Study Trips for Teachers

The Atlantik-Brücke’s Transatlantic Teachers Program is one of our longest-standing programs. For more than 30 years, we have organized study trips to Germany for U.S. social studies and history teachers. In 2016, the program was expanded to include teachers from eastern Germany, who traveled to the United States for the first time.

During the one-week study trip, teachers gain first-hand insights into the destination country and its diverse social, political, and cultural landscape. The program focuses on learning about the education system and engaging in direct exchanges with teachers and students on the other side of the Atlantic. Meetings with figures from politics, business, and the media provide participants with in-depth insights into the host country. Visits to historical and cultural sites round out the diverse program.

We believe that transatlantic relations are shaped not only by high-level cooperation in politics and business, but also to a large extent by cultural and emotional ties between people and communities. Our teacher exchanges make an important contribution to fostering this exchange in schools. Participants enthusiastically share the experiences they gain during the trip with their students, helping to spark young people’s interest in the other country. Connecting with fellow teachers on the other side of the Atlantic also encourages the development of student exchange programs and other forms of cooperation between schools.

Through digital events and opportunities to participate in networking meetings, we also enable program alumni to remain actively engaged in transatlantic relations over the long term.