Return to Germany

"Auf Weidersehen," or goodbye, isn't in the vocabulary for Cameron dual language foreign teachers, Gabi Aloulou and Wiete Kochler.

Each educator, with at least 12 years experience in German schools, moved to Odessa two years ago from Germany to teach at Cameron Dual Language Magnet Elementary as part of its dual language program.

And now, as each prepares to leave Odessa this summer to head back to Germany, both said they plan on returning to the United States to visit their newest friends.

Aloulou, who teaches German, and Kochler, who teaches Russian, took a leave of absence from their teaching jobs in Germany about three years ago to work in the United States. That was with the help of the Checkpoint Charlie Foundation, which works to maintain German-American relations.

"It's kind of an adventure," 41-year-old Kochler said.

Kochler said she, her husband and their two children arrived in Odessa in 2006 with only 12 suitcases of items.

The family found a home and bought everything for their new life from furniture to clothes, she said.

Through the foundation, each found a visa sponsor and a job at Cameron Elementary, which proved to be a great opportunity, Aloulou said.

"It's really a big deal for the kids," Aloulou said. "You can really make a big difference."

Fifth-grader Alex Sanchez said he understands more about the German customs and lifestyle from taking the language class with Aloulou for two years.

"We get to do fun activities and you learn a lot about the German culture," 11-year-old Alex said.

Second-grader Ysabel Molinar, who takes Russian, said her teacher, Kochler, knows the material well.

"She has the experience of how to say all the words," the 8-year-old said.

Aloulou said her students help her with unfamiliar English words or phrases.

During the past two years, the teachers learned new techniques through education conferences.

Each plans to apply what they've learned, like organization skills, to their classes in Germany.

At least six foreign teachers have worked at Cameron since the dual language program started eight years ago, Cameron principal Monica Sarabia said.

In addition to Aloulou and Kochler, foreign teacher Ulrich Kolbe, of Germany, also works with Cameron students this school year teaching German.

He's in his first year of a two-year program, Sarabia said. 

The dual language program requires students to have 45 percent of instruction in English, 45 percent in Spanish and 10 percent in French, German or Russian, she said.

"It just helps them have culture awareness," Sarabia said.

She said she hopes the program helps students broaden their interests in languages.

Aloulou, who plans to leave in mid-July, said she's never regretted her decision to teach in the states, and Kochler agreed.

"It's been worth everything - every single day," Kochler said.

WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE?

>> Educators Gabi Aloulou and Wiete Kochler said they've noticed several differences between German schools and American schools. For example, in Germany a student has the same teacher from first through fourth grades.

>> In Germany, Aloulou teaches English, French and German at the Vocational School for Trade and Service in Rostock while Kochler teaches English and German at the Nahariya Elementary School in Berlin.

>> In addition, German students don't have extracurricular programs during their instruction time at school. Instead, they get involved in those activities after school on their own.

>> As far as teaching, Kochler said teachers in Germany may only teach two lessons one day and seven the next because of scheduling.

>> Students aren't as stressed about exams like they are in Texas with the Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills tests, Kochler said.

>> U.S. schools seem more advanced by having Internet access and other technology in classrooms, she said.