Never in my life have I seen a university like the grandeur of the buildings at the University of Potsdam!
Set on the grounds of Frederick the Great’s palace, the baroque buildings of the New Palace rise out of a field facing off across a wide boulevard. Most of the university actually lies behind this imposing facade, but what a first impression!
After our meeting, we walked through the gardens to the New Palace of Sanssouci. , a UNESCO World Heritage Site. After several days of extreme heat, the beauty of the day added to the already lovely surroundings. The wide tree-covered boulevard had several pathways leading off to fountains, smaller residences, and even a windmill.
Walking around the old and new palaces I was struck by just how many sculptures on top of every building. On similarly sized and manner of buildings in the US you may have one to three such figurative sculptures adorning the roof. Here they are every ten feet along the parapets and balconies. Not sure if this was originally an intimidation method, or just the style of the day, but either way, its very impressive!
Refugee Teachers Program
However we came to Potsdam for more than just to stare in admiration at the scenery. The University of Potsdam is home to the only refugee teacher programs in Germany. The country has seen an influx of many refugees over the past number of years including from Syria in 2016. The program director realized that there must be trained teachers in the numbers of people crossing into Germany, and that they might like to continue teaching. Despite whatever education or experience these teachers have, it is not an easy pathway to becoming a German teacher.
One of the main roadblocks is the fact that all German secondary teachers must have two subjects, instead of one like in the US. Because of this, any international educator wishing to get a German teaching certificate must do a series of classes about pedagogy AND a second whole subject. They must also participate in nearly a year and half internship before they are fully in control for their own classroom again. International teachers must also have a C1 or C2 command of the German language, the equivalency of a native speaker The whole process can take up to two to three years…which is almost impossible to do when new to a country and needing to work to supply for yourself or a family.
We asked if provisions are being made to shorten this process due to an extreme shortage of teachers in the country. SInce so much of the teacher licensing and education process is determined by the government this is not really possible.
The program directors ask themselves "How can we figure out specific professionalism needs of the refugee teachers and how to do so without stigmatizing them?"
While very well intentioned, I fear this program will not grow the way its founders are hopping it does. And what a shame, because to gain back a profession tied to your identity even in a new country
While fascinating to hear about the program and understand more about what it takes to be a teacher in Germany, I do wish we could have gotten some first hand stories or accounts of what it is like to be in the program, or how an alumni’s first year back in a classroom went.
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