To appreciate the value that German students place on specific qualities and behaviors of faculty whom they consider master teachers, it is beneficial to understand the structure of the educational system in Germany. The traditional model of education in Germany is based on a three-tiered academic system. Children begin elementary school at approximately 6 years old and complete 4 years of schooling, where they are then recommended by their teacher to enter one of three educational tracks based on their academic performance, although a student' s socioeconomic status and familial connections are also influential in the stratification process (Aybek 2013). The secondary general school (Hauptschule) is considered the lowest track and requires students to complete five additional years of schooling. The intermediate school (Realschule) has more advanced academic requirements and typically requires 6 years of education, which then leads to a certificate intended to provide entry into business or skilled-trade apprenticeships. The highest and most prestigious academic track is grammar school (Gymnasium), which requires students to complete 8-9 years of education before they are eligible to complete graduate exams to earn a diploma (Abitur) that is required for admission into a university. University education has often focused on preparing individuals for academia, as well as professional training in medicine, law, teaching, and psychology, among other professions.Those individuals who do not meet the initial qualifications for entrance into a university often wish to acquire training in the vocational and educational training (VET) system, which has been considered the backbone of the German industrial economy (Wolter and Kerst 2015). The dual VET system (duales Berufsbildungssystem) has expanded rapidly over the last decade (Graf 2016). This system combines a 2-3 year business-based NEW DIRECTIONS FOR TEACHING AND LEARNING, no. 156, Winter 2018