What Is GAPP? Inside the German-American Exchange Experience

Since 1972, the German American Partnership Program (GAPP) has helped students cross borders, not just geographical, but cultural, linguistic, and personal. As one of the most successful short-term exchange programs between the United States and Germany, GAPP offers a unique opportunity for high school students to immerse themselves in everyday life abroad, build lifelong friendships, and develop skills that go far beyond the classroom.

What Is GAPP?

GAPP is a two-way exchange program that pairs German and American students for a cultural and educational experience they’ll never forget. It works slightly differently at various schools, but here's how it works where I work. Every two years, Edwardsville High School partners with Hermann Hesse Gymnasium in Calw, Germany, located in the scenic northeastern corner of the Black Forest near Stuttgart. During the exchange, students are matched with partners and take turns hosting each other. Germans visit in the fall, and Americans travel in the summer.

How Does It Work?

The exchange lasts at least 16 days and includes 10 or more days of school immersion. Students live with host families, attend school with their partners, and participate in cultural excursions.

Here’s how the cycle works:

1. Fall: German students visit the U.S., attend classes at EHS, and explore the local culture.
2. Summer: EHS students travel to Germany, live with their host families, attend classes, and visit key cultural and historical landmarks.
3. After the school portion, the American group also travels to cities like Berlin, Munich, Heidelberg, Koblenz, Cologne, or Mainz to further explore Germany's rich history and heritage.

Why Participate in GAPP?

GAPP isn’t just a trip. It’s a full cultural experience that fosters:

✅ Language Growth: Students use German in real-world situations, boosting vocabulary, fluency, and confidence.

✅ Cultural Understanding: Living with a host family reveals the traditions, holidays, and values of everyday life in Germany.

✅ Friendship & Empathy: Many students form meaningful relationships with their partners that last long after the exchange ends.

✅ Personal Growth: Students become more independent, responsible, and open to new perspectives.

This is not a vacation. Students are fully immersed in a different culture and daily life, gaining a firsthand understanding of what it means to be a global citizen.

Our Most Recent Trip

Our most recent trip began in July with a two-week stay in Calw, including school attendance, host family living, and joint excursions. Afterward, we traveled as a group to several cities across Germany, expanding our cultural horizons and experiencing more of what the country has to offer.