A global mindset 

Modern Languages with Ulrike Sievers (D)

Language lessons have to go beyond teaching bare language skills. They provide opportunities for young people to learn about the world and the other, as well as about themselves. 

Our language lessons should become safe spaces in which children and teenagers can explore language in creative ways. Pupils should learn with and about various media and feel invited to express their thoughts, communicate with each other and discover their own individual voices in the course of time.

When setting up the first Waldorf school Rudolf Steiner introduced two modern languages already in first grade. His aim was for young people to develop an interest in other cultures, as well as tolerance of ambiguity and flexibility in thinking.

In three workshops Ulrike will invite you to:

•  learn about basic concepts of language teaching and learning, 
• engage in creative language activities that can be used in the classroom, 
• discover examples of different material and activities for classes 7 to 12/13 

Ulrike Sievers has been teaching English as a second language at Waldorf schools for 25 years, but her personal interest in language – in oral as well as written forms – started already in her childhood.

Besides still being a passionate high school teacher in a Waldorf school in Hamburg, Germany, Ulrike has engaged in training teachers in Germany as well as in other parts of the world. In 2016 she started the online platform elewa – www.e-learningwaldorf.de –  with online courses for the professional development of (Waldorf) teachers.