Adam D.
Orange
1226 Ivanhoe Drive
East Lansing, Michigan 48823
orangegerman@gmail.com
adamorange.weebly.com
517.897.0201
Education
M.A. in German Studies, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan (May 2014)
B.S. in Education, German and ESL, Central Michigan University, Mount Pleasant, Michigan (May 2010)
University of Stuttgart, Undergraduate Course Work, Stuttgart, Germany (2006-2007)
Sprachschule Tandem Bielefeld, Study Abroad Semester, Bielefeld, Germany (2015)
K-12 Teaching Experience
Middle and High School German Teacher, Grand Ledge Public Schools, Grand Ledge, Michigan (2015 – present)
• Develop and teach elementary and advanced German classes using innovative and research-based language teaching
practices
• Facilitate technology use in communicative-focused classrooms
• Implement presentational and interpretive language output learning opportunities based on ACTFL standards and
guidelines, and comprehensive input models for language acquisition
• Write curriculum after updating to newest edition and online textbook platform
• Establish stronger relationship-based teaching practices based on the foundations of Capturing Kids’ Hearts
professional development training
• Co-coordinate bi-annual, four-week student exchange to Lohne, Lower Saxony, Germany
• Raise money to help reduce the overall costs of exchange program for students
• Plan and provide after school activities for middle and high school German Clubs
• Contribute to the increased enrollment of elementary and advanced German students
• Mentor new teachers
High School German Teacher, Grand Blanc Community Schools, Grand Blanc, Michigan (2014 – 2015)
• Developed and taught elementary and advanced German classes
• Taught a hybrid elementary German course using Blackboard learning system with participating Genesee County high
school students
• Used asynchronous voice recording apps for outside classroom activities in an effort to increase extemporaneous
speaking in the classroom
• Rewrote the German 1 – German 4 scope and sequence based on new textbook and online student e-books and
portfolios
High School German Teacher, Bettendorf Community Schools, Bettendorf, Iowa (2010 – 2012)
• Developed and taught upper level, advanced placement (AP), and post-AP German classes
• Coordinated bi-annual, four-week student exchange to Blieskastel, Saarland, Germany
• Raised money to help reduce the overall costs of exchange program for students
• Provided grant money (from the Goethe Institut) to underrepresented student populations for exchange program
• Participated in German American Partnership Program (GAPP) study abroad adviser training
• Helped students interview Anne Frank’s half-sister, Eva Schloss, during her annual talking series in the United States
• Planned and provided after school activities for high school German Club
• Offered film nights for students and community members interested in contemporary German film
• Worked closely with the German American Heritage Center in Davenport, Iowa to foster multi-generational learning
opportunities outside of the classroom, and to bring anti-Nazi installation art and corresponding exhibit to the center
• Offered children’s German lessons at the high school and at the public library with the help of upper level German
students
University Teaching and Research Experience
German Teaching and Research Assistant, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan (2012 – 2014)
• Taught elementary and intermediate language courses (GRM 101 and GRM 201)
• Assisted professors with research and transcriptions
• Edited and provided feedback to professors, committees, and other graduate students related to position papers,
graduate conference presentations, and first- and second-year lesson modules
• Offered Saturday workshops in the target language for Michigan German teachers (K-12) based on communicative
approaches to elementary and upper level high school curriculum
Internship at City of Freiburg Public Library, Freiburg, Baden-Württemberg, Germany (2012)
• Delivered and promoted German literacy by volunteering with the books on wheels program
• Fostered interactions between German children and child refugees through collaborative reading and game play
• Developed and implemented curricular units based on German young adult literature to MSU undergraduate students
in German classes
Professional Outreach
Subject Matter Expert, Michigan Virtual University, Lansing, Michigan (January 2019 – present)
• Provide grammar corrections and pedagogical feedback for online German courses, which include end-of-module
projects
• Review rubrics for accuracy and clarity based on learning targets and state aligned curriculum standards
• Suggest course edits based on experiences from face-to-face and flipped classroom instruction
Grand Ledge Public School and Gymnasium Lohne Teacher Leader, Grand Ledge, Michigan (2015 – present)
• Petition Grand Ledge mayor to establish sister-city connections based on the long-standing exchange between both
schools
• Facilitate the establishment of a new street in Grand Ledge named after our partner school and city
• Present program information and deliver government proclamations at Board of Education and City Council meetings
