Where Are They Now? Monika Whipple, German teacher 1979–2004
What keeps you busy?
Living in Townsend, I am connected with several senior centers in the area and really enjoy my weekly visits. I help with trips, play games, and—my favorite—play trivia twice a month. This keeps the brain sharp! In addition, I am fortunate to have my three children close by, each living in Massachusetts. One day a week I visit one of my sons and his two children, getting time to play with my 5- and 6-year-old grandchildren.
What memorable highlights can you share from your Groton years?
I taught part-time, so only two courses each term, and I encouraged my German students to use their language skills whenever possible. Some students even practiced at Roll Call, doing announcements in German, and one intrepid student recited the entire text from The Night Before Christmas to the delight of his audience. He did well in my class!
Does one aspect of working at Groton stand out to you?
With the exception of teaching AP German, which had to conform to the AP exam standards, I had complete freedom to teach the material I thought appropriate in my other German sections. While I always emphasized grammar—precision is so important in the German language—I incorporated music, including making my students learn the German national anthem, literature, cartoons, and even cuisine. One night I took my students to a Swiss restaurant in Nashua for a multi-course German meal. It was a highlight, with all of us enjoying being together, my students using their growing language skills, and having a wonderful meal. I recall the apelstrudel was a favorite.
I really enjoyed teaching alongside my fellow colleagues, and am still in touch with the Myerses and Catherine Coursaget. Because I live close by, I often return to campus. I use the indoor pool a few times a week in addition to my daily long walk; visit good friend Rita Lalli in the Schoolhouse, and last winter, I was asked by Theater Director Laurie Sales to assist the cast of Cabaret with their German accents. It was fun to engage with Groton students once again, bringing back memories of how much I loved teaching inquisitive young people during my twenty-five years on the Circle.
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Living in Townsend, I am connected with several senior centers in the area and really enjoy my weekly visits. I help with trips, play games, and—my favorite—play trivia twice a month. This keeps the brain sharp! In addition, I am fortunate to have my three children close by, each living in Massachusetts. One day a week I visit one of my sons and his two children, getting time to play with my 5- and 6-year-old grandchildren.
What memorable highlights can you share from your Groton years?
I taught part-time, so only two courses each term, and I encouraged my German students to use their language skills whenever possible. Some students even practiced at Roll Call, doing announcements in German, and one intrepid student recited the entire text from The Night Before Christmas to the delight of his audience. He did well in my class!
Does one aspect of working at Groton stand out to you?
With the exception of teaching AP German, which had to conform to the AP exam standards, I had complete freedom to teach the material I thought appropriate in my other German sections. While I always emphasized grammar—precision is so important in the German language—I incorporated music, including making my students learn the German national anthem, literature, cartoons, and even cuisine. One night I took my students to a Swiss restaurant in Nashua for a multi-course German meal. It was a highlight, with all of us enjoying being together, my students using their growing language skills, and having a wonderful meal. I recall the apelstrudel was a favorite.
I really enjoyed teaching alongside my fellow colleagues, and am still in touch with the Myerses and Catherine Coursaget. Because I live close by, I often return to campus. I use the indoor pool a few times a week in addition to my daily long walk; visit good friend Rita Lalli in the Schoolhouse, and last winter, I was asked by Theater Director Laurie Sales to assist the cast of Cabaret with their German accents. It was fun to engage with Groton students once again, bringing back memories of how much I loved teaching inquisitive young people during my twenty-five years on the Circle.
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