Emily Eroh, a Cumberland High School student, traveled to Washington D.C.’s Goethe Institute to take the Goethe-Zertifikat A2 Exam for German. A passing score of 60% I all categories, including listening, reading, writing, and speaking, earns the student an internationally recognized certificate as an advanced German learner under the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages, the commonly accepted measurement of language proficiency on a global scale. Emily scored above 90% in each category, a score that is unheard of for most high school students. This is a major steppingstone towards the higher proficiency exams that can be used to earn certification to teach the language, work as a translator, or work in many government jobs.
Emily started her German studies in kindergarten—she was one of approximately 40 students who traveled from the elementary school to the high school after school to learn basic German vocabulary. Upon entering 9th grade, she enrolled in German I, where she excelled. She has continued to take German. As a senior this year, she is enrolled in German IV and plans to take German V next semester. During her high school career, she has served as the German Club president every year since the club was formed three years ago.
As a junior, she applied for the Virginia Governor’s World Language Academy for German and was accepted, making her the first student in Cumberland history to be accepted into this prestigious program for any language. This was a three-week full immersion program hosted by the Virginia Department of Education at Washington and Lee University where English is completely forbidden for the entire duration of the academy. At the academy, she participated in Marketplace Project Group, a group that was responsible for doing multicultural arts and crafts to be sold at the International Marketplace, a joint event hosted by the Spanish, French, and German Academies collaboratively. She took several courses taught entirely in German. While there, she played games, went on field trips, did arts and crafts, participated in karaoke, as well as many other activities—all without speaking English.
Mr. Kesner, her German teacher, is extremely proud of her. He noted that she will be the first student in Cumberland history to achieve the Virginia Seal of Biliteracy on her diploma. She was recognized by the Cumberland School Board for her accomplishment at the meeting held on November 7, 2024.
Pictured: Emily Eroh