- April 25, 2024
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As Diane Tomko’s first-period class sat anxiously Wednesday, March 16, in the Flagler Palm Coast High School media center, the students asked if they looked materialistic or obese.
They were preparing for an online video-chat session, via Skype, with Hermann-Staudinger-Gymnasium, a high school in Erlenbach am Main, Bavaria, Germany, and wanted to correct any stereotypes the German students may have had about Americans.
It was the second Skype attempt made by this class, the first being an opportunity to ask about culture.
This Skype session focused on literature. Both classes read the book, “Purple Heart,” by Patricia McCormick, and were prepared to discuss.
Technical difficulties caused an interruption in the connection at first, but eventually both video and audio worked together on both ends.
“There are glitches, we know this,” said Lorna Moschetti, media specialist. “But we can’t make this better without trying it.”
Tomko said the Skype session would not have been possible without Media Assistant Almut Goddette, who attended high school in Erlenbach am Main and recently reconnected with her teacher there at a 20-year reunion.
“It’s so important for the students to be able to exchange globally,” Tomko said.
Godette said she hopes a short-term foreign exchange program can be arranged with the schools.
