Bridges across the Atlantic
North America
For over two decades, the Transatlantic Outreach Program (TOP) has been promoting dialogue between social studies and STEM teachers from the US, Canada and Germany – a journey that explores historic sites, current challenges and shared perspectives.
When teachers from the US and Canada talk about the Weimar Republic, the Marshall Plan or the Berlin Airlift, they usually do so from the distance of the classroom. But thanks to the Transatlantic Outreach Program (TOP), history is brought to life: at original historical sites, they discuss democracy, remembrance culture and social transformation – often discovering personal connections to Germany, through the stories of ancestors who once emigrated.
Transatlantic friendship at the heart of democracy: a visit to the Reichstag building | © Goethe-Institut/TOP
The programme is intensive. Over the course of two weeks, the teachers visit schools, universities, businesses, museums and cultural institutions in various parts of Germany, engaging in peer-to-peer discussions – about education systems, societal challenges and the role of memory in civic education.
Whether in Georgia, Saskatchewan or Upper Franconia – the key issues are strikingly similar: How can integration succeed? How should we tackle social inequality? How can environmental education be implemented in the classroom? The discussions make one thing clear: the challenges are transatlantic – and potential solutions are often surprisingly similar.
Learning with all the senses: a visit to a school garden in Düsseldorf | © Goethe-Institut e.V./TOP
Returning home, the teachers bring their experiences into the classroom, staff rooms and their wider communities. They introduce new perspectives, challenge established concepts, and forge lasting connections – not just with Germany but also among themselves.
Industrial heritage and change: a TOP group in front of the winding tower at Zeche Zollverein | © Goethe-Institut e. V./TOP
When teachers from the US and Canada talk about the Weimar Republic, the Marshall Plan or the Berlin Airlift, they usually do so from the distance of the classroom. But thanks to the Transatlantic Outreach Program (TOP), history is brought to life: at original historical sites, they discuss democracy, remembrance culture and social transformation – often discovering personal connections to Germany, through the stories of ancestors who once emigrated.
Transatlantic friendship at the heart of democracy: a visit to the Reichstag building | © Goethe-Institut/TOP
A nuanced view of Germany
Since 2002, the Visitors Programme – in collaboration with the Goethe-Institut Washington and other partners, and with funding from the Federal Foreign Office, among others – has been organising visits that go far beyond traditional educational travel. The aim of the programme is not only to share knowledge, but also to encourage critical reflection on preconceived notions. Many participants arrive with a view of Germany shaped by clichés, but discover a country that is far more diverse, complex and open than they had expected.The programme is intensive. Over the course of two weeks, the teachers visit schools, universities, businesses, museums and cultural institutions in various parts of Germany, engaging in peer-to-peer discussions – about education systems, societal challenges and the role of memory in civic education.
Exchange is key
At the heart of every TOP trip are the school visits, which leave a particularly lasting impression on the guests. They are introduced to the German education system, meet students, sit in on classes, share ideas with fellow educators and experience everyday school life firsthand. Some even step into the teacher’s role and discover that: “They’re the same everywhere – just kids.”Whether in Georgia, Saskatchewan or Upper Franconia – the key issues are strikingly similar: How can integration succeed? How should we tackle social inequality? How can environmental education be implemented in the classroom? The discussions make one thing clear: the challenges are transatlantic – and potential solutions are often surprisingly similar.
Learning with all the senses: a visit to a school garden in Düsseldorf | © Goethe-Institut e.V./TOP
Remembrance culture as a field of learning
A central theme of the visits is Germany’s culture of remembrance. The open and self-reflective confrontation with the Nazi past profoundly impresses many of the participants. For some, it serves as an impetus to re-examine their own national history – an ongoing process that extends well beyond the duration of the visit.Diversity as a strength
The groups that visited Germany in 2024 were as diverse as the regions they came from: young teachers in their second year of teaching met experienced educators from New York City and rural parts of Montana. This diversity was also reflected in their classrooms and enriched the exchange.Returning home, the teachers bring their experiences into the classroom, staff rooms and their wider communities. They introduce new perspectives, challenge established concepts, and forge lasting connections – not just with Germany but also among themselves.
Industrial heritage and change: a TOP group in front of the winding tower at Zeche Zollverein | © Goethe-Institut e. V./TOP
