Navigation bar U.S. Diplomatic Mission to Germany About the USA Sitemap Search
About the USA

About the USA > Virtual Classroom

Virtual Classroom - Information Resources for Teachers
Subscribe to the Virtual Classroom newsletter!

 

Information Centers & Libraries
red button U.S. Embassy & Consulate Information Resource Centers
The Information Resource Centers are an extensive resource for current, in-depth information focusing primarily on political, economic and social issues and on American culture. Users are encouraged to contact the IRC in advance to discuss their query with reference staff.

Map of IRC locations in Germany - Berlin: IRCBerlin@state.gov
- Düsseldorf: IRCDuesseldorf@state.gov
- Frankfurt: IRCFrankfurt@state.gov
- Hamburg: IRCHamburg@state.gov
- Leipzig: IRCLeipzig@state.gov
- Munich
: IRCMunich@state.gov

red button German American Institutes
red button America@yourlibrary

Virtual Classroom - About the USA Newsletter
red button Online registration - Please note that the newsletter is currently undergoing a redesign. It will be available again in the fall.

2010 issues:
red button December 2010 summary | fulltext (pdf)
red button August 2010 summary | fulltext (pdf)

red button June 2010 summary | fulltext (pdf)
red button May 2010 summary | fulltext (pdf)
red button April 2010 summary | fulltext (pdf)
red button March 2010 summary | fulltext (pdf)
red button February 2010 summary | fulltext (pdf)
red button January 2010 summary | fulltext (pdf)

2009 issues:
red button December 2009 summary | fulltext (pdf)
red button November 2009 summary | fulltext (pdf)
red button October 2009 summary | fulltext (pdf)
red button September 2009 summary | fulltext (pdf)
red button July 2009 summary | fulltext (pdf)
red button June 2009 summary | fulltext (pdf)
red button May 2009 summary | fulltext (pdf)

red button April 2009 summary | fulltext (pdf)
red button March 2009 summary | fulltext (pdf)
red button February 2009 summary | fulltext (pdf)
red button January 2009 summary | fulltext (pdf)

2008 issues:
red button December 2008 summary | fulltext (pdf)
red button November 2008 summary | fulltext (pdf)
red button October 2008 summary | fulltext (pdf)
red button September 2008 summary | fulltext (pdf)
red button July 2008 summary | fulltext (pdf)
red button June 2008 summary | fulltext (pdf)
red button May 2008 summary | fulltext (pdf)
red button April 2008 summary | fulltext (pdf)
red button March 2008 summary | fulltext (pdf)
red button February 2008 summary | fulltext (pdf)
red button January 2008 summary | fulltext (pdf)

2007 issues:
red button December 2007 summary | fulltext (pdf)
red button November 2007 summary | fulltext (pdf)
red button October 2007 summary | fulltext (pdf)
red button September 2007 summary | fulltext (pdf)
red button August 2007 summary | fulltext (pdf)
red button July 2007 summary | fulltext (pdf)
red button June 2007 summary | fulltext (pdf)
red button May 2007 (summary) | fulltext (pdf)
red button April 2007 fulltext (pdf)
red button March 2007 fulltext (pdf)
red button February 2007 fulltext (pdf)
red button January 2007 fulltext (pdf)

Educational Exchanges
red button Education USA

Meet US - School Outreach Program
red button U.S. Embassy and Consulate school outreach programs provide German secondary school students with the opportunity to meet with American exchange students, as well as Embassy/Consulate staff and other resident or visiting Americans, to learn more about everyday life in the United States. Visits can be structured to meet curriculum needs but teachers should not expect a formal lecture. The discussions may be conducted in either English or German.

National Teacher Workshops and Conferences
red button Embassy and Consulate programs for teachers

American Studies Publications and Teaching Materials
red button Thematic classroom packages and other services for teachers
red button About the USA Website & CD-ROM
red button InfoAlert
red button
Brochures, Posters & Maps
red button Electronic Journals
red button English Teaching Forum (ETF)
red button
Travel Information

 

Information Centers & Libraries

The Information Resource Center
The Information Resource Centers are an extensive resource for current, in-depth information focusing primarily on political, economic and social issues and on American culture. Users are encouraged to contact the IRC in advance to discuss their query with reference staff.

German-American Institutes
Libraries in binational centers located around the country maintain open public libraries. Contact center libraries for information about services and opening hours.

 

Educational Exchanges

Education USA
The U.S. Embassy in Germany offers web-based reference and referral services for information on exchange opportunities in the United States. In addition, under the auspices of the U.S. Department of State's Education USA program, the Embassy provides support to a network of Educational Advising/Information Centers in Germany. | Education USA

 

Workshops and Conferences

Cultural and Educational Programs
The Public Affairs Sections of the U.S. Embassy and the Consulates arrange informational, cultural and educational events on a range of topics. Program events include seminars and conferences, lectures and discussions, press briefings, literary readings, exhibitions, concerts and other artistic performances. For upcoming program events please check the Embassy website as well as the websites of the U.S. Consulate or German-American Institute in your area.

