Frau Turske
Frau Turske, a German teacher at the Junior High and Middle School, shares her story about how and why she began teaching German, and what it means to her. German is not only a fun language for her to teach, but also represents her heritage and family history, as her Grandma was German and spoke it fluently.
“Everything about German is so, so beautiful to me,” Turske said. “Oh, I don’t even know where to start, it’s just so amazing. I very firmly believe that it is so important to learn a second language. It’s so good to learn about different cultures. It’s a new way of seeing things and is so healthy for your brain. I could honestly go on and on, but learning a language itself is so, so important, I think. And I love German, it’s such a fun language, I love the culture, I love the country; it’s super fun.”
Turske’s love of German truly shines through in every class as she makes learning a language a fun and intriguing activity. As well as learning a second language, it is beneficial for anyone to learn, as it strengthens your brain and makes you less likely to get dementia when you are older.
“Back in high school, it was my senior year, and I took Japanese for a year. I loved my Japanese teacher; she was phenomenal, and every single day she looked like she was having the time of her life and having so much fun. And then it inspired me and made me want to do that. I first started studying Russian, but then I really fell in love with German,” Turske said.
It only takes one person or one experience to inspire you and find something you truly love and are passionate about. Teachers have such an impact on kids, more than they know. And it’s the simple things like this that can inspire kids to want to do the same exact thing.