Beautiful Saarland

I spent my year as an English language assistant in beautiful Saarland (south-west Germany).
Initially, I was very surprised to learn that I had been placed in not one but two schools, something that I hadn’t even known was a possibility on the British Council scheme! But luckily for me, they were only a two minute walk apart from each other, and I came to be very glad of the fact that I got a chance to experience lessons in two different types of school: one a Gemeinschaftsschule, the other a Gymnasium. Both had their differences, but they were both similar in the fact that the staff and students were extraordinarily welcoming to me – giving me the freedom to try out different lesson ideas whilst supporting me when my ideas didn’t quite go to plan! Given the fact I’m no trained teacher yet built up to taking my own full lessons pretty quickly, I think I can say with some certainty that I have become more confident both in talking in front of large groups and in thinking creatively.
Being spontaneous was something I had to get used to. If the students sped through part of my lesson, I had to think up other activities on the theme to keep them busy. If the teacher asked me to teach the students something specific with absolutely no prior warning, I had to invent something on the spot. I did lessons on everything from the Cotswolds to the British Empire to Native American folklore. Some of my lessons went brilliantly, others didn’t. But that was life for a year, and with the support of the lovely teachers at both schools, I got used to it!
I have to admit that Saarbrücken, the city I called home during my time abroad, isn’t the most picturesque city in places (possibly an understatement!). However, Saarland itself is a wonderful place full of character, thick accents (which I’m pretty sure I have inadvertently brought home with me), beautiful forests, and friendly people. Without a doubt, I shall be returning sometime in the future.
Highlights of my year: school trips to climbing parks, adventures in Portugal (we were lucky, the flights were super cheap!), recording listening exams to be used in schools and having my voice recognised by some of my pupils, magical Christmas markets, making friends from all over the world, and the strange satisfaction of feeling like a local in what should be a foreign city.

A few blog posts one of my schools wrote about me:
My role at the school: http://anton-hansen-schule.de/?page_id=536
My last day at the Gemeinschaftsschule: http://anton-hansen-schule.de/?p=858

 

Anna Kennington