Kim Heinzelmann, AJY Heidelberg Fall 2025
I grew up speaking English and only English. In fact, I was already in my teenage years when my school started offering foreign language courses. That aside, once I began, it did not take very long for me to realize that I absolutely loved learning languages. Throughout high school, I steadily advanced through the levels of German and started to learn American Sign Language as well. By graduation, I already knew that I wanted to study abroad with the intent of language and cultural immersion — and I had my sights set on a full-year program. More than three years after the idea of study abroad first took root, here I am: two months into a year-long immersion program in Heidelberg, Germany.
For me, it’s a literal dream come true.
The first few weeks seemed simultaneously long and short as the sixteen of us in the American Junior Year (AJY) in Heidelberg program settled in and adjusted to our new living and academic situations. I was very intentional in selecting a program that would offer total immersion, and, sure enough, we all signed a “contract” in which we agreed to only speak German while in the AJY classrooms and center. Not only that, many of us in the program make efforts to speak German at all times, even with one another during our free time. I have found that the years of studying have prepared me fairly well. Still, the shift into speaking a language other than the one I was raised in has not been without bumps and hurdles.
I have always been a very social person, and I would consider myself somewhat of an extrovert — at least, when speaking English, that is. As it turns out, it is a little bit of a different story when it comes to speaking German. Three participants in the AJY Heidelberg program, including myself, have chosen to live in a house shared by 27 members of an academic fraternity. In other words, we have a lot of new housemates. The three of us have been greeted very kindly and welcomed into the house, learning the rules of communal living as we settled into a routine for daily life. However, we have had to navigate more than just sharing a kitchen: figuring out how to communicate came first.
Though nearly all of our housemates speak fluent English, the three of us in the AJY program have asked to be spoken to in German since we chose this program with the intention of improving our language skills. That being said, our German is far from perfect, and I must frequently ask for questions or statements to be repeated or rephrased. I often miss parts of conversations or stutter when attempting to contribute. Occasionally, I still need a word or sentence to be said in English before I understand. Sometimes, I am tempted to simply slip back into the comfort and ease of speaking English, especially when tired or frustrated. In general, I often lack a strong sense of confidence when it comes to my German skills. Likely as a result of this, I have found myself to be significantly shyer than I might otherwise be in similar situations in the US, especially when it comes to meeting new people. This is not to say that I am incapable of communicating effectively in German or approaching others, but it is certainly challenging to take that step forward and start a conversation.
There are also smaller challenges too, particularly when it comes to more specific, subject-related vocabulary: not being able to read the settings on the washer and dryer, searching for something in a grocery store only to realize I do not know the German word for it, etc.
Of course, I am well aware that this is an entirely new environment and experience for me and that challenges are to be expected. I know that I still have lots of time left in my program and that my language skills will improve with time and practice. I know that the surest way to get better is to keep trying — keep making mistakes and talking imperfectly — and to not let myself fall back on English just because it is easy. It can be daunting to step outside of the classroom setting and truly dive head-first into a language, but it has also been incredibly rewarding to see how much I have learned and grown since first arriving in Germany. I am confident that I made the right decision in choosing an immersion program and I look forward to the rest of the year to come.
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