Meet our teacher Benji!
You might already have seen Benji around. We recently caught up with him to ask a few questions and learn a bit more about his thoughts on teaching.
You also work in the field of language development for children. Would you like to tell us a little about your work there?
I’d be delighted to. We develop materials for language development for children in daycare centers and schools. Our aim is to support children in learning German as language of education correctly. We assist daycare centers and schools in establishing playful and practical language development programs. The goal, of course, is greater educational equality, especially for migrant and multilingual children.
What brought you to the field of German as a foreign language?
Due to my own experience as a migrant, I started helping out at the Municipal Integration Center when I was still a teenager. After graduating from high school, there was a need for teachers for a literacy course there—I did that for a year and have been working in the field of German as a second language/German as a foreign language ever since. I enjoy helping people rediscover themselves in a new language. And making that language their own.
What are the different difficulties children and adults may face when learning a foreign language?
Children can ‚throw themselves‘ into a language more quickly, especially when they want to communicate. They are not prone to overthinking. Adults need more support to really acquire a new language. Fear and shame play another role here. It’s always important to me that learners come out of their shells and enjoy learning German.
Which level of German as a foreign language do you enjoy teaching the most?
All levels have their own characteristics, but I probably prefer teaching B2—you can have really good conversations with the participants and you know that they are serious about learning the language. Plus, you can have a good laugh together about the strange audio recordings in some of the books.
You teach group courses and corporate courses. Are there any differences between them?
In corporate courses, the group members usually already know each other and therefore interact differently. I find that very exciting and enjoyable. Corporate courses also tend to have more specific expectations. Group courses at school are more oriented toward the textbook.
Can you remember a particularly funny situation in class?
There are some really funny situations in the conversation classes, especially when the participants tell stories from their lives. But there is also a lot of laughter in the group classes. In a B1.2 class, the participants once acted out a movie and came up with some really crazy scenarios, complete with romantic drama and all the trimmings.
Are you currently learning a new language yourself?
Not in a class, but I’m still diligently trying to decipher the Arabic signs on Sonnenallee, even if it’s very slow going. But that’s how it is with languages—you have to stick with it.
Thanks for taking the time. That was very insightful!
