Interview Mrs. Ahad

This interview has been published on the occasion of a delegate travel to Germany from 10 to 16 May. Sixteen PASCH Principles and coordinators from Southeast Asia will participate in this prestigious trip in order to enhance their knowledge about the German education system and culture as well as to exchange ideas and opinions about the PASCH Programme and upcoming projects in Southeast Asia.
 
We have asked the participating coordinator of European Standard School (ESS), Mrs Mah-e-noh Ahad, about her expectations towards the upcoming trip. Looking back on four years of PASCH Programme at European Standard School, Mrs Mah-e-noh Ahad shares her view on German classes and the importance of foreign language learning as well as her thoughts on more recent events like the school’s management of cancellations of lessons caused by hartals.

1. How long have you been working as a PASCH Coordinator? How would you describe your work as a PASCH Coordinator with respect to your school being a PASCH School?

I have been working as PASCH Coordinator since 2011. I enjoy my work as a coordinator for PASCH at ESS. In fact, PASCH is a very organized and systematic programme. I get instructions and I carry them out. I work at the interface between PASCH Students, teachers, Goethe-Institut Dhaka, and my stakeholders.
 
What I enjoy the most is the planning of PASCH activities at ESS. I have designed a Memorandum of Understanding in order to retain the PASCH Teachers’ obligations and rights, the interest of the schools as well as the requirements of the PASCH Programme. Recently, I have designed another Memorandum of Understanding that includes the conditions concerning PASCH Scholarships at ESS. Furthermore, I introduced sitting in on classes for our PASCH Trainee Teachers so that they can observe the other German teachers and learn from them. They are also able to assist the PASCH Teachers in their courses.

My experience as a PASCH Coordinator is helping me to learn something new every day and allows me to develop further.

2. What importance do German classes have for your students and the reputation of your school?

We live in a global world. Globalization is, among other things, concerned with the interconnectedness of people, their business, culture, and events across the world. In fact, the PASCH Programme and the German classes might open a door for the ESS students in order to step into the global world. It also helps the students to learn German and to get to know the culture. The students at ESS show keen interest in learning this language. The students get the opportunity to take part in different cross-cultural events and scholarships - inside and outside the country. The PASCH Programme is making ESS more popular day by day.

3. Which positive changes can you see in students who are taking German classes?

The students attending German language classes do not only learn a new language, they also develop a well-rounded personality. Since these students have access to cross-cultural activities, they are likely to develop a deeper insight into intercultural understanding than their fellow students who do not take German classes. They become confident, enterprising and self-composed leaders for our future.

4. What is the feedback of PASCH-students’ parents regarding PASCH?

The parents of the students attending German classes are very pleased that their children getting this wonderful opportunity of being PASCH Students. They are learning an important language. They take part in different projects, cross-cultural activities, camps and workshops. This boosts their confidence, widens their views and deepens their knowledge. It helps them to become better citizens of a promising future.

5. Which difficulties have you faced i.e. conduction of German classes, political situation etc. and how did you master them? Do you feel well supported by PASCH Office?

Any enterprise is challenged at times – this is also true the PASCH Programme. The main challenges we have faced in the past are the following: scarcity of fully qualified teachers and inadequate number of classes caused by hartals. Therefore, we arranged special classes during the weekend. Since most of the PASCH Students live nearby, we could also arrange special German classes during hartals.
The PASCH Office at Goethe-Institut Dhaka is always very cooperative and supportive in organizing teacher trainings. We get special support from the PASCH Office as and when needed for film-shows, spoken German classes, workshops, teaching resources and material, teacher training or anything else.

6. You are participating in the delegate travel to Germany in May. Which expectations do you have? Do you think you will personally benefit from this travel? If so, how?

I believe I will greatly benefit from participating in the delegate travel to Germany in May. I expect to meet the heads and coordinators of the other PASCH Schools. This will give me a scope to exchange views and ideas on how the PASCH Programme is run in different countries. By sharing ideas, I will be able to identify my strengths, and more importantly, my weaknesses. I will gain ideas how to make better plans for running the PASCH Programme more effectively at ESS. I will develop a new insight into how to strengthen the existing PASCH Programme. By sharing the knowledge gain from my trip, I will be able to help the other PASCH Schools in Bangladesh.