Living the Language – Thank You for Joining Us!
What an inspiring week!
Our Living the Language events took place on 9 June in Liverpool, 10 June in Birmingham, and 11 June in Nottingham, bringing together passionate German teachers from across England. A huge thank you to everyone who attended. Your enthusiasm, curiosity, and commitment to German education made these events truly special. It was wonderful to see so many teachers exchanging ideas, sharing experiences, and proving once again that the German teaching community is very much alive.
As promised, we’ll be sharing the presentations and key takeaways from each talk over the coming weeks. Let’s start with our first session, focusing on one of the most important topics of all:
How Can We Better Support German Teachers?
Let’s be honest: teachers are superheroes. Dear superheroes, find our presentations on the padlet.
Every day, you plan engaging lessons, adapt materials for different learners, provide pastoral care, mark endless piles of work, manage behaviour, communicate with parents, organise trips, and somehow still inspire young people to love learning. Being a teacher is about so much more than teaching.So the question becomes: Who supports you?For teachers of German, this question can feel particularly relevant. Many are the only German teacher in their school—or even in their area. Sometimes it can feel as though you’re teaching in isolation.
But you’re not.
One of the strongest messages from the Living the Language events was simple: Let’s build networks.
Connect with other teachers. Share ideas, resources, and experiences. Together we are stronger, and together we can keep German thriving.
The Goethe-Institut: A Strong Partner for German Teachers
Our first speaker, Emma Whittle from the Goethe-Institut London, gave an inspiring overview of the many opportunities available to support both current and future teachers of German. Many teachers already know the Goethe-Institut for its teaching resources, but its support goes much further.
Professional Development
The Goethe-Institut offers a wide range of opportunities, including:
- professional development and upskilling courses
- scholarships and funded opportunities
- German Teachers’ Days across the UK
- support for PGCE students interested in teaching German
- webinars and teaching resources
- networking events with fellow German teachers
Whether you’re just beginning your teaching journey or have years of experience, there are opportunities to develop your skills and become part of a supportive national community.
The New National A-Level German Project
One of the most exciting initiatives presented was the National A-Level German Project.
The aim is simple but ambitious:
Every student who wants to study German at A-Level should have the opportunity to do so—regardless of whether their own school can offer the course.
Originally, the project planned to run just one national class. The response has been incredible. Already 16 schools have signed up, resulting in three national classes instead of one. Lessons take place on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, or Thursdays, allowing students from different schools to learn together online while remaining enrolled at their own school. The programme is a partnership between the Goethe-Institut and Languages for All.
Funding is shared too:
- 60% of the costs are covered by the Goethe-Institut and Languages for All.
- 40% is contributed by participating schools.
It is a fantastic example of collaboration helping to secure the future of German qualifications in England.
German Teachers’ Days
Another highlight is the series of German Teachers’ Days, offering practical workshops, networking opportunities, new teaching materials, and the chance to meet colleagues from across the country.
One upcoming event will take place on 12 October at The Queen’s College, Oxford.
Teachers can also attend professional development days at the Goethe-Institut in London, where they will discover classroom-ready resources and practical teaching ideas. Even more exciting, many participants have the opportunity to apply for scholarships to visit Germany.
Language Has to Be Lived
One message resonated throughout the conference:
Language should never stay inside the classroom.
Grammar matters—but language is about people, culture, and real experiences. Take your students beyond textbooks. Visit museums, cafés, cinemas, markets, cities, or simply encourage conversations with native speakers. Show learners that German is a living language. Travelling, cultural exchanges, and even activities such as Linguistic Landscaping help students see languages in the real world and make learning far more meaningful.
Looking Ahead
The registration period for this year’s National A-Level German Project has now closed, but don’t worry—new application rounds are expected.
If you’re interested, keep an eye on future announcements and speak to your headteacher. Projects like these not only benefit students but also demonstrate a school’s commitment to providing ambitious language opportunities.
More German Teachers’ Days, webinars, and networking events are also being planned, so stay tuned. Together, we’re building a stronger future for German in the UK—one teacher, one school, and one network at a time. You could also apply to become a GEM – German expert mentor, your time engaging and supporting with the language will be paid and counted as working hours, of course! Check it out.
We look forward to sharing more highlights from the Living the Language conference series very soon!