The founder of German language school “Mein Deutsch”, certified teacher Olha Balyta holds a master class for Polytechnic students

Philology students of the National University “Yuri Kondratyuk Poltava Polytechnic” had a unique opportunity to attend a master class of Goethe-Institut-certified methodologist and German teacher, founder of the first German language school “Mein Deutsch” in Poltava, Olha Balyta. Together with the teacher, the future professionals, who are taking their first confident steps in learning German, discussed in detail the need to learn German and the prospects that lie ahead for them as future teachers and translators.

During the practice-oriented event, the students, together with a certified teacher, immersed themselves in researching the peculiarities of the German language, learning new Easter-related vocabulary, performing a number of practical linguistic exercises, and working out in detail the most modern methods of teaching foreign languages.

“Learning a language is primarily about the student’s interest in achieving the desired result. It is important to use the latest teaching methods, as there are now many free educational platforms that will help you learn vocabulary and memorise complex grammar in a quality and interesting way. There are also “tricky” methods for memorising information: when learning articles in German, it will be appropriate to use associative thinking and visual memory. For example, you can form certain groups of nouns with articles by creating cards of different colours (manually or using well-known online programmes): Der – green, Die – red, Das – yellow. This makes them much easier to learn, as they are associated with a particular colour and, accordingly, with the article.

The use of certain educational distance learning platforms, such as iSLCOLLECTIVE, Wordwall and others, not only encourages foreign language learning, but also allows you to gain thorough knowledge that is easier to learn through interactivity. That is why the use of modern teaching methods in the educational process is extremely important and productive, allowing us to master the relevant material in a high-quality and interesting way,” – commented a German teacher Olha Balyta.

According to Doctor of Philology, Professor of the Department of Germanic Philology and Translation of Poltava Polytechnic Tetiana Kushnirova, such meetings with practitioners are extremely important for philology students, as they expand their professional competences and give them new knowledge that they can use in the future.

“The modern method of teaching foreign languages is a combination of various necessary components, including communication, original material and interactivity, which ultimately gives the desired result. That is why our students are actively learning new skills that they will certainly use in their professional activities,” – explained the scientist.

At the end of the event, the students took part in a small linguistic quest in the university’s cosy open-air locations, where they received sweets as well as shared their positive impressions.

The academic staff and students of Faculty of Philology, Psychology and Pedagogy of the National University “Yuri Kondratyuk Poltava Polytechnic” express their sincere gratitude to the founder of the first German language school “Mein Deutsch” in Poltava Olha Balyta for her creative and engaging view on learning German as well as invite her to further scientific and educational cooperation.

Recently, young scientists from Poltava’s educational institutions presented research in linguistics, intercultural communication and translation studies, students celebrated the International Day of the French Language by discussing its place on the linguistic map of the world and reciting their favourite poetry, and members of the literary studio “To the Origins” presented a mini-performance dedicated to the life and work of Taras Shevchenko.

Earlier, philology students took an in-depth German language course in the Carpathians, university students took part in the “Sprachakademie” summer language project, and director of the “StartDeutsch Schule” Markus Peuser held interactive workshops for future translators.

Media Center of
National University “Yuri Kondratyuk Poltava Polytechnic”