We are happy to feature Aishwarya Degaonkar, a passionate German language trainer from Mumbai. She has been teaching German as a foreign language for four years. She conducts various levels of German language courses such as B2, C1, B1, A1 and A2 catering to different learners. She has trained more than 550 students from different countries such as India, Europe and Africa. Aishwarya is a highly skilled German language trainer with a rich cultural experience. Above all, her patience towards students, honesty and transparency in teaching makes her a successful trainer.
Aishwarya has been providing intensive, yet straightforward German language courses to a large number of learners. The courses provided are rigorously designed and ideal for prospective students and working professionals who wish to learn German for career purposes. She also provides a special course for business communication in German for CEFR A2 & above. Besides, Aishwarya believes in making learning fun and easy for her students. Thus, she not only ensures her classes are highly interactive and engaging but also keeps the fun alive.
According to one of her students – “Aishwarya ma’am is not only a great teacher. She also goes out of her way to provide you with extra materials and resources without you even having to ask. She makes learning easy and fun and interactive, and you won’t even realize how quickly time flies by in her class. A fantastic teacher and a great person. “
Our heartiest congratulations to Aishwarya Degaonkar!
Here is her experience & teaching journey in her own words:
Q1. When and how did you start working as a German language Tutor?
Ans. Group studies was always a fun activity for me, and I was always blessed with encouraging, endearing teachers and professors. Therefore I knew I wanted to be a teacher or a trainer like them. I would often tutor my batch-mates, juniors at my UG Program as well as at Goethe Institut. I started online tutoring for German during my B levels. Eventually, I started tutoring at institutes. Now, I have been training online for four years and offering my services to institutes miles and miles away from me and many students from India, Europe and Africa.
Q2. What skills are required to become a German language tutor?
Ans. First thing, one must know the language very well to teach and explain it to others. Just because the tutor learned the language & has started teaching it, does NOT mean that the tutor can stop re-learning and keeping oneself updated. Learning a language is gaining a lifelong skill. Here, your qualifications are just as important as your desire to be a tutor to be a ‘Pro’. Tutoring demands patience, honesty and transparency. Given the circumstances, one must also be ready to adapt to any changes. The tutor needs to be a good motivator and should be enthusiastic and never discard any learners’ doubt or question.
A German Trainer needs to be at the top of their game even more, given the German Govt’s encouragement to move to Germany for work and education. Very few people wish to learn German for leisure; many will want to use it every day once they move and therefore a German Trainer should be equipped with all the best resources for the learners at all times. A German learner should be confident and independent after his/her course & not someone dependent on translation apps!
Q3. What, according to you, helps you stand out from other German language Tutors on UrbanPro.com?
Ans. I learned German from Goethe Institut; hence I know what it is like to receive a premium quality education. I strive to offer that learning experience, with more revision and review. Apart from that, my USP is 100% Syllabus Completion. I don’t rush through the book(s), nor I try to leverage my students by not teaching certain elements and asking them to enrol with me again for the next level, by promising that the skipped elements will be taught later. It’s malpractice!
I teach everything in the books and introduce specific topics to prepare you for the higher level (this usually happens for A2-B1). I am always honest and transparent with my learners about their timeline, learning goals and maintaining the quality of instruction I offer from day 1. I offer everything that I needed when I was a learner, and I never compromise on the quality of my work or my resources. I have bought licensed storybooks, magazines that I share with my learners to offer a virtual immersion learning experience.
Clearing a test shouldn’t be the only goal of learning a language!
Q4. How did you come across UrbanPro.com?
Ans. My association with UrbanPro goes back to when it was known as ThinkVidya. I used to take Handwriting Improvement & Calligraphy Classes but then discontinued as I got busy with my higher education. It was only in the last two years that I learned about the new upgrade and hence made a new profile as a German Language Trainer.
Q5. What was the turning point in your career?
Ans. While working as a German Language Expert on contract, I got an opportunity to tutor at Navi Mumbai’s best institute for foreign languages. I realized that I looked forward to the evening class from 7 pm to 9 pm more than my “9-5 job”. That’s when I took a leap of faith and switched careers. I couldn’t be happier!
Q6. How has UrbanPro.com helped you so far as a Tutor?
Ans. UrbanPro offers me to upload documents, images to my profile. This way, the student gets an idea of all I have to offer even before contacting me. Thanks to UrbanPro, I got to upload 40+ sample exercise sheets, screenshots from my previous classes. I think this is an excellent way to get to know a tutor and his/her work.
Q7. What percentage of your work comes from UrbanPro.com?
Ans. I get regular inquiries, especially direct messages from the learners who show an interest in my profile. All the direct questions followed by a demo class have been my easiest conversions. Around 40% of my students have been from UrbanPro, and then many are the referrals of those students.
About the Tutor:
Aishwarya has been providing quality German language training since 2017. Over the years, she has trained learners of different age groups and taught in institutes as well. She completed her Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) from Mumbai University in 2016 and Goethe Zertifikat B2.2 from Goethe Institute in 2017. She is currently residing in Mumbai. She is well versed in Marathi, German and English.
