Host institution: IIK-Düsseldorf
Time of Training in Germany: 02.07.2025 – 29.07.2025
This training was a wonderful experience for me. Through the program, I was able to share knowledge, discover useful websites and applications, and get closer to the German culture.
But let me be more precise start from the beginning:
After arriving safely in Düsseldorf, I received my accommodation, which had already been arranged. I chose to stay in a shared apartment with my colleague and a few others so that we could talk, exchange ideas, and share memories. This accommodation was organized by our host, IIK, and was with a host family. My German host was very kind and helpful, supporting us throughout our one-month stay.
The training at IIK began the next day. The institute staff gave my colleague and me a tour of the building, so we could familiarize ourselves with all the rooms and activities. One helpful feature was a screen displaying the course schedule and room locations, which made it easy for students and visitors to find their way around.
After meeting the administrative and teaching staff, I had the chance to talk with the head of the institute. We discussed our goals and expectations for the training, and he arranged a meeting with the course coordinators to plan our schedule.
During the first week, I mostly observed classes, helped monitor the German language test, and took part in culture-based lessons. These lessons gave me the chance to meet teachers from all over Europe, share experiences, and discuss the challenges of teaching German as a foreign language outside Germany. It was clear that many challenges are common everywhere -especially issues like the misuse of AI tools such as ChatGPT.
One memorable activity was cooking traditional German dishes together. The idea was not only to taste homemade German food but also to talk about it and give feedback. Most importantly, we learned how to use this fun activity with our own students. This new teaching approach combines language learning with cultural experiences and helps students enjoy practicing German.
In the following week, I explored different courses, including German for Medicine, Intermediate German, and Beginner courses. Comparing these with the courses at GJU, I realized that we are very well-prepared and use many of the best teaching methods. I also got to work with several new textbooks, many of which I hadn’t seen before. At GJU, we use the popular book Momente, which has a great digital version. The books used at IIK were more advanced but equally valuable.
The next week included teacher training sessions with colleagues from various countries. We took part in communication training and learned about scenario-based teaching. I created a teaching scenario based on our students at GJU, which was exciting because I hadn’t tried this method before. I also learned how to use digital tools like Book Creator, Mentimeter, and Padlet in new ways. Together with my colleague, I created an online book—a game to help students understand cultural differences. We chose the topic of funerals and what to do in such situations in Germany. I also learned new ways to encourage communication in class and to make speaking exercises more fun through storytelling and games.
At the end, I want to sincerely thank GJU, DAAD, and especially IIK for this wonderful opportunity. It was a valuable experience for my career, my cultural understanding, and my personal life. Time flew by, and I would encourage everyone to take part in such programs.
And last, some pictures of me while working or visiting the house of Heinrich Heine, a very famous poet and author:
