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MY GERMAN CAREER

JOBS

‘Language doesn’t matter – kids are all the same’

In the first instalment of our new series My German Career, The Local sat down with Potsdam kindergarten teacher Chelsey Funk for a chat about tending Teutonic toddlers.

Published: 10 January 2013 16:05 CET
'Language doesn't matter - kids are all the same'
Photo: Chelsey Funk

After moving to Hannover in 2006 to work as an au pair, the 25-year-old Kansas native Funk decided to stay in Germany. With the country rapidly expanding day-care facilities, she recently parlayed her experience with kids into a job at a Kita, or creche.

What brought you to Germany?

I’d been working with kids since I was a teenager and at 19 I thought living with a family abroad would be an easy experience and give me the opportunity for a great time. It was great but also opened my mind to the world of children.

Nearly seven years later and you’re still here – what do you do now?

In September I got a job as an English-language kindergarten teacher for three to six-year-olds in the Fröbel Kita at the Babelsberg film park in Potsdam (Which is one of Germany’s largest movie production studios – Eds.) I start work at nine and tend to finish around half four but I do have over an hour’s commute from where I live in Berlin in a flat I share with friends.

Sounds like a glamorous Kita, do you look after film stars’ children?

Not that I know of! It’s mostly people from the town of Potsdam and people who work at the studios, which could be a few actors but as far as I know Till Schweiger doesn’t have kids in my class or anything.

How did you manage to get the job? Was speaking German a prerequisite?

A teacher friend raved about how good the company was so I applied for a job. I don’t have a college degree which has made it difficult to get a job sometimes, but I have years of experience of working with kids – I’ve done 30 English language camps with the Berlitz language school since 2008.

And what about the German?

My German is okay but it is hard to get my point across sometimes. Speaking some German does make things easier, for instance in previous jobs I’ve had the teachers didn’t speak English so communicating would have been hard without it. Luckily my interview was in English but because the boss only speaks German we had a translator there just in case.

You teach little ones English, that can’t be easy. What’s an average day at work?

We start with morning circle for about 20 minutes, which is where the kids get together in groups. Then I give 10 minute lessons to different age groups through the day, normally about colours or animals or something. The three-year-olds repeat what I say in a cute German accent and the older ones understand what I’m saying most of the time but don’t always talk back. We also have a nap time when we listen to Brothers Grimm stories – sometimes I nod off too!

Is nap time the best part of the job then?

The best part is getting to be with kids and shaping their futures with English. It’s important to start learning a language from a young age and their minds are like sponges so they pick it up immediately. It would benefit American kids to start languages earlier, when they’re spongier. Also I get to play with toys all day, I never say no when the kids ask me to help with whatever they’re making.

What do you find the hardest about your job?

When the kids don’t listen and go crazy. Its hard to try to calm them down when they don’t speak English. Distraction works though, getting them to sing together seems to work and Jingle Bells worked really well at Christmas time.

Have you noticed any major differences between German and American children yet?

German kids swear a lot more and I’ve noticed that they just run around in their tights without jeans, in the US this would be a big no no. But generally, no matter what language they speak and where they live, kids seem to be the same.

Do you plan to work with youngsters for the foreseeable future?

Well I have the choice to renew my contract in September and although it’s too early to say I really hope it works out and I can carry on. I do need a new visa though, which I’m not looking forward to organizing.

Want your German career featured on The Local? Contact us at: [email protected]

Jessica Ware

[email protected]

twitter.com/jesscware

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STUDYING IN GERMANY

What’s it like to study abroad in Berlin?

Picking the right city to study abroad in Germany can be a tricky decision, and there are numerous factors to consider. Freya Jones shares her experience of doing a year abroad in the capital and explains why Berlin could also be the right choice for you.

Published: 21 February 2024 16:15 CET
What's it like to study abroad in Berlin?

Five months after moving to Berlin for my year abroad (a compulsory part of my German degree from the UK) the German capital is certainly a destination I’d recommend. 

Although it’s less “traditionally German” than many other corners of the country, and simultaneously more comparable to the blanket big city experience worldwide, Berlin’s unique history and culture make it a great place to explore – and unsurprisingly very popular with international students. 

Like all capitals, it has its pros and cons, so here’s what stood out to me during my experience so far.

