“To Learn a Language is to have one more window from which to look at the world”
(Chinese Proverb)
Why learn a foreign language?
First and foremost – it is fun to learn another language. Getting to know a new language and culture can sharpen your mind, expand your perspective and bring opportunities. Learning a new language is not just about grammar and vocabulary but new sounds and different ways of seeing things. It can teach you how to function in a different environment and culture. Research confirms that learning a new language improves verbal skills and analytic skills, and expands interpretative capacities. It helps with college entrance exam scores and certainly catches the eye of anyone reading a job or college application. Learn a foreign language for fun and success.
Teaching Method:
Generally speaking my teaching style falls under the category of the Communicative Approach. This approach puts emphasis on teaching strategies that gradually guide students to acquire language competence in order to function actively in a variety of situations. Such language acquisition is always context based and applies to both the spoken and written language. The main goal is to enable the language learner to have meaningful communication and express thoughts and opinions in the new language in a comprehensive way. From the first day students hear and speak German. Not only does this accelerate learning but it also contributes to a high degree of comfort with new sounds from the beginning. It also helps students to see an immediate value in what they are studying. Errors are not corrected directly but rather by providing repetitive comprehensible input. As students advance, reading and writing are introduced. Grammar is introduced gradually and primarily by guiding students to learn how to deduct certain patterns rather than learning from a grammar book. The language of instruction is essentially German. The student’s native language is used whenever further clarification is necessary. I like to think that my classes take place in a low-anxiety environment with ample room for fun and flexibility. From the beginning, I like to involve students in activities such as total physical response (the use of gestures and body language cues), role-plays, and games. I incorporate various teaching resources (audio, visual including pictures, props, videos) and I like to enrich my students learning experience with authentic material such as documentaries, movies, and more.
About me:
Teaching foreign languages (German, Italian, English) is my passion and my calling. After my professional training both in Europe and the US, I had the pleasure to work in all kinds of settings of professional language instruction (high school, college, language schools both in the US and Europe).
I was born and raised in South Tyrol, a German-speaking region in Northern Italy. I am a native speaker of both German and Italian. English is my third language and I started studying it on my own when I was in my twenties. I can relate to the challenges and insecurities that can come when learning a new language. I love helping learners overcome them in a relaxed environment and make them feel comfortable with this exciting journey. I have always been very inquisitive and I have a love for learning new things. I am very versed in German dialects and have a unique understanding of German speaking regions.
Besides teaching German as a foreign language, my interests are rescuing dogs through The Nest, gardening, herbalism, hiking, camping, swimming, reading, cinema, and much more. I enjoy sharing my experience of learning a new language. I take pride in what I do and like to be challenged. People who know me describe me as outgoing, down to earth, open minded, patient, creative, passionate, inquisitive, determined, empathetic, fun-loving and hard-working.
My path to Deutsch mit Sabine:
From an early age on I wanted to become a teacher and I pursued the teacher certification for elementary school in Italy. Having grown up in a bilingual region and having studied Latin for 4 years, I became increasingly curious about languages. When I had the opportunity to take a French course, I did not last very long. The teacher was not very patient and classes consisted of grammar lessons.
After graduating from high school my interest shifted towards literature and linguistics. I decided to attend the University of Vienna and study towards my master degree in German and Italian literature and language. During this time my adventure as a teacher of German and Italian as a foreign language began. I worked in various language schools with students of all ages and from all over the world. I truly enjoyed this experience and it became clear to me that this was going to be my career.
When I had the opportunity to visit the United States for several weeks, I was looking forward to the opportunity of becoming acquainted with a language and culture that was entirely new to me. I immediately felt comfortable in Bloomington, IN, and decided to attend Indiana University. This allowed me to continue my passion for teaching language. During the summer months I was able to return to my teaching jobs in Vienna, which I truly enjoyed. I further pursued a minor in education with focus on language teaching. At the same time, I worked towards the teacher certification with the intention to begin my career as German teacher at the Junior and Senior high school level. At around the same time I met my husband and so I decided to leave my teaching job in Cincinnati. At the time, there was no job opportunity in Bloomington and so I gave private lessons and worked as a substitute teacher. I was in my element. When my husband’s business grew and required my help, I had to give up substitute teaching but continued with some private lessons both in German and Italian. Thankfully over the past years I have been able to dedicate more time to my true passion of teaching German as a foreign language. Word spread and “Deutsch mit Sabine” was born.
Education:
Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana
M.A. in Germanic Studies, Italian Minor
M.A. Italian Studies, Education Minor
Teacher Certification (Indiana/Ohio), Grades 6-12
University of Vienna, Austria
Magister in German and Italian Philology
Teacher Training Institution (high school/college), Grades K-6, Brixen, Italy
Professional Experience:
Deutsch mit Sabine (German), based in Bloomington, IN
Private Lessons (German/Italian), Bloomington, IN, Vienna, Austria
Translations (German/Italian), Bloomington, IN, Vienna, Austria
Tutoring (German/Italian all levels), IU Bloomington
Substitute Teaching (grades K – 12), Bloomington/Ellettsville, IN, South Tyrol, Italy
Junior/Senior High School, Cincinnati, OH (German)
Associate Instructor/Language Coordinator, Indiana University (German/ Italian)
Language Schools, Vienna, Austria (German/Italian, all levels)