SOUTHEAST'S FOREIGN LANGUAGES DEPARTMENT OFFERS TRIP

When it comes to traveling abroad, Dieter Jedan believes in the philosophy of 18th century English author Samuel Johnson.

"The use of travel is to regulate imagination by reality, and instead of thinking how things may be, to see them as they are," Johnson wrote.

Jedan, who was born in northern Germany and is the new chairman of the foreign language department at Southeast Missouri State University, will be returning to his native land this Christmas.

Jedan will be taking a group of about 20 students and area residents on a "Christmas in Germany" trip, a 17-day tour of Germany and Austria from Dec. 24 through Jan. 9.

Total cost is about $1,100, including airfare.

In addition to their travels in Germany and Austria, a side trip may be made to Switzerland, Jedan said.

Jedan has been living in the United States since 1967 and has been teaching since 1973. He taught at UCLA and Murray State University before coming to Southeast in August as department chairman.

"I know the people over there (in Germany)," said Jedan. "I have been taking students over there for the last 20 years."

Jedan said trip participants need to know a little German. "Anyone who goes should have at least one semester of German. There will be language instruction over there as we go along," he said.

"Participants are asked to communicate 75 percent of the time in German only," explained Jedan.

"It is a very scenic area," he said. "People do not speak English much."

The group will stay in the resort town of Bad Feilnbach, about 20 miles south of Munich and will make day trips to various sites including several castles, the University of Munich, and a number of German businesses.

The group will also visit Salzburg, Austria, and look at the Mozart heritage, he said. "Also, we will spend one day high up in the Alps."

Participants will probably see an opera or play in German, said Jedan.

Each participant will get to spend the "second Christmas Day" with a German family. In Germany, Jedan explained, people celebrate Christmas for two days, Dec. 25 and 26.

There will also be a New Year's party.

Participants will be required to keep a diary.

In today's global marketplace, Jedan said, it's vital for Americans to be able to communicate in other languages and be aware of business needs in other countries, such as Germany.

He said it's important to involve the local business community in educational trips abroad. "In earlier days, we used to think that a university can just live in a vacuum. Nowadays, we know we can learn from the business community."

Such trips, he said, hopefully will help strengthen ties between American and German businesses.

Interested persons should contact Jedan at 651-2478 within the next few weeks.