Unlocking the secrets of German: An In-Depth Talk
Meet the character behind Vivaverba: my name is Mirjana, I am an experienced and diplomated German teacher with years of experience in the field.
Not only am I passionate about language education and cultural integration, I am also a dedicated language learner myself. Thanks to this knowledge of practice, my university studies and my own familiarity with expat life, I am the ideal person by your side to lead you through the world of my mother language and the challenges of moving abroad you could face. What inspired you to start teaching German? My motivation is the belief that language is a strong connector of all kinds of individuals – communication is essential to link with others and the world around, so I want to take part in making the world more understandable for German learners, giving them the tools to partake in exciting discussions, insightful conversations, career opportunities or simply daily life in Germanspeaking countries.
What is your teaching philosophy when it comes to language learning?
To me, the best approach to language learning is actively speaking – no grammar rule in the world will be of use if you do not use it. I always encourage my students to use every possibility to speak, there is nothing wrong with making mistakes, as they are human.
On top of that, I believe in interactive learning tailored to the needs of the learner to ensure that they profit as much as possible from what I am teaching. I enjoy engaging with my students!
What are some of the most effective techniques you use to help students grasp difficult concepts in German?
What I do to assist in these situations, is that I individualize teaching contents to the individual student in front of me – it is very useful for example if you are able to project grammatical structures to your own life instead of fictional histories from a textbook! I also believe in learning through fun – a rather humoristic approach is a great support and makes learning more enjoyable.
Can you share some of your favorite resources or tools that you use in your classes?
I enjoy using Zoom to connect with my students, it gives me the opportunity to share my whiteboard with them, as well as study materials – it helps a lot to make my studies interactive. Also I work a lot with interactive books and platforms to make the usage of many resources possible to my students, so every learning type will profit. Games for example are a little tool to refresh the learning experience, for example after a heavy grammar lesson.
How do you keep your students motivated, especially when they hit a plateau in their learning?
Motivation is the key to successful learning, so I like to give my students the impulse to reflect on what they are studying for. We set goals in our studying schedules and celebrate reaching them together – every milestone reached is astep into the right direction towards fluency. My students know they can counton me through every step of this journey!
Do you incorporate cultural lessons into your language classes? If so, how?
Many of my students are expats from foreign countries, so I am convinced that cultural knowledge should be a significant component of learning German – it begins with dialects and local expressions to understand and leads to the knowledge of “typical German behaviour”.
What do you enjoy most about teaching German?
What’s very rewarding to me is the intercultural dialogue made possible due to the fact that I connect with many different individuals from all over the globe in my profession every day – it is fascinating to get to know my students, their purposes of learning and the biggest reward for me is seeing them reaching their goals, no matter if it is the better understanding of coworkers or a FIDE test passed.
How do you see the future of language learning evolving, especially with the rise of technology and online learning?
As an online language teacher, you can imagine my opinion about the usage of technology in language learning – I enjoy trying out new functions to make learning accessible. The future of language learning will soon be characterized by greater personalization, interactivity, and accessibility, thanks to technological advancements. These innovations will not only enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of language education but also make it more engaging
and enjoyable for learners worldwide.
To anyone considering learning German, I encourage you to embrace a holistic approach. Immerse yourself not only in the grammar and vocabulary but also in the rich cultural tapestry that German has to offer. Find joy in the journey of discovery and celebrate each milestone along the way.
I am grateful for the opportunity to share my thoughts and strategies with you. Teaching German is not just a profession for me; it is a calling driven by a genuine love for the language and a desire to empower others through education. I look forward to continuing to evolve as an educator and to inspire more learners on their language learning journey.
Thank you for joining me on this exploration of German language teaching. Together, let’s embrace the future of language learning with enthusiasm and dedication.