27 Meeting Germans

Getting out into the German community will require a concerted effort on your part. This is particularly pronounced during the first few weeks and months, when so much of your time is spent with other AYF program participants. Also, when you arrive in September, the German students will still be on break and, like in the U.S., many of them return home during this time and don’t come back to Freiburg until the start of the semester. Still, there are many opportunities available, and the effort pays off.

To begin with, talk to your roommates! They can be your best source of daily conversational German practice, in addition to personal connections within the city. The AYF orientation tutors and mentors are also wonderful contacts to have and ask questions in the beginning of your time in Freiburg.

Participating in a tandem partner program (where you are paired up with a German student who wants to improve their English) is another way to meet someone who understands your situation and can help you improve your German. The AYF staff will offer tandem opportunities or you can look for a tandem partner by setting up a profile via the PH website or the Studierendenwerk website. These tandem databases are not connected; you can use both to double your chances of finding an interested tandem partner. And there is also a Facebook group called “SWFR Tandem” where you can easily share a post that you are looking for a tandem partner.

PH: https://www.ph-freiburg.de/sprachenzentrum/projekte/tandembuero.html

In university classes, sign up for a Referat group with Germans. Working with other Americans may be comfortable but working with native speakers will not only help your presentation, it is also a great way to make new friends. Once classes at the university begin, so do intramural sports and other activities, including the international student club excursions, which is another good way to get out into a new realm of student life. Information about the club is online on the Studierendenwerk website; see “Veranstaltungen” in the menu at the top of www.swfr.de.