So, today I was offered the opportunity to teach a week long German 101 class to businessmen! It’d be at the end of January, and it is part of an international training for 70-some employees who are going to Germany for 6-month long training. The employees probably speak no German at all. I don’t know what to do, because the person who offered it to me asked if I felt qualified to teach it, and my first thought was no. Here are my qualms:
1. There is still a lot of German I don’t know: I’ve never had to live in Germany for 6 months and therefore don’t have the experience to know exactly what they need to learn. I could teach directions, greetings, polite phrases, shopping and basics like that. I think that is all they are expecting, but I still feel sheepish about it…
2. I’m only 22 years old and I’d be teaching people who are in managerial positions––yikes!
Nevertheless, it sounds exciting, too…and a lot of work, too…
Brigitta, my boss, said she’d give me that week off to do it. It is her husband who’d be hiring me 😀
Any advise? Suggestions? Your prayers would be much appreciated.
{ 16 comments… read them below or add one }
Don’t worry about age: if you’re qualified to do it, then you’re qualified, regardless of age. If God has equipped you with a skill, He won’t let your age inhibit your effectiveness in using that skill. Plus, 22 isn’t that young–I mean, you have a college degree, after all.
If they really don’t know any German at all, I’m sure you can teach them some basics. It doesn’t sound like they want you to teach them how to conduct business transactions and do business deals in German, and they probably just want to be able to order their own food and ask for the location of the restroom when they need to.
Anyways, that’s my spiel. I’m certain you’re qualified to do the job, it’s just a matter of whether you want to or not! But it sounds like a good opportunity.
I agree with James.
If Brigitta and her husband think you are qualified, then I would say you shouldn’t have any doubts about it. They would know.
I agree completely with the previous comments.
This seems like a great opportunity for you. I think you could do it.
If this were a multiple choice test, I’d have to choose “all of the above”. 🙂
I think you would make learning German fun for the businessmen. If you want more confirmation, you could ask Dr. Nieles (is that how you spell his name?). Since you learned German from him, he may be able to give you helpful feedback.
Ditto…..
I am sure that you will do well in teaching the men. Make it fun for them, Grandpa Tom
I agree with everyone else.
Wow! Thanks so much for the advise (and for making me laugh!)! I’m quite encouraged.
I’ve decided to do it!
When is it? I’ll be praying. 🙂
As of now, end of January, 23-27.
It turns out that the company training their employees decided to use a different route for teaching them German. However, the person who was going to hire me hopes they’ll be distatisfied and ask him to be in charge of the German teaching, in which case he’d probably hire me to help with that. If such would be the case, it might not be until April. That would give me more time to prepare, so I’m not bummed out 😀
Glad you’re not bummed
That’s interesting. Glad you aren’t bummed out.