Polish Association of German Teachers (PSNJN)  (IDV – Der Internationale Deutschlehrerinnen- und Deutschlehrerverband e. V.)

Polish Association of German Teachers

The Polish Association of German Teachers (PSNJN) was founded in 1993 and currently has 915 members. To operate effectively with this number of members, the association operates in 24 sections and 5 local circles distributed throughout Poland: https://psnjn.org/pl/o-psnjn/
The Polish Association of German Teachers provides a platform for professional exchange among German teachers. It promotes the professionalization and quality assurance of German as a foreign language instruction, the development of modern and efficient teaching methods in foreign language instruction, as well as information exchange among German teachers. The association strives to strengthen the position of teachers in the Polish educational landscape.

The association organizes biennial conferences for German teachers, where the latest developments in German as a Foreign Language (DaF) and foreign language didactics are
presented and experimented with in practical formats such as workshops or discussion circles. The COVID-19 pandemic prompted the association to launch a new training series for its members under the motto “Online Together.” The webinars, held once a month or every two months and led by professional trainers as well as experienced DaF teachers who are members of the association, provide new insights for lesson planning. Some webinars also address topics related to taking care of one’s mental health and well-being. The board of the Polish Association of German Teachers responds to the acute needs of German teachers in Poland by organizing webinars on promoting students with a migration background or other current topics within this training series. In September 2023, the association celebrated its 30th anniversary, providing an opportunity to reflect on the association’s development over the years and facilitate professional exchange in various training formats.

The association collaborates with institutions in Poland and abroad that are committed to promoting the German language. Among the most active partners are the Goethe-Institut, the Institute for International Communication (IIK), the German Foreign Society, as well as publishers operating in the DaF field. It also collaborates with German teacher associations from Central and Eastern Europe (especially from the Baltic countries) by conducting joint projects or organizing international conferences on DaF didactics. Thus, the association also supports the implementation of IDV goals: the advancement of German as a foreign language, the education and training of German teachers, support for German teachers in their professional activities, and more.

The association publishes the “Hallo Deutschlehrer” magazine twice a year, containing articles on current topics in DaF didactics and reporting on the activities and projects of association members. The association also maintains a website that is constantly updated, providing information to association members and other interested parties about upcoming events or presenting reports on completed projects. The “PSNJN-Bote” newsletter, sent twice a year to members and published on the website, conveys current information about the association’s activities.

The Polish Association of German Teachers organizes two nationwide German competitions. The “Lust auf Lesen” competition, aimed at German learners in primary schools, is taking place for the seventh time this year. The “Turbolandeskunde” competition is aimed at German-learning high school students and aims to motivate them to learn German, strengthen the participants’ social skills, and popularize the DACH principle. This competition has been held for nine years under the patronage of IDV. Hundreds of students from all over Poland participate in each of these competitions annually.

Given the outstanding activities to promote the German language in Poland, the development of DaF instruction, and the dedication to international cooperation, IDV supports the candidacy of the Polish Association of German Teachers (PSNJN) for the FIPLV Award 2024.