It’s just been over a year since I started as an instructional designer at the Learning Rooms. For me, this meant not only starting a new job in a new country but also leaving an industry I knew well and loved. I was a language teacher for over a decade, teaching German and English around the world.
At first, you might think that the job of an instructional designer and a language teacher couldn’t be more different. However, they have a lot more in common than you might think. Many of the same models and theories are used in instructional design and foreign language learning.
“Develop a passion for learning. If you do, you will never cease to grow.”
Anthony J. D’Angelo
Understanding the learners
Before we dive into the reason why these two jobs are more similar than you think, let me tell you a bit about my journey as a language teacher and how it led me to become an instructional designer. I was always interested in people and knowledge. I got my first experience teaching German to international students as a student at university. There I realised that language learning is so much more than vocabulary and grammar; languages are about communicating and understanding culture. Adults in particular need to know why they are learning something and how they can apply it to real life. This is one major goal when designing eLearning, too. So, there is the first parallel.
Digital technologies as a language teacher
I was always interested in new technologies and played around with them, from media design and little animated movies to my website. So, when I was looking for a student job, I started teaching German as a foreign language and giving relocation courses online. I loved creating my own teaching material and using digital tools in the classroom. This is still useful as an instructional designer because I work with many digital tools and need stay informed about the current trends in digital learning.
Learning on an LMS
After my studies, I won a scholarship to teach German at a university in New Zealand. Distance learning in collaboration with other universities is common in New Zealand. Most classes were taught on campus and streamed to other universities. The students then collaborated on the shared learning management system (LMS). We incorporated tasks, quizzes and assessments on the LMS into the syllabus. With a colleague there, I also began a case study on app-based learning. Instructional designers need an understanding of how learning technologies work and how you can tailor your content for them.
Using innovative technologies
After that, I trained teachers in an innovative 3D learning space. The online classroom was set up in a virtual world (think Metaverse) where you could create your own avatar. This was a new and innovative way of teaching and opened up new possibilities for me. I could create classroom simulations for future teachers, where they could act out what they learned in a safe, but real environment. I especially love writing and creating my own materials and assessments for these special classes.
A similar process
Experience in learning technologies got me even more interested in the technology behind it. I still wasn’t sure where this path would lead me. So, I started to work as an eLearning consultant developing online language learning courses and preparation training for language tests. Developing language courses follows a similar structure to designing an eLearning course. Most will use ADDIE or a similar model for eLearning development.
Similar to my current role as an instructional designer at The Learning Rooms, I was working with authors and clients around the world, developing content and advising them on how to use and implement their courses. I was also developing syllabuses, which has similarities to my work as an instructional designer.
Language teacher to ID – perfect match
After working for more than 10 years as a language teacher, I wanted something different and explored alternative career paths. I was open to a new learning adventure. The competencies for instructional designer fitted my language teaching skill set.
I was successful with The Learning Rooms. My relocation from Germany and introduction to the team went smoothly. Many of my new colleagues had backgrounds in different types of teaching.
After working as an instructional designer for over a year, I’m still really enjoying it. I am still developing content with learners in mind, although I’m not directly in front of them anymore. In class, you would see that your students are disengaged but this is not possible in eLearning. You always have to think a few steps ahead and keep your learners motivated with a mix of content and learning delivery and media. I love that digital learning allows me to be creative and imaginative and embraces my love of technology.
I may have moved away from language learning but not away from learning. I’m still an architect of learning although I’m not facing students directly anymore.
