Tigerle, thank you so much for your post. Both of my children speak German and we pay to keep up their German, with the hope that they will be able to pass the IB in German (it is offered here, at minimal extra cost--they get the IB and then can pass the German exams privately).
Your personal experience is enlightening and helpful.
When I think of German schools for my children, I think of this:
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/06/29/u...olleges-we-dont.html?_r=0&abt=0002&abg=1Note: With Norway, the US has one of the highest percentages of college-educated adults in the world. So we can't just say people don't go to college... they do.
But I also want a good experience full of intellectual curiosity for them. On the one hand, your experience is what it was and it's totally valid, for you. On the other hand, some of the best colleagues I've ever worked with were German and Swiss. I just can't get around their critical thinking, their curiosity, and their creativity. I don't care if they didn't paint themselves in kindergarten, really. They still somehow managed to become creating, inspiring individuals... who also happened to kick my butt at math.
My children may or may not go to college in the US or abroad.
But Germany was definitely one area we were looking at, particularly as we have family there.
As for the grandes ecoles, I knew some people who'd attended, but most of them were so full of themselves it was hard to tell what they actually knew--very aristocratic, ironically, but also appropriately. I never considered France for my children because of that attitude. (Please note these people comprised a tiny percentage of the number of French people with whom I've worked in my life. I actually like France. But the grandes ecoles, ugh.)
Anyway it will all be very interesting to see. Perhaps a highly motivated American who speaks fluent German will shine in Germany. Perhaps not.
