Fresh Ideas from Potsdam: Benno Gerks Enriches GISA

This week once again showed just how valuable the exchange between schools and universities can be at the German International School Accra.

Our intern Benno Gerks, who studies History and Sports at the University of Potsdam, taught his own lesson in Grade 9 on Friday on the topic of the “Christmas Truce of 1914”. Together with the students, he explored an extraordinary episode of the First World War: in the midst of the conflict, soldiers along parts of the front temporarily laid down their weapons and met one another, showing that even under the conditions of war, moments of humanity were still possible.

Benno impressed with his careful preparation, clear teacher language, calm presence and approachable manner with the students. Equally valuable to our school is his strong willingness to take on responsibility. He readily supports the school with substitute teaching as well, stepping in wherever help is needed and providing valuable support to our teaching staff.

This is precisely where one of the great benefits of such internships lies. University students bring current academic and didactic ideas from their institutions, new perspectives on teaching and, often, the courage to try out new approaches. For our students, this means additional learning opportunities, new role models and varied ways of engaging with subject content. At the same time, our teaching staff benefit from professional exchange and opportunities to reflect together on effective teaching and learning.

For the university students themselves, an internship at a German School Abroad offers a very special learning experience. They encounter education in an international and multilingual environment, assume responsibility, gain intensive practical experience and discover what teaching means when different linguistic and cultural backgrounds are a natural part of everyday school life. In this way, theory and practice come together directly.

We are therefore particularly pleased about our connection with the University of Potsdam. This cooperation fits perfectly with our guiding principle of “Building Bridges”: between Germany and Ghana, between schools and universities, and between academic teacher education and everyday classroom practice.

At the same time, GISA benefits greatly from welcoming students from different German universities to Accra. They bring fresh ideas, new perspectives and experiences from a variety of academic institutions into our school community.

And Benno is by no means alone. Our other university students and interns also provide tremendous support to teaching and educational life at GISA. They accompany and support our children and young people, take on responsibilities, contribute their own ideas and provide valuable assistance to our teachers and educational staff.

For all of this, we would like to say a heartfelt thank you.

For us, these encounters are much more than traditional school internships. They are a genuine benefit for both sides – for young people on their path towards the teaching profession as well as for our students, our staff and the entire school community.

And sometimes, a few weeks of working and learning together can mark the beginning of a connection that reaches far beyond the internship itself.