USQ students awarded scholarships to study in Germany

Students Beth Kachel, Ashley Egan and Annie O'Keefe (far right) with Gabriela Pohl and Rod Wilson.

Three students studying German at the University of Southern Queensland (USQ) have been awarded separate scholarships to study in Germany.

Ashley Egan, Annie O'Keefe and Beth Kachel will each spend around two months in Germany from December.

Ashley, a fourth year student studying Secondary Education (German), will participate in a two-month course in Language Proficiency, Teaching Methods and Socio-Cultural Studies.

'I had to apply to the Goethe Institute,' Ashley said.

'I was chuffed when I found out. I didn't think I'd get it.'

The scholarship he has been awarded is aimed at students training to become teachers in German.

Ashley takes part in the local German conversation group and has been teaching the language in his prac placements at schools.

'The numbers of people with a second language are starting to increase in Australia and people are starting to recognise the importance of it. It doesn't matter what language you study because you are learning another culture and other people's perspective. It's a great skill to learn.'

Currently in her third year of a Bachelor of Arts (History, English Literature and German Language) Annie will undertake an eight week intensive language course as part of a special half-scholarship offered to a USQ student studying German by the Goethe-Institut, Goettingen.

Annie said she is looking forward to being immersed in the culture and language.

'I'm a bit of a food lover so I'm looking forward to European food!' she said.

'I haven't been on a plane and haven't seen snow before so it will be pretty exciting.'

Second year Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Education student Beth Kachel has been awarded a German Academic Exchange Service Scholarship which will see her undertake a two-month intensive winter course in German language and culture at the University of Essen.

'I've been to Germany four times before. I studied it in high school and went on a high school exchange to Germany.

'Once you've been a few times it gets easier.'

Senior Lecturer in German Language Rod Wilson said he was delighted to see the three students awarded scholarships.

'We're very proud of them. In the last 12 years we've had 32 students in Germany on scholarships or exchange.'

The three scholarship winners will leave Australia for Germany in early December.

Media Contact: Jane Urquhart USQ Media +61 7 4631 2559