CPF Language Forum

I’ve been a little quiet here lately… and for a very good reason😊

The last weeks were all about an Intensive English Course for an IT Umschulung … and what a wonderful group I had! ❤️

Motivated, engaged, curious… exactly the kind of group that reminds me why I love teaching.

And then receiving feedback like this at the end… 🥹❤️ It really means a lot.

What’s something a teacher once said or did that stayed with you? I‘d love to hear about it 🙏🏻❤️

Today in my orientation course, we talked about one simple word:

Tolerance.

Together, we created this mind map. We started with the word itself, and within minutes the board was filled with ideas:

Respect. Understanding. Kindness. Patience. Language. Living together. Different opinions. Religions. Cultures. Appearance. Gender. Life choices.

People from different countries, cultures, and life experiences listened to one another, shared personal stories, and tried to understand perspectives that were different from their own.

Moments like these remind me that language classes are about so much more than grammar and vocabulary.

They are places where bridges are built.

What’s the first word that comes to your mind when you hear “tolerance”?

Today I received my latest trainer mentoring report, and reading feedback like this reminds me why I love what I do.

One sentence especially stayed with me:

“Carla creates a relaxed and humorous atmosphere… She knows the right questions to ask to get learners to give their own view and opinion.”

That is exactly the kind of classroom I try to create.

For me, language learning isn’t about memorizing grammar rules or speaking perfectly. It’s about creating a space where people feel comfortable enough to think, laugh, make mistakes, and express themselves.

If my learners leave class feeling a little more confident than when they arrived, then I’ve done my job.

I’m grateful for the trust of my learners, the support of my mentors, and the opportunity to keep growing as a trainer.

Here’s to many more conversations, questions, and moments of learning together 💙

This PowerPoint presentation was created by one of my IT retraining (“Umschulung”) groups as part of a project. They invented a fictional company and designed its onboarding presentation.

And then… this appeared:

“Blätter Wald” – a bookstore

A name that combines books and nature. Reading has always been my refuge, and the forest has become one of my favorite places to slow down, reflect, and reconnect.

The students had no idea how much this would resonate with me.

Maybe it’s just a coincidence.

Or maybe we simply start noticing the things that are already close to our hearts ❤️✨

Either way, it made me smile 😊

Do you believe in coincidences, or do you think everything happens for a reason?