Teaching English and learning German

I spent three weeks at the Excellence Centre in July 2023. In these three weeks I gained invaluable experience teaching English as a second language, living in a new city and getting to know people from many different countries and backgrounds.
It was my first-time teaching English as a foreign language, so I was initially slightly unsure how to proceed with lessons and teaching, however the many resources provided by the centre were a great source of knowledge and inspiration. I could also ask other volunteers about their experiences and if they had any advice, and this was extremely helpful for me. Having a starting conversation with the learner was especially helpful, because it was good to know the language ability as well as any specific themes or topics the person wanted to work on. I taught two people in my three weeks, and it was very enjoyable because we covered a range of topics.
Additionally I had 9 hours of German lessons, which was a great opportunity to freshen up some things I had forgotten, learn some new vocabulary and get some practice speaking it.
Another aspect that really appealed to me was the diversity of people at the centre. It was really interesting to meet so many different people from different countries. Working with Ukrainian refugees and hearing their stories was also a very humbling experience as it put my “problems” at home into perspective. Everyone at the centre was extremely welcoming, friendly and social which made coming and settling into Halle very easy for me and the delicious breakfast we had four times a week was a really nice way to start the day.
Halle itself was a pleasant city to spend three weeks in. It was not too big so I did not feel in anyway overwhelmed. There were also enough shops, bars, and restaurants so I was able to go out with the other volunteers in the evenings as well as a weekly football match amongst the volunteers. Furthermore, I was also able to visit Leipzig and Dresden as they are very easy to reach.
Overall, I had a great few weeks at the Excellence centre and in Halle and would thoroughly recommend the programme to any person who wishes to gain TEFL experience in a new city.