4 weeks - Teaching English and Learning German

My time at the Excellence Center was full of new experiences that I will be able to carry with me for years. I would recommend the center for anyone looking to study German or Arabic, and to those who are interested in teaching English. Four weeks wasn’t enough and I hope I will have the opportunity to participate in the center’s programs again in the future.

My coworkers acted as a network of people who could both help me prepare for lessons and who I could socialize with after work. It was really amazing being able to meet so many bright people from around the world and to learn from their experiences. Our shared love of foreign language and culture brought us together, and I was lucky to have countless conversations about shared interests with them. The shared experience of teaching also brought us together and made it easy to get to know the other volunteers. In the evenings, I enjoyed eating dinner and exploring Halle almost every night with my friends, as well as making weekend trips to Dresden and Thale. I was especially thankful to Ali and Lord who were very inclusive of us in their social circles in Halle. Thanks to them, I was able to meet some Halle locals and practice more German. They were also willing to answer any questions we had about the program or the area. Last, I appreciated having breakfast everyday together at the center. I’m going to miss the food!

The experience of teaching English to refugees was fulfilling and I learned a lot from the experience. As volunteer teachers are completely in control of their classes, I was able to decide on my own what content to teach. I liked this because it allowed me to practice planning my own lessons. Getting to know my students and hearing their stories was one of the best things that came out of the experience for me. The only thing I wish I could change was the number of classrooms in the center, as it can be difficult to teach lessons in the common area when there are no free classrooms. Also, expect to find your own teaching materials online (ask your coworkers if they have any good resources!).

Learning German was also a great experience with our teacher Muaz. Although I’ve studied German for years, Muaz is one of the best teachers (if not the best) I’ve learned from. He really has a knack for teaching and I enjoyed our one-on-one lessons. Whether you are in one-on-one or group lessons depends on your level and the level of the other participants at the time. I had one week of one-on-one (including a field trip) and two weeks of small group lessons (3-4 students).

My accommodation, organized by the center, was a room with a German-Syrian family and was very comfortable. I wasn’t sure what to expect until I arrived, but I was pleased. I had to share the room with another volunteer for the first week, but after that I had it all to myself which was nice. Overall, I definitely recommend the Excellence Center, and if you have any questions about the program, don’t hesitate to contact the staff. Rafat will do everything he can to make sure your stay in Halle is comfortable.