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Ortrun

German Teacher

How long have you been teaching for and how long for Cactus?

I have been teaching since 1984 and have been a German teacher in Leeds for Cactus since 2015. I teach German at the Cactus centre in Leeds.

How long have you been living in the UK?

I’ve been living in Leeds for several decades.

What was your best teaching experience?

Teaching languages has been and still is very rewarding for me and absolute fun. It is fantastic to watch how students’ linguistic skills improve; how they interact with each other in different social settings in the foreign tongue! Now, THAT is “an apple for the teacher”! ????

What is your degree and teaching experience?

I graduated from Leeds University with a Bachelor of Arts in Russian Studies, a Postgraduate Certificate of Education and a Masters of Arts in Anglo/German Literary Relations. After graduating I taught German at Leeds Metropolitan University, in industry and in schools.

Have you ever worked in another field?

Some years ago, I worked as a translatorforeign correspondent and bookkeeper.

How many languages do you speak?

I speak German and English fluently, have a BA in Russian and GCSE O Level in FrenchLatin and Bulgarian.

Do you have any specific language learning tips?

Learning a foreign language is great fun. There are different methods of improving your four
linguistic skills. Once you have started learning a foreign language, you will soon find out which method works best for you. But…whatever method you choose, relate what you are learning to your own mother tongue. Don’t only try memorizing speech acts by heart, try working out the structures.Your teacher will be delighted to help you! ????

Bis bald im Deutschkurs bei Cactus. Auf Wiedersehen!

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Frequently asked questions

What will I learn?

Our Course Outlines give an overview of the content and learning framework of Cactus courses. Includes themes, grammar and vocabulary you can typically expect to cover. These are intended as a guide only. Language teachers may at times adapt the course content to suit the specific level, aims and interests of the class.

How do I know what level I am?

Are you unsure where to start or progress to? Then take our level test and read our level descriptions for guidance.

Do I receive a qualification or certificate?

At the end of your course you receive a certificate of participation. You will be able to be download it from your MyCactus account. This confirms the language and level of course you have taken. Our course levels are based on two internationally recognised systems. You will have a universally accepted reference for your studies. (Important: Please note that you must complete the end of course questionnaire sent to you to be able to get your certificate! You will receive the course questionnaire by e-mail at the end of your course.)

Do I need a course book?

You will need a course book to attend your course. Course books are not included in the course fees. We recommend that you buy your own course book separately before your course starts. We will let you know which course book you will require and advise where you can purchase this. Please note that a course book often covers more than one level. So if you progress to the next course, you may not necessarily need to buy a new book. Again, we will advise you of this at the time. The course book is chosen by our teachers and academic team. This is based on which book is most suitable for the level of the class whilst offering the most communicative approach.

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