Born and raised in Germany, I was bitten by the “travel bug” at an early age. After graduating from High School in a small town near Hannover I went to the US to work as an Au Pair for a year. Among many things I learned this: Being away from your home country definitely makes you appreciate all the things you take for granted. I had not realized how much I liked German language and culture. Therefore, upon my return, I decided to study German and English at the University of Cologne. I remember my eight years in Cologne as one of the best times in my life. While enrolled at Cologne University I was fortunate enough to receive a scholarship for the University of Melbourne that enabled me to live and study in Australia for a year. I had time to travel to Australia as well as New Zealand.

I graduated shortly thereafter, in 1998, with a teaching degree in German and English. I worked at a language school in Cologne before moving to Portland in 1999. Immediately, I found work at a high school in Salem where I taught German for a year. At the same time I was teaching evening classes at PCC. My teaching experience expanded when I started the German Middle school program at the French American International School where I am still teaching today. The same year, 2000, I started at the Saturday School. My goal is to provide a fun and stimulating learning environment, further developing my students’ communication skills.

Traveling, especially to non-English speaking countries like China, Japan, Russia, and Turkey, taught me how much people appreciate it when you speak their language even if it is just a few words. I guess that’s why I teach German. Helping people to communicate and bridging the gap to another culture is a very rewarding experience.

I am excited to share my German culture and language with people who are equally excited to learn it.