Herr Heesch
Monday, June 28th, 2004 06:02 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
mothwingWriting this, I still can't believe it.
One of my English teachers has died. Herr Heesch.
It happened two weeks ago, apparently one or two weeks after his retirement. He was 65.
I cannot believe it. And I don't know what to say. It is so... what can I say?
He was a great teacher. He believed in his job. He loved teaching. He loved the language he taught. He loved the culture of the country he had spent years in and had friends in, the USA, California. He loved his students and although he was stricter than most teachers are these days, they loved him as well - or hated him with a passion, because he was not an easy man. I think he was wonderful.
Herr Heesch was an intelligent, devoted man with a great sense of humour, who, in contrast to many of his colleagues, treated students like other human beings. He had a way of teaching English that taught us not only the basics of the language but a lot of exceedingly valuable techniques which help learning languages in general. That is quite unusual for a teacher at that school.
He is the reason why a lot of people in my class learnt proper English at all, where a number of trainee teachers who taught the class before him had failed disastrously. He is the reason why a lot of people dared to speak in front of classes which equaled a pool of piranhas.
He is the reason why I was allowed to stay at that school. The reason why I am allowed to study at all today.
During a horrible time at grammar school he was one of the two teachers who thought I was intelligent enough to make it, to pass my Abi, the diploma from secondary school qualifying for university admission or matriculation. He and my arts teacher. None of the others. Each of those wanted to see me on a comprehensive school or secondary modern school as soon as possible. But this remarkable man stood up for me and somehow convinced them of letting me stay, although my marks were terrible, I hardly participated in classes, kept forgetting to do my homework and was a horrible student.
My Abi was not bad. Without him, I would have changed schools after seventh grade.
His classes were the only enjoyable ones in those days. He could be strict and make his classes fun at the same time. He made sure that the ones who kept nagging and laughing were quiet, he, who always could keep all classes quiet, however horrible they were. He is the only English teacher we had who taught us not only vocabulary and grammar, but also proper, intelligible pronunciation and a bit about the culture, who tried to make his classes interesting. Yes, that is something special at that school in Norderstedt, a village pretending to be a town in the North of Hamburg.
Herr Heesch was one of those teachers who will go and try to make people think for themselves however much they may fight against it. And he succeeded in many cases. He is the best teacher this horrible school has ever had, and without a doubt many people will miss this truly remarkable man. Without him, a lot of things would have been different. Without him, I can say, my life would have been different, certainly not better - and I am not the only one who can say that. I owe so much to him. I still don't believe it. What can I say? My thoughts are with his family and friends.
One of my English teachers has died. Herr Heesch.
It happened two weeks ago, apparently one or two weeks after his retirement. He was 65.
I cannot believe it. And I don't know what to say. It is so... what can I say?
He was a great teacher. He believed in his job. He loved teaching. He loved the language he taught. He loved the culture of the country he had spent years in and had friends in, the USA, California. He loved his students and although he was stricter than most teachers are these days, they loved him as well - or hated him with a passion, because he was not an easy man. I think he was wonderful.
Herr Heesch was an intelligent, devoted man with a great sense of humour, who, in contrast to many of his colleagues, treated students like other human beings. He had a way of teaching English that taught us not only the basics of the language but a lot of exceedingly valuable techniques which help learning languages in general. That is quite unusual for a teacher at that school.
He is the reason why a lot of people in my class learnt proper English at all, where a number of trainee teachers who taught the class before him had failed disastrously. He is the reason why a lot of people dared to speak in front of classes which equaled a pool of piranhas.
He is the reason why I was allowed to stay at that school. The reason why I am allowed to study at all today.
During a horrible time at grammar school he was one of the two teachers who thought I was intelligent enough to make it, to pass my Abi, the diploma from secondary school qualifying for university admission or matriculation. He and my arts teacher. None of the others. Each of those wanted to see me on a comprehensive school or secondary modern school as soon as possible. But this remarkable man stood up for me and somehow convinced them of letting me stay, although my marks were terrible, I hardly participated in classes, kept forgetting to do my homework and was a horrible student.
My Abi was not bad. Without him, I would have changed schools after seventh grade.
His classes were the only enjoyable ones in those days. He could be strict and make his classes fun at the same time. He made sure that the ones who kept nagging and laughing were quiet, he, who always could keep all classes quiet, however horrible they were. He is the only English teacher we had who taught us not only vocabulary and grammar, but also proper, intelligible pronunciation and a bit about the culture, who tried to make his classes interesting. Yes, that is something special at that school in Norderstedt, a village pretending to be a town in the North of Hamburg.
Herr Heesch was one of those teachers who will go and try to make people think for themselves however much they may fight against it. And he succeeded in many cases. He is the best teacher this horrible school has ever had, and without a doubt many people will miss this truly remarkable man. Without him, a lot of things would have been different. Without him, I can say, my life would have been different, certainly not better - and I am not the only one who can say that. I owe so much to him. I still don't believe it. What can I say? My thoughts are with his family and friends.
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no subject
Date: Monday, June 28th, 2004 11:29 am (UTC)