Fulbright Foreign Language Teaching Assistant, 2023-2024

Moin und hey, zusammen! Hello together!

I am Nathan Gerdes (he/him) and I am the Fulbright Foreign Language Teaching Assistant for the upcoming two semesters. I come from the beautiful student town of Münster in North Rhine-Westphalia where I finished my Master’s thesis in Teaching English and Italian as Foreign Languages at the University of Münster.

I am more than excited to bring my native language and culture to SSU and become part of your colorful and diverse community. As SSU’s German cultural ambassador, I look forward to meeting you all at numerous German culture and language events that we will organize this semester. Please do not hesitate to approach me concerning questions about studying and living in Germany – especially since the CSU-System offers a broad range of opportunities to study at great universities in Germany’s stunning south as part of your SSU education. If you feel uncertain or reserved about whether or not to study, intern, or work in Germany, feel free to use me as your resource. Here at SSU I teach second-semester German and assist in Dr. Grobbel’s German language course for beginners. Apart from that you can find me at the numerous events organized by SSU’s German Club “Gemütlichkeit:” If you feel like engaging with Germany and our cultures or want to practice or learn German, join us for our informal coffee/lunch break to chat, meet other German enthusiasts, play games, and make new friends at our weekly Kaffeestunde (Tuesdays 12 am to 12:50 pm in Salazar 1027). Likewise, feel free to join the German club Gemütlichkeit and support us in bringing the diversity of German cultures closer to SSU as well as communities in & around Rohnert Park. I also look forward to showing you some of my favorite movies at our German Movie Night (every other Wednesday at 7.15 pm in Darwin 107; with English subtitles). We have interesting discussions afterwards – feel free to come, bring friends, snacks, and drinks and get comfy. Do not worry if you do not speak German: I will make sure to accommodate everyone. Everybody is willkommen/welcome to get a taste of German history, its cultures, and language!

If you are interested in joining the club and/or would like to organize a German-themed club event, please get in touch with me or the German Club. We are always excited to have new members enrich our club and SSU with German-themed events!

For more information, stay up-to-date through our club listserv (send me an email if you want to be included). Stop by my office hours to ask questions, get help with your German studies, or simply chat in German. 

I look forward to meeting you! Nathan

Nathan's Contact Information:

Email: gerdesn@sonoma.edu

Office Location: 10A Rachel Carson Hall

Spring 2024 Office Hours: Mondays 1:50pm-2:50 pm & Wednesdays 9:30am-10:30 am 

German Peer Language Facilitator, Fall 2023

Hallo zusammen/ Hello everyone! 

My name is Anna-Sophie Karcher and I am an exchange student from Germany through CSUIP. I chose to come to SSU to be a German Peer Language Facilitator (PLF). I am 22 years old and originally from Mannheim which is located in the south of Germany. To study Bilingual Education, I moved even further south, and I currently live in Freiburg, which is part of the beautiful Black Forest. My two subjects are English and History which I know will help me assist German students at SSU who want to learn about Germany and its various cultures and historical developments. 

I am very happy to assist the German Program and facilitate German language and culture studies to the students. I am proud to be a part of the German Club and host our “Kaffeestunde” and the “German Movie Night”, together with this year’s Fulbright Foreign Language Teaching Assistant Nathan Gerdes.

Feel free to contact me if you are interested in Germany or need help with your German studies. Hoffentlich bis bald! Till soon! All the best, Anna (karchera@sonoma.edu)