• Plan a first-time face-to-face meeting between mayors of both cities during the summer 2019 exchange in Lohne,
Germany
• Inform and create online and print media coverage in local media, and with the American Association of Teachers of
German (AATG)
• Begin conversations with school counselors and administrators to offer extra graduation credits for completing the
three-and-a-half-week trip to Germany with host family stay
• Update school social media accounts with program accomplishments as they transpire
K-12 Academic Advisory Board Reviewer for Die Unterrichtspraxis, Cherry Hill, New Jersey (2016-2018)
• Peer-reviewed scholarly journal articles in the field of teaching German
• Provided anonymous feedback based on quantitative and qualitative data sets
• Offered feedback as to the overarching goals of the publication
• Suggested middle and high school teaching and language learning specific topics for future articles
German Language Camp Instructor, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan (Summer 2013, Summer 2018)
• Provided German immersion-style instruction for elementary aged children
• Developed and edited previous curriculum based on themes (i.e. fairytales, German-American traditions, holidays and
vacation, food and festivities, etc.) using authentic materials
• Planned on-campus excursions to the MSU Planetarium, Historical Museum, Broad Art Museum, and MSU Dairy Store
• Provided German language feedback to undergraduate student assistants
• Critiqued mini-lesson plans for German teacher education candidates
German for Kids + Teens Language Instructor, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan (2012-2014)
• Provided 10, 1-hour teaching sessions to elementary and middle school aged children
• Developed and edited previous curriculum using authentic materials
• Used kinesthetic and storytelling models for lesson delivery
• Supported undergraduate student teacher assistants
Professional Development
• Education First Study Abroad Coordinator On-Site Training, Barcelona, Spain (2019)
• Capturing Kids’ Hearts Training and Certification, Grand Ledge Michigan (2017)
• Annual Michigan World Language Association, Lansing, Michigan (October 2009 - present)
• AP Conference, University Center of Lake County, Grays Lake, Illinois (2011)
• Central States Conference on the Teaching of Foreign Languages, Indianapolis, Indiana (March 2011)
• AP Annual Conference, Washington D.C. (2010)
• MSU Workshop: Immersion Teaching Tactics, East Lansing, Michigan (February 2010)
• Communicative Competency Herder Institut, Leipzig, Germany (July 2009)
• MSU Workshop: German-American Studies in the Foreign Language Classroom, East Lansing, Michigan (April 2009)
• MSU Workshop: Authentic Literature Use, East Lansing, Michigan (November 2008)
Presentations and Workshops
Orange, A. Spiel des Jahres: Game of the Year. Presented at MSU’s World Language Day, East Lansing, Michigan (March 2018)
• Designed to engage speaking and listening input and output in elementary German courses using authentic board and
dice games from German game publishers.
Orange, A. Jugendliteratur im Sprachunterricht: Bridging the Language-Literature Gap. Presented at Michigan World Language
Association, Lansing, Michigan (November 2013 - presentation)
• Mini-session focused on using authentic young adult literature and technology to enhance written and verbal output
with a focus on the use of blogs, social media sites, and apps in a world language classroom.
Orange, A. Adapting Authentic Materials for K-13 Curriculum. Supported with funding by the Center for Language Teaching
Advancement (CeLTA), East Lansing, Michigan (April 2013 - workshop)
• Eight-hour workshop dedicated to showcasing MSU’s online language apps developed with the support of a federally
funded grant. Participants were taught how to use voice-recording tools, and then developed hybrid-lessons focusing on
the four modes of communication in second language teaching and learning.
Orange, A. & Lambert, H. Legends and Beyond: A Backward Journey for a Forward Generation. Presented at Michigan World
Language Association, Lansing, Michigan (October 2009 - presentation)
• Team presentation focused on exploring generational conflicts in young adult texts. Language output focused on L2
writing (summaries, position papers, chapter reviews, etc.).
Awards and Grants
Max Kade Fellow, Michigan State University (2012-2013)
Quad City Times, “My Favorite Teacher Award” (2012)
Verband der deutsch-amerikanischen Clubs, e.V. Scholarship Recipient (2006-2007)
Languages
English: Native
German: Near-native
Professional Memberships
American Association of Teachers of German (AATG)
Michigan World Language Association (MiWLA)
References
Jill Mangrum Dave Kushman
Principal, Grand Ledge High School Interim Principal, Hayes Middle School
820 Spring Street 12620 Nixon Road
Grand Ledge, Michigan 48837 Grand Ledge, Michigan 48837
517.925.5912 517.925.5680
mangrumj@glcomets.net kushmand@glcomets.net
Ken Wright Jorma Forman
Assistant Principal, Grand Ledge High School English Teacher, Gymnasium Lohne
820 Spring Street An der Kirchenziegelei 12
Grand Ledge, Michigan 48837 49393 Lohne (Oldenburg), Germany
517.925.5823 +49 44 4293 6180
wrightk@glcomets.net forman@gymlohne.de
