This is the first in a series of articles about German School Phoenix students. Every student that shows up in class on Saturdays has a different story, a different background, and a different motivation for studying German. In each article we’ll introduce you to one of those students, tell you a little about their life and how speaking German fits into it, and then tell you something about them that might surprise you.
Our first student in the spotlight is George Colliat, who is in the advanced class.
About George: George grew up in Lyon, France. While getting an engineering degree in Lyon, he spent a summer in England learning English, then won a Fulbright scholarship to Stanford University in California where he earned a Masters Degree in Engineering. He’s taught engineering in Quebec, Canada, and worked for major engineering firms both in France and in the USA. George lived in Phoenix for over 20 years, and is now splitting his time between Phoenix and northern California. He plans to retire at the end of the year, which will give him more time to spend with his wife, his two children, and their seven grandchildren.
George’s Reason for Learning German: George’s wife is German. She’s from Neustadt an der Weinstraße in Rheinland-Pfalz. So George is improving his German to better communicate with her family and their friends. It also helps to make their travels in Germany easier and more meaningful.
Something about George that Might Surprise You: George is an engineer who is also an artist. He likes to paint, and is taking a class at an art studio in Scottsdale to expand on his painting skills. How does he find the energy to keep up with career, family, painting, German homework, and a number of other activities? He keeps himself in shape with regular workouts and visits to the YMCA.
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