The German program has partnered with the German-American School Association in Santa Monica to connect UCLA students learning German with local students. The German-American School Association (GASA) is a non-profit organization founded in 1954 and offers a Saturday language school to a diverse student body with various cultural backgrounds, including those with German heritage. Currently, GASA Santa Monica has 4 classes catering to students aged 5 to 16 years old.
Since the start of this partnership UCLA students have participated in two-main types of internships with GASA. Teacher’s Assistant’s provide classroom and instructional support. They help teachers with lesson planning, assisting students, and supporting classroom activities. Additionally, Principal Assistants provide the school with administrative and organizational support. They support weekly school operations, assist with administrative tasks, lesson planning, and activity preparation.
This internship aims to strengthen the collaboration between GASA Santa Monica and UCLA’s European Studies program. By participating in this program, UCLAs students gain practical teaching and administrative experience, learn about and help to cultivate the local German-Language community in West LA. Through this program students are able to connect their in-class, academic experience at UCLA to the real-life, living communities in their neighborhoods. Recent graduates and current students that have completed internships include Morgan O’Brien, Julia Endriga, and Che Xu.
Dr. Cara Tovey