Sabine's story
I love this work. I love people and I love getting them to having confidence in themselves. ‘Yes, you can.’ That’s my motto. I want to give them more than just language. I want to give them a future.
Sabine’s favorite poet is Hans Andreas. He was part of a school of writers after the second world war that defied traditions by experimenting with poems that were free of rules. In many ways, Sabine’s unique teaching style is no different.
Animated, funny, and experimental, Sabina consistently engages her students with interactive activities that go beyond the pages of each lesson.
“I like to have the course book as a structure. Then I get rid of the structure.
I’ll take students to the store to practice using their language; I’ll ask them to bring in clothing and describe it; I stroll with them to the park and have them read the signage along the way. Everything in our surroundings is an opportunity for learning.
When I first started out, I asked my students to tell me in Dutch about their pasts. Where they grew up, what their villages looked like. I didn’t realize how poignant their stories would be.
The first student described in detail his beautiful childhood in Kabul, his family home, the delicious food, his brothers. Then he started to cry uncontrollably. None of us had to ask. We somehow knew that there had been terrible losses in his family due to war. After that, I started to be more careful. To make my classroom a safe place where my students could focus on the joyous, not dwell on the past.
I love this work. I love people and I love getting them to having confidence in themselves. ‘Yes, you can.’ That’s my motto. I want to give them more than just language. I want to give them a future.
Marjolein's story
A student once told me, “You’re not a robot.” That was the best compliment I could have gotten.
Marjolein’s favorite type of art is German Expressionism. She likes how emotionally moving the paintings are, and the fact that you have to work a little harder to understand them.
In many ways, Marjolein’s approach to teaching mirrors her approach to art. Her thirteen years of experience at Pace has taught her to see beyond the obvious. She knows that behind even the most reluctant student lies a fascinating story.
“The thing I love the most about my job are the people,” she says. “So many of my students are not here in the Netherlands by choice, but because they had to leave their countries due to war or persecution. Their resilience and bravery are remarkable. I learn from them as much as they learn from me.”
“Teaching is a lot like painting, it’s really creative work. You have to adjust all the time to situations. I always prepare my lesson in advance, but the minute I see it isn’t working, I try something else. You have to think on your feet all the time and be ready to go to plan B if necessary.
I never use lesson plans from the year before, even if I’m teaching the exact same course. I prefer to keep it fresh.
A student once told me, “You’re not a robot.” That was the best compliment I could have gotten.
Every group is different and requires a new approach. I like to stay stimulated, to rediscover why this work is important and still excites me. If I’m emotionally engaged, my students will be too.
Het verhaal van Meike
“I have always loved diversity. That’s why I wanted to live in Amsterdam and why I wanted to teach at Pace, because I love the diverse group that studies here.
Much in Mieke’s life is new. Although she has been teaching for over twelve years, she is new to Pace, having arrived only six months ago. She is also about to be a new mother. But perhaps her greatest accomplishment is the new publications she created and edits, INCLUSIEF (inclusiefmedia.nl), a magazine written by newcomers to the Netherlands.
“I have always loved diversity. That’s why I wanted to live in Amsterdam and why I wanted to teach at Pace, because I love the diverse group that studies here.
I admire these students so much. They have made this decision to leave their countries for whatever kinds of reasons. They have to really put in such effort to learn a new language as an adult, to find way to live here. It’s so tough. But they do it with such bravery and dignity.
When I founded INCLUSIEF, I wanted to give these newcomers a chance to practice their Dutch language skills, but in a way that had deep meaning for them. They make the magazine.
Once or twice a week, we hold journalistic workshops, where we teach them about interview skills, editing, writing, etc.
The impact has been great on them but also on the readers, who are often surprised by their different perspectives. But at the same time their articles have made us realize how much we have in common.
We had such success with this one, we’re starting a new one, called TRANS, written by the transgender community. The work is inspiring because I am always around these people who are on this adventure. So, it becomes an adventure for me too.”