I started my career after getting my university degree as a German teacher in Budapest. I thought I could work applying my new skills as I learned how to teach, therefore, I know how to do it.
Nothing could have been further from the truth.
It’s like getting your driving license. Do you have the permission to drive a car? Yes. Can you drive a car? Not really. You have the basic skills but with a learning-by-doing approach (you drive a lot, thousands of kilometres), you can become a good driver after a while.
At the beginning of my career as a German teacher, I worked in different language schools for two years in Budapest. After that, in 2001, I went to North Germany, and later I became part of an integration project in Hamburg. My colleagues and I have provided German lessons to people from different countries to get them integrated. It was one of the most beautiful experiences in my entire life. I had the opportunity to get to know beautiful people from over thirty countries, together with their culture, mentality, and food!
Aside from this, I used to work in the same centre as a German school teacher for native Germans to help them get their secondary school certificate. It was sometimes tough – most of my students in this second project had gone through a rough patch, such as drug addiction, teenage pregnancy or even spending time in a correctional facility, but I met great people, it was very rewarding, and I could make useful experiences.
I also taught at the Academy of Arts in Hamburg for two semesters with a bunch of interesting students from all over the world. It was a fun time for me – and for the students.
In 2012, my wife and me moved to Cracow, Poland – we have lived here ever since. I restarted my career as an English and German speaking communication trainer in a large international company for two years, I later worked in language schools, and in 2014, I started my own language school. We are in our twentieth semester right now.
While working in language schools and in my own school, plus delivering company courses in several large corporations since 2012, I have taught over 150 groups. More than thirty private students can be added to this list.
Altogether, I believe I’ve had in my activity as a German teacher and communication trainer for the last two and a half decades more than 2,000 participants, which means more than 2,000 different personalities, personal histories, individual needs, and goals.