Arrival

You’ve probably heard horror stories about the Berlin housing market, and from experience I can say they’re largely true. Finding an apartment here before moving to the city is notoriously difficult, and more expensive than in other parts of Germany. 

What you should bear in mind, however, is that unlike other German cities, Berlin doesn’t impose fines if you’re unable to secure a registration appointment within two weeks of arrival (three months if you already have a visa). This makes searching for a good WG, Studentenwerk, or other rental far easier post-arrival if your first stop is a homestay or somewhere else temporary. 

Blocks of rental flats in Berlin.

Blocks of rental flats in Berlin. Photo: picture alliance/dpa | Monika Skolimowska

Despite a recent wave of strikes and construction work, transport links in Berlin are still very strong. If you’re enrolled as a student during your year abroad, you’ll be entitled to a discounted pass for city transport, including a number of tram, bus and train options that run all the way to the city’s outskirts and even into Brandenburg (Zone C).

What’s more, direct trains from Berlin’s BER Airport make it more accessible than more remote locations in Germany when you arrive equipped with a year’s worth of luggage.

English

My German tutors in the UK were slightly concerned when I chose Berlin, because they didn’t think I’d have much opportunity to practise my German. Looking back, this worry wasn’t without cause, and if your primary goal is German language improvement, it may be worth considering somewhere more rural or less international. 

Unlike small towns I’ve visited elsewhere in Germany, where many people speak little to no English, it’s everywhere in Berlin. Because the international population is so large, new friends from any country are likely to speak it by default.

However, this can obviously be mitigated by signing up for German-only university classes, as I’ve done as an exchange student at Humboldt University, or finding a German language job. And on the flip side, if you’re here to study a discipline other than German, the ubiquity of English in Berlin has you covered.

READ ALSO: The top German cities for international students in 2024

Cultural Experiences

Unsurprisingly, Berlin offers no end of unique cultural experiences. For new arrivals, there’s plenty to fill your time with, and I’d really recommend “playing the tourist” for a couple of weeks while you settle in. 

Bucket-list locations include the National Gallery and museums on Museuminsel, the Berlin Wall memorial, the Brandenburg Gate, and the site of the Berlin airlift at Tempelhof. And beyond this, there’s never a shortage of things to do – walks around Tiergarten and the customary Sunday flea markets (Flohmarkt am Mauerpark being the most famous) are popular with visitors and locals alike.

A skateboarder performs tricks on Tempelhofer Feld

A skateboarder performs tricks on a former runway at Berlin’s Tempelhofer Feld, a popular meeting place in Berlin-Neukölln. Photo: picture alliance/dpa | Christoph Soeder

Something I’ve also really enjoyed after being here for a while is noticing the small details which differentiate the former East and West Berlin sectors, such as different traffic lights and types of transport. While much of the architecture is admittedly stark, grey and not as pretty as other parts of Germany, the way in which present-day Berlin is a visible product of its recent history makes it a fascinating place to live.

READ ALSO: How do I get a student visa for Germany and what does it let me do?

Pros & Cons

Any culture shock inevitably comes with both positives and negatives, and these are a few which particularly struck me after moving to Berlin from the UK. 

Cons: many shops refuse to take card payment and only accept cash; all shops and supermarkets close on Sundays; there’s no guarantee of being let into a club or bar on a night out, and the traffic lights genuinely seem to conspire against drivers and pedestrians alike. (Also, the weather in winter really will destroy your soul, and this is a Brit talking…)

Pros: the quality of food is much better here than in the UK, and cheaper; the cost of alcohol is much lower; public transport is cheaper and more efficient than in London; work-life balance and mental wellbeing are taken very seriously; and finally, there’s a far less visible “class system” than in the UK, possibly due to the greater access and affordability of German universities.  (This is really nice, especially if you’re coming from a UK university where socio-economic prejudice is very common.)

READ ALSO: How to stay in Germany after graduating from a German university

Overall, Berlin has been a vibrant place to spend my exchange semester. Not only has it given me insights into the most significant shifts in recent German history, but it also offers the archetypal experience of living in a bustling, multicultural city. So while it’s distinctly different to anywhere else in Germany you might be considering, the variety of things to see and do in Berlin will keep you engaged for your full year abroad.

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