 

Special Services for Teachers

Thematic Classroom Packages
Thematic classroom information packages on topics relevant to secondary school curriculum needs and in support of programs and conferences for teachers are prepared and updated regularly by Information Resource Center staff. The information packages include annotated guides to selected Internet sources and abstracts of recent magazine and newspaper articles.

Examples of Recent Thematic Classroom Packages
red button Affirmative Action
red buttonAfrican American Oral Traditions and Political Activism: The Struggle for Civil Rights From 1960 to the Elections of President Obama
red button American Press and the Challenges of Politics and Technology
red button American South (October

red button Hip Hop: American Youth Culture At Home And Abroad (October 2007)
red button Ethnic Visions of the United States of America
red button History and Culture of Latino Life in the United States
red button Lincoln's Legacy: Nation Building, Democracy and the Question of Race and Civil Rights
red button Midterm Elections
red button Multiculturalism and Race Relations at the End of the Century (May 2006)
red button Myth and Reality: The American Dream in the 21st Century (September 2004)
red button Teaching about Terrorism and Tolerance | print version (September 2004)
red button Technology in the Classroom
(September 2004)
red button U.S. in a Global Community (June 2007)
red button Urban Cultures, Urban Landscapes: Growing Up in the American City
red button Vigorous Executive: The President in American Politics and Culture (August 2008)

red button U.S. Presidential Elections 2008 - Berlin-Brandenburg School Project (A joint program of LISUM and the U.S. Embassy) - Research and Information: 2008 Elections -

Contact classroom@usembassy.de for more information.

 

American Studies Publications and English Teaching Materials

About the USA Digital Library - Website and CD-ROM
The IRC also provides background information and links on popular topics for students and teachers in the About the USA section of the U.S. Mission to Germany web site.
Topics include: Arts & Entertainment, Economy, Government, History, Science & Technology, Society, Sports, Travel & Geography. A CD-ROM version is also available through your Information Resource Center. The CD-ROM can be used with or without an Internet connection. Online, About the USA provides extensive hyperlinks to selected sites and resources that provide a rich spectrum of information about the United States. Offline, the CD-ROM provides full-text documentation on American social and political institutions and processes, simulating an Internet environment.
About the USA complements the America.gov website which is maintained by the Office of International Information Programs (IIP), U.S. Department of State. It is an authoritative resource for foreign audiences. organizes links and fulltext resources relating to official U.S. policies, American society, culture, and political processes.

InfoAlert
InfoAlert highlights recent articles and reports from leading U.S. journals and policy sources and provides informed commentary on international and domestic issues. Some articles are password-protected and are available for professional and institutional audiences only. The InfoAlert is compiled by the staff of U.S. Embassy and Consulate Information Resource Centers in Germany.

Brochures, Posters and Maps
A selection of brochures are available for purchase through the Amerikazentrum Hamburg. Materials include a poster-size U.S. paper flag (84 x 53 cm) and a set of three "American Studies wall maps" (106 x 76 cm). The Amerikazentrum also offers a set of five colored "historical wall maps" (86 x 56 cm). For further information and to order please call Tel.: (040) 7038 3688 or visit the AZ's Online Shop

Electronic Journals
Thematic electronic periodicals provide information on U.S. foreign policy, economic perspectives and U.S. society and values. Each issue contains topical articles and sources of information ranging from bibliographies to Internet resources. Recent issues included: The U.S. Supreme Court: Equal Justice Under Law | Indigenous People Today | Multicultural Literature in the U.S. | Immigrants Joining the Mainstream | National Parks, National Legacy | American Teenagers

English Teaching Forum (ETF) Online
The English Teaching Forum is a quarterly journal for teachers of English as a foreign or second language. In print since 1962, and with a worldwide readership of over 200,000, the journal focuses on the theory and practice of teaching English and includes discussions of methods, techniques and ideas useful in the classroom.

Travel Information
Travel brochures can be requested from the local tourist offices in the U.S., some also have offices in Germany. A list of addresses is available through the Visit USA Committee Germany e.V.
Additional information is also available on the Internet. Start with About the USA - Travel.


 

 
Questions?
Contact: classroom@usembassy.de

 
DISCLAIMER
Any reference obtained from this server to a specific commercial product, process, or service does not constitute or imply an endorsement by the United States Government of the product, process, or service, or its producer or provider. The views and opinions expressed in any referenced document do not necessarily state or reflect those of the United States Government.
U.S. Diplomatic Mission to Germany /Public Affairs/ Information Resource Centers
Updated: December 1, 2010