I am a recently graduated student of the University of Exeter who has chosen to leave the comfortable living of South England to explore continental Europe, namely Germany. Upon achieving a place with the British Council as an English Language Assistant, I will be leaving my homeland of 21 years to discover more about both teaching and Germany itself.
First on the teaching front, I have already gained some experience in the field through volunteering in local primary schools as well as spending a month in Munich last summer teaching young children English in summer camps. My father has been a big influence in this respect as I have seen from his 15 or so years in the profession that he has loved his job; the people he works with; and above all the rewarding nature of both education and educating. This job will offer me the opportunity to gain more experience in a formal role as well as opening my eyes to techniques around bilingual teaching.
Germany has always been high on my list of places to go. Learning the language since GCSE and now completing an A-Level equivalent course at university has given me a good base in German which I want to use in the country of its origin. One of my many regrets, as I'm sure it is with other people, is that I have failed to master any language other than English despite 21 years of opportunity. With bi/trilingual friends all around me at university I felt it was time to put some real effort into learning a foreign language that I could use.
I will be moving to the small city of Rostock on the northern coast of Germany, a city of former Eastern Germany and thus under prior governance of the DDR. First impressions of the place are largely positive. A university lecturer of mine (herself from Germany) described it as the 'Exeter of Germany' giving me comfort in the thought that it might almost be a home from home for me. Further research into the area has brought this view into question. Unemployment rates in the area, although falling, remain well over 10%. Looking through the Rostock related posts on the popular Toytown website there appeared to be a disproportionate number of feeds relating to the neo-nazi and xenophobic behaviour of groups of individuals in Rostock, whether it be the use of racist slurs in the street or actual physical abuse. Needless to say this concerned me somewhat. However reading on I found myself comforted by both my own rational thinking as well as the comments of other Toytown users. No doubt the most exciting stories are those which cause controversy and spread alarm, and these posts were of such a kind. People will talk more about the racial attacks on individuals than they will about the pleasant tourist spots or best restaurants. It's disappointing that these feeds have gained so much on Rostock's page as I'd hate for it to dissuade people from visiting there as it almost did me.
Reading into the real side of Rostock I have discovered plenty about its fantastic university and significant student body - which I hope to get involved with - its links to Scandinavia, beautiful old town and surrounding area. I aim to discover as much as I can about Rostock and nearby whilst I am there.
