Fulbright Winner to Pursue Passion of Teaching Language
As the recipient of a prestigious Fulbright award, Alexandra Flory BA ’24 will serve as an English teaching assistant in Germany beginning this fall.
Alexandra Flory, a recent Lewis & Clark graduate, will spend the next year overseas after receiving a prestigious Fulbright award. The Fulbright Program, sponsored by the U.S. Department of State, fosters mutual understanding among nations through educational and cultural exchanges. Lewis & Clark is one of the top producers of Fulbright award winners in the country, demonstrating a sustained commitment to international education and engagement.
Alexandra Flory BA ’24
Double Major: Sociology/Anthropology and German Studies
Hometown: Bozeman, Montana
Fulbright Award: Teaching in Germany
Describe your Fulbright award.
I am excited to travel to Germany during the 2024-25 academic year to be an English teaching assistant in a German school! I will be in Germany from mid-September 2024 to the end of June 2025. So far, I know I’ll be placed in Lower Saxony, a state in northwest Germany that is bordered by the North Sea. In June, I’ll find out the specific city in Lower Saxony. I could be placed in any school, from elementary to higher-level vocational schools. I have had teaching experiences in the past with all age groups and look forward to continuing my teaching journey in Germany.
Did you participate in an L&C overseas study program?
I participated in the Year of Study in Munich program during the 2022-23 academic year. This experience was extremely impactful to me because I learned so much about myself, the world, and the people around me. I was able to conduct a traveling research project for my thesis in sociology and anthropology about the difference in treatment for Middle Eastern and Ukrainian asylum seekers in Germany. I traveled alone to 16 different German cities and conducted interviews with people closely related to this topic. To date, this has been one of the best experiences of my life. I am so grateful that my overseas study program offered this opportunity. It allowed me to follow my curiosities and connect with people and topics that I never would have been able to experience otherwise.
Why do you want to teach abroad?
While I was abroad in Munich, I discovered my love for international education. Since returning to the U.S., I have been wanting to go back because I feel that my journey in Germany is not yet over. I loved learning German and would like to give back to the language that gave me so much by experiencing the other side of language learning through teaching. I received the opportunity at Lewis & Clark to tutor students in both English and German, which taught me that teaching language is one of my passions. I love being able to connect with people and allow them to feel comfortable expressing themselves in another language. I know the joys and triumphs of learning a new language by having learned one myself and paying close attention to what makes each language special. I admire the valuable role that education plays in Germany and am so grateful to have the opportunity to be a part of a system that encourages students to follow their passions at an early age. I plan on connecting with young people to create a cultural exchange similar to the one I experienced in Munich. In my role as an English teaching assistant, I hope to make a difference in the lives of German youth by encouraging them to find what they love about language to better understand themselves and others.
What are your future plans?
After I return, I plan to apply to graduate school and want to explore the world of NGOs. I am specifically interested in working with international policies about climate refugees. My experiences in Germany will allow me to engage with many different people, from all age groups, and develop a deeper understanding of international issues.
Anything else you want to add?
I would like to thank Katja Altpeter-Jones, associate professor of German, and Philippe Brand, associate professor of French, for all the assistance they provided during my application process. I would also like to thank Oren Kosansky, associate professor of anthropology, for being kind enough to write me a letter of recommendation. Lastly, I would like to thank Christel Rischer and Ralf Saborrosch from the Munich program, who supported me the most in Munich and have done nothing but encourage students to follow their passions. They have inspired me to love education. I hope to be as helpful and encouraging to my German students as they were to me.
