Choosing Fulbright: U of A Graduate Maddie Gwinner Begins Career in Germany

Recent U of A graduate Maddie Gwinner is starting her career in Germany this fall, and she had the fortunate problem of choosing between two prestigious programs: the Congress Bundestag Youth Exchange (CBYX) and the Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship. The CBYX Program is a year-long cultural immersion fellowship that provides 65 American and 65 German young professionals with the opportunity to spend one year in each other's countries, and the Fulbright program selects Americans to teach English in a variety of countries abroad.

However, as Gwinner notes, the program involves more than language learning: "I applied to Fulbright because I truly believe bilateral diplomacy starts with young people. My goal is not only to teach English and grow in my German language skills, but to connect with a group of motivated grantees grounded in mutual understanding."

Gwinner ultimately decided on the Fulbright program, and she has been assigned to Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, where she believes she can grow both personally and professionally. She is preparing for this role via a summer TESOL certification course. She also reached out to a former instructor, Robert Shea, who taught English in Germany and Turkey, and will be using his advice on what students found confusing and what clicked immediately.

As a double major in international and global studies and political science with a German minor, Gwinner noted how her time at the U of A prepared her: "The series of grammar-heavy German courses I took at the U of A prepared me to engage with native speakers and confidently navigate the country. What surprised me, though, is that sometimes learning the 'why' behind German grammar rules had me rethink the way I understand English, too!  

"Beyond the classroom, the RSOs I took part in at the U of A taught me worlds about myself and my capacity to lead others. BridgeArkansas fostered my willingness to engage with a variety of viewpoints; National Model United Nations afforded me the opportunity to work with students everywhere from Italy to Japan to Australia, and serving as president of Undergraduate Mock Trial gave me the confidence to public speak and share my passions with others."

Gwinner was also able to gain experience over the last five years teaching biweekly online classes to a group of older adults through the Selfhelp Community Services' Virtual Senior Center, which taught her the importance of keeping the classroom engaging and implementing feedback.

Her advice for future applicants to the Fulbright, CBYX or any post-graduate experience is to start early, ideally in the summer before graduation, to allow plenty of time to receive feedback and make edits. She also appreciates the efforts of those who supported her throughout the process, including Emily Voight and the Office of Nationally Competitive Awards, German professors at the U of A and her friends and family.