"Successful Language Acquisition and Learning in a Montessori Environment" with BM Ambassador Birgitta Berger

Learn about Dr. Montessori's multilingual grandchildren and her perspective on language acquisition. Differentiate between language acquisition and learning and discover the prerequisites for language acquisition and learning. These topics will be discussed from the perspective of cognitive neuroscience, from a pedagogical perspective, and from the Montessori classroom environment (3-6, 6-12 years) Take away: focus on learning rather than teaching. 

About our Ambassador

Birgitta grew up in a bilingual environment in England, Germany and Thailand. Her professional life took a second path as her own children brought her to Montessori education when she began teaching primary at her daughter's school.

Birgitta has since developed a Montessori-based approach to foreign language learning in her own classes from Grades 1 to 10. She shares her knowledge and experience in Montessori teacher training courses and continuing education programs in Germany.

Birgitta is currently working in the field of languages at the Campus di Monaco International Montessori School in Munich. As well as teaching at the primary level, she prepares students for exams in Years 9 and 10.

Books published

• A teacher’s manual, "Englisch lernen nach Maria Montessori" (written in collaboration with Lilo Eßwein, Herder Verlag 2016).
• A novel approach to grammar teaching, "English Tenses - Zeitenmodell für den Englischunterricht nach Montessori-Prinzipien" with a materials package. (www.englischzeitenmodell.de).
• Co-authored the new handbook "Autonomes Sprachenlernen – Wie Lernende Verantwortung für ihren Spracherwerb übernehmen und die Lehrenden dies effektiv begleiten" (to be published in Spring 2023).

Education

• Montessori Diploma from the Institute für Ganzheitliches Lernen (IfGL)
• Teaching English as an additional language (TEAL) from MCI London
• Political Science and Media Communications (LMU Munich)