Abstract
The acronym SPARK stands for Structured Program for the Acquisition of German in the U.S. 3 Resources and Know-How. This program varies widely across the U.S. in size, teaching methods, and audience. This article presents four SPARK Labs as case studies, illustrating the program's impact on college/university student instructors. Results from a Fall 2023 survey of SPARK instructors highlight their attitudes toward community engagement, perceived professional development, awareness of diversity, and teaching skills enhancement. The article suggests that SPARK can encourage students to pursue teaching careers in German at K-12 levels, emphasizing the importance of connecting higher education institutions with K-12 schools to create sustainable pathways for future educators. Additionally, it proposes strategies for strengthening interinstitutional collaborations to support existing German programs.