Post by Alisa Ivanov

I’ve been reflecting on what has been a really inspiring summer. The first opportunity I applied for was working with Humboldt-Institut e. V. . It was amazing to return to this course, especially since I was a student with Humboldt myself for more than 5 years, an experience that played a big role in helping me reach CI level in German. For three weeks, I worked in the German village, Bad Schussenried in southern Germany (between Ulm and Lake Constance) as a Betreuer (similar to a camp counselor or “older sister”) at one of Humboldt’s German courses for children aged 10–14 and 15–17. The core of Humboldt is full immersion in a fun way, so that students not only learn German, but also experience the German culture. It has also been fantastic for me to be able to speak in German in order to help the children improve their skills as well as between all my colleagues in meetings and when organising activities. My role involved leading afternoon activities after the students’ morning lessons, giving them opportunities to practice their German in fun and natural ways. This included everything from baking traditional dishes, to bike rides, sports, and small trips into the village where they could engage with locals in shops and cafés. A highlight was always the weekend “Ausflug”, where alongside colleagues we guided a group on different coaches, on excursions to different German cities. We visited castle tours and museums in the morning and then explored the city on foot in the afternoon. In addition to running activities, the role also included helping with airport and train station transfers, and supporting students during the evenings if they ever felt homesick or unwell. What made this experience so special was not only that I spoke German every day, but also the chance to work closely with children. What I’ll take with me most is the inspiration from the children themselves, their curiosity, openness, and joy in trying new things which gave me so much energy. I was also lucky to work alongside colleagues from across Europe; Greece, Spain, Italy, to name a few, and this showed me just how powerful teamwork and cultural exchange can be. Leaving was emotional (especially after receiving the sweetest gifts and cards which the kids made), but the memories, friendships, and lessons from this summer will stay with me for a long time, as they have been key in shaping my ever evolving outlook on life. I am so happy I was able to work here and I look forward to coming back in the future.