Every year, the foreign language teachers advertise the upcoming national language exams. The exams cost a few bucks and are seen as low stress. The participant doesn't have to study, and they just show up and take the test. No big deal. When the results come back, the participant can get a bronze, silver,...

A few weeks after taking the National German Exam, I went to class excited to learn what my score was. If I got a score within the 90th percentile, I would be able to go to Germany for an educational trip, all expenses covered. I was excited about this, as going to Europe had always been a dream of mine. During...