MY JOURNEY
Two homes, across the distance in between…
Constance, the first home I have known, lies at the edge of Germany, between land and water. It sits on Lake Constance, whose shores are inhabited today by three nations. Yet when you sit at the shore, there is no border to be seen across the water. Constance is now a historic university city and a sought-after holiday destination. Its medieval city center remains almost completely untouched by Allied bombing during the Second World War, and you can still walk among buildings that have stood for hundreds of years.
Then there is the city I made my home. Warsaw is a city that is quite old, but at the same time modern. It is divided by the Vistula river, whose two banks seem to belong to different worlds. It is a city that was torn down and then rebuilt. Nevertheless, Warsaw carries a strong memory. Recent history has left a mark that remains perceptible in contemporary Poland: the devastation of the Second World War and the imposition of the communist regime by the USSR. These experiences contributed to isolating Poland from the wider world, and its opening outward is still an ongoing process.
These histories did not remain within Poland’s borders. Over the decades, many Polish people left the country, making homes elsewhere, particularly in Western Europe and countries such as Germany and the United Kingdom. Emigration encompasses stories that often extend across generations, creating lives shaped by more than one place, one language, and one sense of home. I am part of one such story, and my journey as a German teacher began at this intersection.
My family is originally from Poland, but I was born in Constance, in the southernmost part of Germany. I grew up bilingually, speaking Polish at home and German in my everyday life. While helping my parents learn German, I came to realize how valuable it can be to learn a language with someone who has native-level knowledge of both languages.
A few years ago, I made the journey of my parents backwards, perhaps what you could call my own pilgrimage. From Germany to Poland, from the shores of Lake Constance to the banks of the Vistula River… This journey eventually led me to teaching German.
TEACHING & STYLE
In Warsaw, as I began interacting with German learners, I became increasingly aware of how my own background could help me as a teacher. I started giving German lessons to Polish students, drawing on both my experience of growing up with two languages and my own experiences as a language learner.
Interacting with my students, I noticed that they are all on their own journeys. I believe an important part of journeying is how your path crosses with other people, and how sometimes you help each other take a few steps along the way. Now I want to do my best to help others on their journeys as a teacher.
Foreign languages have always played an important role in my life, alongside my fascination with journeys and culture. I have enjoyed learning languages for many years. English was the first foreign language I seriously immersed myself in, and it has since become a language I speak fluently.
I have also been studying Japanese for a long time, which has given me the opportunity to learn more about Japanese culture and ways of thinking. More recently, I have begun exploring Russian and French as well. What fascinates me most is discovering different worldviews and understanding how language can shape the way we see and experience life.
Over time, the group of students I work with has grown to include people from many different countries. English gradually became an additional language of instruction, particularly when working with beginners. Especially with Japanese and Russian-speaking students, I can also draw on my knowledge of their languages and cultural backgrounds to create connections and make the learning experience more accessible.
Next to languages, my life revolves around art. I study painting at the Academy of Fine Arts in Warsaw. I love painting and drawing. Creativity plays an important role in my work as a German tutor.
I like developing my own ideas for lessons, and I am quite selective when it comes to choosing learning materials. I prefer to go beyond the boundaries of traditional textbook learning. It is very important to me to approach every single student individually and to respond to their actual needs.
I feel very comfortable in the teacher’s role. In addition to German, I also teach drawing and painting. I think it is the connection in the teacher-student relationship that really fosters a deeper understanding of the language and supports the student’s learning.