“Bildung scheint mir das einzige Ziel, das des Bestrebens, Wahrheit der einzige Reichtum, der des Besitzes würdig ist." - Heinrich von Kleist.
“Education seems to be the only goal worth pursuing, truth the only wealth worth possessing.”
This quote from the German author Heinrich von Kleist, written in one of his letters in 1801, sums up my view of education. In my own studies in literature at the University of Arkansas, I have sought truth and knowledge above all. As an educator, I want to pass on a hunger for knowledge and love for learning to my students. I also want to set them up to be life-long learners to give them the best future possible. Learning a foreign language will help them do so.
Learning a foreign language has been proven to strengthen memory, improve decision-making and enhance performance in other academic areas. Learning German can be useful to students in many aspects of their academic and future careers. Knowing German can be beneficial in the field of business, technology, and science. German is the most widely spoken language in Europe. Germany itself is a leader in biotechnology, alternative energy and software development. Germany also has the largest economy in Europe and the third strongest economy overall. German is the second-most commonly used research language and knowing how to speak it provides many opportunities for research in Europe.
In the foreign language classroom, students learn best through comprehensible input. Research has shown that students become more proficient in a language when the classroom focus is on communication rather than grammar and teacher-led lectures. My goal is to teach students who are intrinsically motivated to learn, rather than dependent on external motivation from the teacher or through grades. As a native speaker of German, I can provide authentic language and cultural experiences. I am very comfortable with the use of technology in my classroom, but can work without it if need be.
Some of my students at the University of Arkansas have gone on to major in German, study abroad, and join the National German Honors Society Delta Phi Alpha. They have also taken advantage of internship opportunities through The German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD). I would love to prepare my new students to take advantage of the same opportunities.