Nika Claassen

My teaching philosophy centres on creating an engaging and supportive learning environment where children feel empowered to explore the English language. My teaching methods are rooted in Communicative Language Teaching and Task-Based Learning, focusing on practical communication through interactive activities like role-playing and problem-solving tailored to their interests. I make learning fun and easy to understand for young learners by using games, pictures, and real-life objects. While I structure lessons with clear objectives and varied activities, I prioritise personalisation. I take the time to understand each child's individual learning style, interests, and current English level to adapt the content, pace, and activities accordingly.

In terms of what we learn, I focus on topics that are interesting to children, like animals, family, and hobbies. Within these topics, we'll learn useful everyday English, new words, and how sentences work naturally. Pronunciation practice is woven into activities. My classroom dynamic is built on positive reinforcement, clear expectations, and patience, fostering a space where, as my German teacher wisely said, 'There's no such thing as a dumb question,' creating an environment where curiosity is encouraged and all questions are welcome as part of the learning process. While I might not have a long history of working as a professional teacher, my personal journey of successfully learning German from scratch provides me with a unique empathy for the challenges faced when acquiring a second language. This experience, combined with my strong foundation in English as a native speaker (graduating with a distinction in English taken at home language level) and my enthusiasm for making learning enjoyable, equips me to effectively guide children on their English language journey.