Westfield Students Immerse Themselves in German Culture Through Exchange Program
WESTFIELD, IN – Sixteen Westfield High School students recently returned from a nearly three-week cultural immersion experience in Oldenburg, Germany, as part of the german American Partnership Program (GAPP). The program,designed to foster global understanding and language proficiency,placed students with host families where they lived as German teenagers,attending school,participating in daily life,and engaging with the local community.The GAPP exchange offers a reciprocal opportunity; the German students and their families will visit Westfield in spring 2026. This two-way structure aims to build lasting relationships beyond a typical student exchange.
“The amount of growth I see in students’ German proficiency in only 19 days is incredible,” said German teacher Charlene Heinzman. “Students learn to communicate their needs and wants in new situations, and this not only helps their language skills but shows them how resourceful, resilient, and flexible they really are. The other thing that many students experience is a growing confidence in their ability to be independent and problem-solve.”
The Westfield washington schools program emphasizes preparing students to be “Life Ready,” and Heinzman believes this experience directly contributes to that goal. “This program prepares students for the day after high school by offering them a safe way to explore a different part of the world and have experiences they might not or else be able to have,” she explained. “It also shows them things about themselves they did not know, which can lead to a broader scope of choices for them when they leave WHS.”
Students are now anticipating the arrival of their new friends from Oldenburg in Westfield.
