Makfire Saliji

“Being a teacher isn’t just a job for me – it’s my calling.”

Hello, my name is Makfire, but everyone calls me Maki. I’ve been teaching at INNES since September 2022 but have been teaching both German and English since high school. I studied at the University of Vienna, where I received a bachelor’s degree in educational teaching for German and History/ Political Studies.

It was actually a teacher of mine who inspired me to become a German language teacher. She always motivated me to help others and gave me books because she saw that I loved reading. I enjoyed helping my classmates and so she advised me to become a teacher. Later, I realised that being a teacher isn’t just a job for me – it’s my calling.

The best part about my job is the diverse work environment and the opportunity to interact with a wide variety of people. Being a teacher is special because we have the opportunity to be creative and develop innovative methods to help students maximise their potential. As teachers, we have a lot of responsibility, but we also have this great chance to positively impact the lives of our students by providing the best educational atmosphere.

Teaching German at INNES is special because of the amazing relationship I have with my colleagues. We have a very positive atmosphere and many of us share the same values and ethics. I think this is the main reason why we enjoy our job. Ultimately, I like that we have many opportunities to develop our skills within our job and that we can learn different skills from each other.

I like to spend time in the Löwygrube Park here in Vienna’s 10^th district. It is the perfect place if you enjoy walks in nature and it has magical views over the 3^rd, 10^th, and 11^th district. Plus, it’s ideal for dog owners. Nearby, the Bohemian Prater and its playground are great if you have children.

Here’s one of those clever and amusing German words: ‘verschlimmbessern’. It doesn’t sound like a real term, but it is actually in dictionaries. It’s a combination of two words: ‘worsen’ and ‘improve’. The definition: when you want to make something better but that only makes it worse. I feel like this has probably happened to all of us at some point!

Many people are afraid of the German language, but here’s my recipe to staying committed to the process: a portion of participation in class, a spoonful of fun, and a pinch of discipline.