Teacher Training – How Can AI Help Teachers and Students?13. May 2025 by

KI-Lehrerfortbildung in Lindenberg

At the Humboldt-Institut, it’s not just students who are learning — our teachers regularly take part in ongoing professional development. These training sessions are designed to introduce new methods and digital tools that enhance the learning experience in the classroom.

By investing in teacher development, we ensure that our students benefit from innovative, high-quality instruction.

How Can AI Improve Teaching German as a Foreign Language?

Last fall, the Humboldt-Institut Berlin hosted a workshop titled “AI Tools in the Classroom”, led by Henriette Reiche, a research associate in the Master’s program German as a Foreign and Second Language at Johannes-Gutenberg-University Mainz.

The focus of the session was an introduction to AI-based tools for all Humboldt teachers and the broader question: What can artificial intelligence contribute to language teaching, and where does its greatest potential lie?

Building on these insights, a follow-up workshop for all teachers took place in May 2025 at our Lindenberg campus. This second session dove deeper into the practical integration of AI tools into classroom instruction.

The goal: to design engaging, hands-on, and socially inclusive lessons using AI — ideally combining new technologies with prior training on cooperative learning and neurodidactics.

By the end of the workshop, participating teachers were even better equipped to:

  • Plan, deliver, and reflect on lessons more efficiently using AI tools, while keeping the instruction action-oriented and focused on real-life application.
  • Design engaging lesson openers and meaningful transitions that stimulate students’ limbic systems — the brain region responsible for emotion and memory — to foster deeper learning.
  • Activate all students in the classroom and support the integrated development of multiple language skills.
  • Create a learning environment where students can explore and apply content independently.
  • Increase student speaking share through creative practice formats and interactive tasks.
  • Encourage collaboration, shifting the classroom dynamic so learners rely on each other — not just on the teacher — through cooperative learning methods.
  • Incorporate neurodidactically effective energizers, i.e., short activities that boost attention and refresh focus.

Collaborative Teaching Across Campuses

Each Humboldt-Institut location — Bad Schussenried, Berlin, Constance, and Lindenberg — took responsibility for one double session and one specific skill area:

The Lindenberg team focused on written expression, followed by Constance, which addressed oral expression. After the lunch break, the Berlin team led the session on reading comprehension. The workshop concluded with Bad Schussenried’s contribution on listening comprehension.

Each session involved hands-on experience, reflection, and evaluation. This structure sparked a dynamic exchange of ideas from which all participating teachers benefited.

One of the most striking outcomes was the synergy between the campuses: diverse perspectives and specialized approaches complemented each other, generating valuable insights and inspiration for teaching practice.

Thanks to regular professional development opportunities like this, Humboldt-Institut teachers continually receive fresh input — keeping their teaching strategies up to date and ensuring that students always enjoy the best possible learning experience.

Please check our website for more information on the course system at the Humboldt-Institut.

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