The last article of the year from the section "Teachers of Bulgaria" of Klett Publishing House this time takes us to Plovdiv to meet the German teacher Mr. Ivan Stolinov, for whom precision and accuracy are the most important virtues.

Herr Stolinov - Mr. Stolinov, has been teaching German for 13 years at the Humanitarian High School "St. St. Cyril and Methodius ”in Plovdiv. He is proud to be part of the oldest high school in Bulgaria, founded by Naiden Gerov in the distant 1850. Mr. Stolinov feels connected with the high school not only as a teacher but also as a student - he completed his junior high school course there. These seven school years there allowed him to meet wonderful teachers who directed his interest in languages and the teaching. Among them are his class teacher and teacher of Bulgarian language and literature, as well as his first teacher of German, who transmit to him a love of language and respect for the culture of German-speaking countries.

One incident confirms Ivan's belief that German is his choice. During a vacation with his parents, they meet a German family. His father started a conversation with them during which he translated everything from German to Bulgarian and vice versa. This skill was admired by Ivan and unlocks his desire to develop it himself. He enrolled in an additional language course and later applied to the famous Plovdiv language high school. The atmosphere in the school greatly contributes to the full commitment of students to language learning, but the brightest trace of Ivan leaves the German Frau Rita Taneva, about whom the children for a whole year do not even suspect that she can speak Bulgarian at all! She is extremely precise when it comes to good pronunciation, along with perfect grammar. Later, at the Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski ”, where he studied German philology, Ivan has the chance to meet professors and specialists from whom he could learn everything related to teaching methodology.Thus, his desire to work as a teacher consolidated. 

The teaching profession has always attracted Ivan. Early on, he discovered that he enjoyed explaining and helping his classmates, and later fellow students, and that he was able to explain, repeat, understand, and make sense of mistakes — all important qualities for a teacher.

From the very beginning of his teaching practice he has consistently guided his graduates on the difficult path of mastering a foreign language, following the example of his best teachers. When he took the eighth graders and started with the alphabet, from the first days Mr. Stolinov taught not only the rules of reading and writing, but also the importance of correct pronunciation. He corrects his students a hundred times if necessary, and they are not angry with him because they understand that Herr Stolinov wants the best for them - to know, to be able to develop. It is no coincidence that the graduates of Mr. Stolinov do not forget about his namedays and birthdays, and their parents are grateful to him for his work, dedication and attitude towards their children. "This makes my work valuable and meaningful, even though the teacher's work is sometimes underestimated," says Mr. Stolinov. "We develop materials and tests, check homework, whether it's a weekend, but it doesn't bother me because I love my job," he added.

A few weeks ago, when his family fell into the trap of the coronavirus, Ivan decided that he would recover faster if he continued to teach his eighth-graders, who currently needed their teacher. His devotion was felt by both children and parents.

It is a duty for Mr. Stolinov to be demanding of his students so that they can speak quality German: "I try to make them my successors, they might become teachers, even better than me." He motivates them and explains to them how by mastering German and knowing the basic virtues and qualities inherent in the speakers of this language, they will build valuable personal qualities in the future. Accuracy is very important, sometimes many things can fail, even if you are very good, if you are not accurate and you are late for example. In addition to accuracy, performance is also important - what we have promised must be done, the deadline must be met.But the most important thing for children is to be polite, to help each other and to enjoy the success of others. "Competition is useful, it makes us stand out and improve, but not at all price. Competing with the best of us is constructive, because the success of one who has done the test without error, motivates you to work harder and next time to be the best yourself, "said Mr. Stolinov.Therefore, he teaches his students to applaud and rejoice for him when someone does better than others, when someone performs particularly well. This is the right atmosphere in a class, according to him - to have friendly relations, to help each other.

In previous years, Ivan Stolinov regularly organized trips to German-speaking countries, which gave children the opportunity for language practice and contact with culture. Apart from the pride of being able to deal with a foreign language environment, this is a serious additional incentive for the ambitious to progress even more with the language. Once, in Switzerland, students surprised Ivan on their own initiative. In their free time they themselves prepared a survey with questions about how well foreigners know Bulgaria, instead of choosing souvenirs, they interviewed people on the street. Then they excitedly discussed among themselves how they hope to meet an even more interesting foreigner who will have more knowledge about Bulgaria.

Ivan is most proud of the success of his students in the translation competitions at NBU, in which the his school ranks in the Top 4 in Bulgaria. They regularly participate successfully in various language competitions, winning prizes in the competitions of the German Reading Room at the Ivan Vazov Library. “Kids love competing, they get involved in competitions with enthusiasm. Our students are very intelligent, they learn a lot and I do respect their energy, resourcefulness and ingenuity, for how well they handle technology ", Mr. Stolinov proudly said.

Children trust in someone who trust in them. They often share with him when they have difficulties because they know they can count on their class teacher. Mr. Stolinov himself is perceived as their "trusted person", something like a "deputy parent" who educates, advises and supports them. "I accept the role of the teacher - to give as a professional what he can, as knowledge - what he needs, and as a person - everything," says Ivan Stolinov. "Working with young people is tiring at times, but also invigorating. When he sees that the children are doing well, that they are growing up and achieving better and better results, it is such a reward for every teacher that the fatigue immediately passes. I am grateful to be a teacher, to be useful for my studnets with the knowledge and experience I have. I am grateful that they appreciate it and are thankful to me for years after graduating from school, which means that I made the right choice with my profession. ”