"At the beginning, students promise that they will not use English until the end of the graduation ceremony. After the ceremony, they are allowed to speak English...if they want to. Few do."
Paul R. (Dick) Kuettner
Program Coordinator
WELCOME!
Welcome to the official website of the Virginia German Academy. Here you will find important information about the program, such as course descriptions, staff biographies, and general daily schedules.
overview
The Virginia Governor's World Language Academies began in 1986 with the French Academy. The German and Spanish Academies were first held the following year. The goal of all three academies is to offer an exemplary foreign language learning experience. Since 2011, the German Academy has been held at Washington & Lee University. There, young linguists have the opportunity to further develop their language and cultural competence over three weeks.
During the program, the most motivated and talented language students from Virginia participate in intensive language and culture courses, speaking, reading, writing, and listening exclusively in German. These selected students are from Virginia, but the staff comes from all over the world. From morning till night, students participate in various activities and courses that support language development and cultural understanding.
Looking for more information?
Visit the website of the VDOE World Languages Academies.
(Excursion by the sea, 2023)
In the news
"W&L to Host Three Virginia Governor's Language Academies"
(Tschiggfrie, 2011)
"Virginia Governor's Language Academies Begin at W&L"
(Cline, 2012)
"No Cells, No iPods, No English: Governor's Language Academies at W&L"
(Hanna, 2013)
"No English allowed!"
(Hausman, 2013)
“W&L to Continue Hosting the Virginia Governor's Foreign Language Academies”
(Sackett, 2016)
"Students explore 304-year-old Germanna Colony during 3-week immersive German Academy"
(Jennings, 2018)
" Language Academies Adjust to Virtual Summer "
(Franklin, 2020)
The German Academy in the cafeteria, 2022
"Voices of the Academy"
Other extracurricular activities during the program include a regularly held radio broadcast at each academy.
The topics vary, but often the programs are about food, leisure, fitness, cooking, books worth reading, health, musicians, and so on.
These programs are produced by students with the help of a staff member. Broadcasts are made possible by Washington & Lee University Radio (WLUR).
The purpose of this exercise is to practice writing and speaking. Students use the different stages of idea development and elaboration.
The German part of the program starts at approximately 20 minutes.
(German Academy with the FIC trophy, 2022)
(Deutschakademie visits Germanna Colony in Locust Grove, Virginia, 2018)
(Collaboration in Reading, 2019)