2021-22 Fulbright Teaching Assistant in German

Roger Williams Hall, Room 228
sweingas@bates.edu

Pronouns: she/her/hers

Hey,
My name is Saskia and I am from lovely Vienna, Austria.
Although I fancy my hometown very much, I get itchy feet after staying in one place for too long, which is why I go abroad a lot. It all started with my exchange year in a U.S. high school when I was fifteen. Living with a host family and discovering a different lifestyle triggered my interest in cultures and languages. I strongly believe that the more you know a language, the better you understand the culture of the people who speak this language.

Because of this, I started my career in tourism but always felt like I was missing the social aspects in my career. Thus, I studied social work and pedagogy in Vienna and Spain, where I focused on human rights and integration. This led me to volunteer in refugee camps in France, Greece, and Serbia where I found myself in a clash of cultures, languages, and different visions. Back home, I joined my friend in broadcasting a podcast about social topics to spread more insights on important issues. So, if you would like to check your Austrian-German knowledge and get to know more about social work and social issues in Austria I invite you to check out www.sozialpod.com.

As this year’s German Teaching Assistant at Bates my goal is to support students in learning about both, the (Austrian-) German language and culture. I have worked as a German Assistant at a high school in France and I look forward to doing the same at the university level at Bates. Before coming here, I was teaching refugees about Austrian history, culture, and the welfare state for the Austrian foreign ministry. Working with people who study a language and being a language learner myself, I can relate to the ups and downs of acquiring a new language. So, if you ever need some motivation or tips, feel free to contact me and I look forward to helping you. See you in class or at the German club!

Liebe Grüße,

Saskia