It is once again time to register for the annual Deutscher Sprach- und Schulverein (DSSV) Essay Contest!
Below you will find the DSSV contest details and registration form.
Dear Wisconsin German Language Teachers:
To participate in the DSSV essay contest, please register using the form below by January 26, 2025. Contest materials and proctoring instructions will be sent to the email address on the form, unless you specifically request materials be sent via U.S. Mail.
Knowing how tight funds continue to be, the German Language and School Society (DSSV) will again help to offset the costs of administering the standardized test and/or essay contest. The DSSV will provide a $100 stipend to qualifying schools. You will receive this stipend payment after your students’ participation in the German Exam and Essay Contest.
If you have any other questions please submit them on the contest registration form or contact us via email at register@dssvwi.org.
Thank you for participating.
Marge Draheim
Dorothy Smaglick
CONTEST DEADLINES
DSSV ESSAY CONTEST
- Registration deadline is January 26, 2025
- Essays must be written by February 1, 2025
- Essays must be postmarked no later than February 9, 2025
AATG GERMAN EXAM
- Registration is open from October 1, 2024 through January 26, 2025.
- Please note that registering after December 16, 2024 will result in a $30 late fee.
ESSAY CONTEST DETAILS AND GUIDELINES
Eligibility
- The Essay Contest is open to students of all public and private high schools in the state of Wisconsin, who are presently enrolled in a German class.
- Students should also take the AATG National German Exam.
Essay Awards
- We expect PAD to again sponsor AATG study trips to Germany.
- Essay contestant winners are again eligible to win DSSV sponsored cash prizes.
- Teachers will be notified of their student winners after the DSSV committee receives the AATG test results and the essay evaluations.
Guidelines
- Students at each school are expected to complete the essay together as a class. Essays must be appropriately proctored.
- Allow thirty minutes for completion of the essay.
- Essays must be a minimum of five (5) paragraphs.
- No computers, cell phones, iPads, dictionaries, textbooks or notebooks may be consulted and teachers (or other persons) may not assist students while the essay test is being administered.
- Students must write on lined paper with pen.
- Student contact information must be submitted along with the essay. This includes phone number, home address and email address.
Registration/Submission Requirements
- Teachers should register their students online at www.dssvwi.org.
- There is no fee to participate in the DSSV essay contest.
- Registration for the essay contest will close on January 26, 2025.
Essay Contest Logistics
- The essay contest topic will be sent directly to the teachers after registration is completed.
- Teachers should not share the topic with the students or help them prepare for the topic.
- Essays can be administered at the same time as the German Language Exam, or separately.
- Teachers are to submit completed essays to the address in the packet to the attention of:
DSSV Essays 2024-25
c/o Dorothy Smaglick
Essay Judging Guidelines
- Initial essay evaluation is done by a committee of DSSV members.
- Final level of judging is performed by a university German professor, who ranks the top essays.
- Consideration is given to originality, grammar, vocabulary, and how well the topic is addressed.
- There will be finalist interviews scheduled for study trip awards.
AATG German Exam Details and Guidelines
- Teachers should administer the AATG National German Exam.
- PAD (German Government’s Padagogischer Austauschdienst) study trip awards to Germany are determined by the AATG exam score, application submitted by the student, interview and AATG essay results.
- The DSSV provides cash awards for outstanding AATG test scores and AATG essay results.
- Please use the deadlines set by AATG.