Ohio State's Dresden Summer Language Program Fosters Decades of German Language and Cultural Immersion
Andy Spencer has led Ohio State University's Dresden Summer Language Program since 1998, dedicating decades to language learning, cultural immersion, and personal growth for American students. The program, which began in 1995, helps students develop German language skills while experiencing life in Dresden, Germany. Spencer's connection to Dresden predates its sister city relationship with Columbus, stemming from his dissertation research on the 1945 bombing of Dresden. The eight-week program consistently offers three courses, with evolving excursions and content tailored to help students understand the history and culture of Dresden and Saxony. Recent additions include visits to a silver mine in Freiberg and a trip across the Polish border to Görlitz. Spencer emphasizes Dresden's affordability and public transportation system as ideal for language practice, and the program includes group trips to Berlin for broader cultural exposure.
