The GENiUS² Buddy System
Connecting TEFL Students and Trainee Teachers
A principal objective of the GENiUS² network is to establish direct links between students of Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) at the University of Göttingen and EFL trainee teachers from the local teacher training college (Studienseminar Göttingen für das Lehramt an Gymnasien). For this purpose, a buddy system has been established that seeks to create pairs or small groups consisting of members from both parties. The aim is for all participants to benefit equally from this system, for example by actively involving students in the planning of lessons and by discussing and reflecting on lesson designs together to increase the teaching quality. Students can thus gain first insights into the exact procedure for designing and writing lesson plans and sequences in line with the requirements of the second phase of teacher education in Germany.The GENiUS² organizers support the matchmaking process for interested parties – e.g. in the context of joint meetings in presence and as web conferences. More information can be found here.