I have a lot to look back on, but I also look forward to the future.
Lifelong Learning: Spanish
Learned Spanish in the Beersel region? Then you’ve probably met Greet Devaddere. In 1984, she brought the language of Cervantes to GLTT Rode, now Crescendo CVO – Campus GLTT Rode. Soon she will close the classroom door for good.
“Looking back on my career gives me a warm feeling,” she says. “Teaching has always given me great satisfaction. Sometimes it was challenging, like during the COVID period. Online teaching required a quick switch to new tools and methods. But we tackled it together, which strengthened the team.”
A unique approach, active learning
Greet Devaddere: “When I started, Spanish was just beginning to be on the menu. We were small but quickly grew, perhaps thanks to our unique approach. You don’t learn a language only in the classroom, but also outside. We visit museums and exhibitions. For the past two years, we’ve organized Spanish and Italian conversation evenings in collaboration with Bierhuis Oud Beersel, where students chat with native speakers over a local beer. We even organize study trips to Spain and Latin America. These are unforgettable and inspiring experiences. Want to join? Be quick…”
We also bring the outside world into the classroom. Once a year, we host a film festival to show world films rarely screened in cinemas. We invite ‘cuentacuentos’ (storytellers) and interesting speakers. On May 15, author Rosa Montero even presented her latest book in person.
In short, we encourage students to put what they’ve learned into practice and do everything we can to spark their curiosity about Spanish and Latin American culture.
“I have a lot to look back on, but I also look forward to the future. Sitting still isn’t my thing. And it’s well known that the agenda of a newly retired person fills up faster than the Molenbeek after a cloudburst.”