Due to complications in the application process, Willa Magland ended up in Germany rather than her original choice, France. This detour provided her with a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to immerse herself in a culture and language with which she was unfamiliar.

Magland’s personal experience revealed the differences between North Penn high school and Kranich Gymnasium in Salzgitter, Germany. While North Penn offers a wide variety of extracurricular activities, Kranich Gymnasium does not have as many since the school is more focused on education than activities.

In contrast to the American system, where students move between classes, Kranich Gymnasium adopts another approach. Students stay in a classroom while teachers rotate in and out. Additionally, all students in a class are at the same academic level, removing AP and honors classes.

“That’s one of the things that I missed about North Penn, the differing levels,” Magland remarked.

A more striking distinction that Magland encountered was the leniency in security measures. During lunch, students have the freedom to leave the school premises and go through the city for their meal, similar to a college campus experience. This autonomy trains a sense of responsibility and independence among students.

At Kranich Gymnasium, assessment methods are dissimilar to the American system. Lessons are delivered, notes are taken, and understanding is evaluated primarily through tests. This departure from the emphasis on daily coursework places greater weight on comprehensive knowledge and application.

“If anyone is interested in the exchange student program, I would definitely encourage it because it was an unforgettable experience for me. It gave me a different perspective on the world in terms of politics. It was eye opening,” Magland stated.

However, this experience is more than just school. While partaking in the exchange program, students will be in a new environment for them to explore. The exchange program can enrich you personally by showing you new cultures, learning new languages, and making new friends.

For any 10th grade students intrigued by the idea of the exchange student program, Magland wholeheartedly recommends it. She places emphasis on the fact that it comes with a free, full scholarship, making this experience accessible to a wide range of students.

To sign up, families can email Mrs. Donna Bondi, Mrs. Michelle McLarnon, or Ted Knauss. For more information, check this website.

Magland’s journey from the halls of North Penn to Kranich Gymnasium in Salzgitter, Germany, unraveled a tale of two distinct educational landscapes. This experience not only highlighted the contrast in school structures, teaching methods, and security protocols, but it also broadened Magland’s horizons in ways she never imagined. The exchange student program, with its invaluable scholarship, stands as an invitation for curious minds to go out on their own transformative journey.