Stopfordian 2010–2011 - Stockport Grammar School

The Stopfordian 2010–2011
GERMAN ASSISTANT
“Aarrright?”, “May I have a ticket to Stockport please?”, “One
pound ninety … Ta, luv.”
(“Wie bitte?!”)
My first inter-cultural experience in the North West - I had
definitely arrived. However, aside from the initial challenges
of figuring out a completely different compendium of modes
of travel, certain linguistic peculiarities were refreshingly new
and added a lot of humour to a language I thought I knew
quite well until now...
I was having some doubts about whether I would get used to
this change in culture, climate and linguistic surrounding, but
then I arrived inside the gates of the school; I was soon led to
the Languages department and to a warm welcome by the
staff members and I soon felt like I was part of the team. It
has been extraordinary to see how everyone interacted with
each other, dealing with challenges in and around lessons,
school trips and especially during exam time. One
memorable experience was the German Speaking
Competition where many young pupils participated,
displaying their talent and enthusiasm – I can only encourage
you to keep it up!
I thoroughly enjoyed teaching all my classes, and particularly
the Lower Sixth who put up with my strange Austrian dialect
and didactic ways. You were patient, ambitious and creative
and some of you absorbed new information like a sponge.
There was such a healthy inquisitive nature in students. This
was both challenging and encouraging for me and finding new
ways of conveying something was one of my favourite parts of
the lesson. It was rewarding to see pupils’ progress in
challenging aspects of the German language. I encountered
new ways of teaching, both inside and outside the classroom
and I was also very fortunate to have briefly been a part of the
school choir and their Salzburg music tour and the rockclimbing
club – I will never forget how amazing that was.
A special mention goes to my fellow assistants as well as the
close-knit Languages department. My year in Stockport just
would not have been the same without you!
Andreas Sellas
FRENCH ASSISTANT
All the positive impressions I had before arriving at Stockport
Grammar School in October 2011 were confirmed over the
eight months I have spent here. There is no doubt that every
student and every member of the staff should be proud to
attend or work in such place, for they all contribute to its
quality. As for me, I am grateful to have had the opportunity
to work in this school.
Settling in was never a difficult task and that was mainly
thanks to the staff of the Language Department. There I met
hard-working and passionate teachers who are close to their
students and care about their success. I really enjoyed the
working environment at SGS. I was helped and guided but
given enough freedom at the same time and I felt that my
work was valued. What is more, the good atmosphere in the
staffroom added to the quality of my time in the school. I was
given a first taste of what might become my future job and I
acquired a very valuable experience.
Unfortunately, or fortunately some would say, I acquired no
experience in dealing with troublesome students. It was a
delight to work with the pupils at SGS and I only wish I had
seen some of them more often. I am glad that they all
progressed significantly in French and some of them are now
on the way to fluency. I met not only clever and polite students
but also likeable young men and women with whom I shared
interesting conversations and countless times of laughter.
I would have liked to tell them more about France but I
suppose the best way to really discover a foreign country is to
spend some time there. That is why, regardless of whether
they study French at university, I recommend them to spend a
year in France, or any other foreign country; it is an
experience that will shape their life. In the end they may even
get used to its different way of life and appreciate its culture
as I did with England, where I must say I had a very good time,
despite my early doubts.
I would like to mention my appreciation for fellow assistants
Andreas and Alberto who have become my friends over the
116 People