role of Executive Director and the first thing I want to do is thank all of those who came before me. I inherited an organization that has a long list of dedicated members throughout its history, and it’s humbling to learn more about the good work that has been done and is ongoing by our members and the professional staff of the organization. Specifically, I want to extend thanks to John, Marisa, Mercedes, and Tara for their work during a most difficult time. With health concerns due to COVID, workplace restrictions, operational disruption at every turn, and volatility, they demonstrated again and again their commitment to AATG. They worked extra hours and met the challenges of rapid, uncontrollable change as well as I could have imagined. Additionally, I want to thank Juan Carlos Morales for lending his expertise to AATG on our large-scale data project. His insights and leadership are already fruitful.

On a more serious note: this past year has been devastating to so many. The loss of life, the pressures heaped upon educators, the uncertainty of life, and the politics of violence urge us all to think about our core values, personally and professionally.

As we look to the next year, we at AATG commit ourselves to serving educators at all levels, finding ways to enact the words of our mission statement:

“The AATG promotes the study of the German-speaking world in all its linguistic, cultural and ethnic diversity, and endeavors to prepare students as transnational, transcultural learners and active, multilingual participants in a globalized world.” We are committed not just to serving you, but honoring you in your work in light of what you endured and continue to endure as educators. We are committed to recognizing the students who prove time and time again why we chose education as our path. And we at AATG are looking forward to growing with you all to come out as a stronger, more inclusive organization.

Herzlichst

Executive Director mike@aatg.org

The 5th annual National TEACH GERMAN Day celebration will take place on Monday, October 4.

National TEACH GERMAN Day is a celebration of German teaching and learning. It recognizes the important role that German teachers play in our schools and communities and encourage the next generation of German teachers.

Order your TEACH GERMAN Day Kit now! Visit www.aatg.org/page/TeachGermanDay for details.

We continue to wish all of you a relaxing and rejuvenating summer, and look forward to serving you this coming year!

I first joined AATG as a graduate student. It was, and still is, very reasonably priced for students, and the University of Kansas graduate German program encouraged membership in AATG – it was part of becoming a professional academic. At that time I couldn’t even begin to contemplate what a huge role AATG would play in my future. After a year of study in Germany at the end of my graduate program I joined my husband in Cleveland and got a high school teaching job. I was still interested in improving my teaching skills and sharing with other teachers, and I was directed to the Goethe Institut Ann Arbor weekend programs. That’s where I was inspired by fellow German teachers to become active in my state AATG organization. From that point on I was off and running. It seems like I participated in everything AATG had to offer: state conventions and national conventions as both an attendee and a presenter. Opportunities AATG made possible include travelling abroad with students, developing exchanges with schools in Germany and allowing students to get college credit in AP German. Throughout my career I met and formed permanent bonds with fellow professionals here and abroad. I am thankful for the support I got from AATG at every step of my career and I appreciate the opportunity to give back to the organization.

—Mary Ashcraft, Patron Member, Nevada

Das Motto der IDT 2022 lautet *mit.sprache.teil.haben. Sprachen bedeuten Teilhabe: an Lebenswelten anderer, an gesellschaftlichen Prozessen, an kulturellen und wissenschaftlichen Erfahrungen, an ästhetischem Erleben. Sprachen bedeuten für Menschen, dass sie aktiv und selbstbestimmt kommunizieren können. Die IDT 2022 fokussiert das Deutsche im Kontext einer offen verstandenen Mehrsprachigkeit, die sich mit soziolinguistischen Fragen ebenso befasst wie mit multilingualen Didaktiken. *mit.sprache.teil.haben gilt auch für Deutschlehrer*innen und Forschende aus aller Welt, die zur die IDT nach Wien kommen: Sie prägen die Tagung wesentlich mit durch ihre Ideen, Beiträge, Vorträge und Anregungen, sie haben teil an der IDT – mit Sprache, mit ihren

Veranstalter: Österreichischer Verband für Deutsch als Fremdsprache/Deutsch als Zweitsprache (ÖDaF)

Ort: Wien

Datum: 15.-20. August 2022

Deadline Abstracteinreichung: 15. September 2021

Informationen unter: www.idt-2022.at