Name: Wins, Whines, and Why It Matters: Teaching German Language and Literature in the Middle Years
Start: 2026-09-19T16:00:00+0200
End: 2026-09-19T17:00:00+0200

Working Together To Support Learning

Wins, Whines, and Why It Matters: Teaching German Language and Literature in the Middle Years

Saturday September 19, 2026 4:00pm - 5:00pm CEST

0.225

In this interactive workshop, we will facilitate an exchange among German teachers from AGIS schools to share ideas, reflect on challenges, and explore effective strategies for teaching German Language and Literature in the Middle Years. The session highlights good practice at DIS and other AGIS schools, fosters meaningful professional connections, and emphasises the importance of the Middle Years for sustained language development and student engagement.

This interactive workshop brings together German teachers from AGIS schools to reflect on the realities, challenges, and opportunities of teaching German Language and Literature in the Middle Years. Through shared experiences, practical strategies, and open discussion, participants will explore what works, which challenges persist, and why German teaching in the Middle Years is crucial for sustained language development and long-term learner engagement. The workshop also offers a valuable opportunity to showcase effective practice at DIS and to build meaningful professional connections with fellow AGIS German educators.

Workshop Structure:
1. Opening: Wins & Whines (Icebreaker)
Attenders are invited to briefly share one win and one whine from their Middle Years German classrooms in small groups. This sets a collegial tone, acknowledges common challenges, and validates shared experiences across AGIS schools.
2. Why It Matters: The Middle Years as a Turning Point
A short input highlighting the importance of the Middle Years for motivation, identity formation, and language development/proficiency. The session connects classroom practice to learner pathways in later years (DP), focusing on engagement, confidence, and continuity.
3. Strategies That Work: Teaching German Language & Literature in the Middle Years
Presentation and discussion of practical, classroom-tested strategies, including balancing language and literature; motivating reluctant learners, working with meaningful and authentic units, a variety of both literary and non-literary text types and creative tasks; supporting multilingual learners and home languages within German lessons; nurturing a love for reading etc. Examples of good practice from different contexts and units will be shared.
4. Collaborative Exchange: Sharing Good Pra

Speakers

Conny Brock

MYP/DP German & Head of Languages, Dresden International School

Conny Brock is the Head of Languages at the International School of Dresden and has been an international educator for 18 years. She has taught German, Spanish, and English across the IB in the UK, the US, and Colombia. She is a workshop leader, examiner and assessment author as well... Read More →

Teodora Atanasova

MYP/DP German & TOK teacher, Dresden International School

Teodora Atanasova is a passionate international educator who has taught in both the United States and China, bringing a global perspective to her classroom. A lover of literature, she enjoys exploring stories from different cultures and helping students discover the power of words... Read More →

Saturday September 19, 2026 4:00pm - 5:00pm CEST
0.225 Am Luftschiffhafen 1, 14471 Potsdam

One-Hour Workshop

Audience Secondary / Middle learners aged 11-16; Whole school for educators
Subject Language Learning

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AGIS Conference 2026 Potsdam

Conny Brock

Teodora Atanasova

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AGIS Conference 2026 Potsdam

Conny Brock

Teodora Atanasova

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