I am Kätlin Heinroos, a German language teacher, and I was in German School in Athen (Deutsche Schule Athen) from 1. to 12. of May on job shadowing moblity with the Erasmus+ program.

The German School of Athens was founded in 1896 and is therefore one of the oldest German schools abroad. The school includes kindergarten (ages 3-5), preschool (ages 5), primary school (grades 1-4) and elementary school and gymnasium (grades 5-12). The study takes place according to the German curriculum, and students are prepared for the German high school diploma. There, however, the study has a strong Greek focus.

School life and studies are divided between three larger buildings. There is a separate building for the kindergarten, the preschool and primary school operate together in the second building, and the elementary school and high school in the main building. A new and well-equipped stadium and swimming pool are located in front of the main building. There is a soccer field next to the primary school building and a large playground in the kindergarten courtyard.

On my first day, a group of teachers from Niedersachsen visited the German school in Athens, with whom I had the opportunity to get to know school life and participate in a language learning seminar. In the following days, I observed the German language classes of elementary school and high school. I researched the topics, mandatory literature and study materials.

In the second week, the high school students took their final exams and I got to know the kindergarten, pre-school and primary school more closely. The DER-DIE-DAS project developed for the development of German language skills of primary school students was particularly interesting. It is a playful way to teach students German vocabulary, grammar and pronunciation. A shelf on wheels is assembled separately for each age group, with which teachers move between classrooms. During each DER-DIE-DAS lesson, students can plan their own time and choose who they want to work with. However, it is important that by the end of the month every student has worked through all the material. This way of learning offers students variety and requires them to be independent and plan their time. I am glad that I was able to support teachers and students in DER-DIE-DAS classes.

I am truly grateful to the Erasmus+ program for this experience. I took with me from Athens various ideas and methods for my teaching work. The school family there is warm and open, the teachers are very professional. I hope that our students and teachers will also have the opportunity to cooperate with the German School of Athens through various projects or student exchanges in the future.