“I’ve Always Had a Good Hand with People”

Have you always wanted to study Teacher Education?

I first thought about it in eleventh grade when I started learning Spanish. I did not only enjoy learning a new language, I was also able to achieve very good grades. Therefore, I started tutoring to my school mates. For me, it was always a great pleasure and gave me a sense of achievement, when I saw that they understood what I was explaining to them. I’ve always had a good hand with people, therefore, even back then, I could see myself studying Teacher Education.

How did you decide on combining the subjects Spanish and French?

I did not like the thought of not being able to use what I have learned in Spanish classes after leaving school. I was very enthusiastic about learning the language right from the start.  Therefore, it was an easy decision for me. As to French, I only started learning the language at university. Getting a study place at the University of Mannheim was therefore very important to me, as not many universities offer the possibility to study a Romance language without any prior knowledge. Of course, this has been a challenge. However, I really enjoy studying new languages and therefore, I am willing to put in a lot of time and effort.

What do you like most about your program and the City of Mannheim?

As I already mentioned, the opportunity to study French without prior knowledge was one of the reasons why I applied for a study place in Mannheim. In general, I like the way the program in organized, the wide variety of courses, and the opportunity to obtain additional certificates. The Bachelor of Education, in particular, offers many supplemental activities in the field of languages. Last semester, I earned an additional certificate in bilingual teaching, for example. Apart from that, I really like the close contact with our professors, as we often work in small groups. I think this is very important in the field of languages.

On top of that, I'm very attached to my hometown Bad Dürkheim, which is fortunately not far alway at all. It is less than a 20 minute car drive away, which is a big advantage for me. The idea of studying at the Schloss right in the middle of the City of Mannheim has always appealed to me, even when I was still at school. The city center’s structure, which is organized in squares, makes it easy to find your way around, and, of course, the Wasserturm is a real eye-catcher. I enjoy spending time in the city center, in bars or cafés.

Does your program include any workplace training?

The bachelor's program comprises a three-week internship at a school in Baden-Württemberg. Such experiences are extremely valuable. Classes in Education Sciences impart a lot of theoretical knowledge, which, of course, we have to be able to apply in the field. Therefore, I think it would be even better if there were even more workplace training and internships in the bachelor's program because this is how you can make sure that teaching is the right thing for you. In the master’s program, students spend a whole semester at a school. This is called the placement semester. As for me, I only gained positive experiences during my internship as I was actively involved in teaching and holding classes. I realized how much I had already developed and was able to implement the teachers’ feedback by the last week of the internship.

What does a typical day at university look like for you?

It depends on the semester. This semester, I was very busy. I usually try to finish all my assignments during the week, so I do not have to study a lot on the weekends. That's why I don't have much time on weekdays, but can fully enjoy my free time on the weekends. Of course, this requires good organization. I also work as a student assistant at the Department of Romance Languages in the fields of Spanish and French. I'm benefiting a lot from that in my studies, as I’m in close contact with the teachers and learn a lot about academic writing and research, which makes up a big part of my program.

Do you already have plans for the future?

I’m going to start pursuing a master's degree next semester here at the University of Mannheim. I thought about doing an internship abroad during the master's program – preferably at a school where I can use both languages. During the bachelor's degree, I was rather focused on strengthening my language skills. After graduating, I am excited to teach independently in my own classes. Knowing that sooner or later I will get to know my pupils as individuals, with both their strengths and challenges, and build on that, makes teaching not just a job, but a calling. 

Interview: Pascale Tamburini / February 2025