Education
The International English Library is committed to working with a range of educational institutions in and around Düsseldorf to support learning of the English language. We have a dedicated Schools-Subcommittee that liaises with educational institutions, from kindergarten to tertiary level, and facilitates partnerships to provide a range of innovative programs and activities to promote positive language acquisition. Email schools@international-library.de if you belong to an educational institution that is interesting in finding out more.
In 2021, the library teamed up with Görres-Gymnasium, Goethe-Gymnasium, Humboldt-Gymnasium and Max-Planck-Gymnasium in Düsseldorf to launch our Inter-School Annual Debating Programme.
With its origins in the ancient world, debating (or the use of rhetoric as it was once known) introduces students to the art of critical thinking and persuasive speech.
The debating programme offered by the International English library consists of specially prepared lessons supported by resources to be delivered by teachers in their respective schools (usually offered as an extra-cirricular activity) which are supported by six workshops provided by the debate team at the library. Following the completion of the teacher-taught lessons and the library-led workshops there will then be a day of elimination heats before the final competition which in 2024 will be held in the Düsseldorf Rathaus on June 8th, 2024.
The programme follows the Worlds Schools Style of debating, which encourages our debaters to focus on specific questions rather than debate a particular theory or procedure. This form of debating encourages active engagement between the competitors, and the library debate team is committed to ensuring that complex and controversial topics should also feature in our programme as well as the light-hearted ones. What is essential for the training team is that all participants are equipped to defend their position, regardless of whether they agree with it or not.
The programme is an English language event which challenges our participants to demonstrate their comprehension of the English language and is therefore open to school students between the ages of 15-17.
We believe that the skills developed through open debate, will prepare our participants for their future careers..
If you would like any further information regarding the 2024 Debate Program, please feel free to email schools@international-library.de.
Congratulations to Goethe-Gymnasium - winners of the 2023 IEL Debating Competition!
The IEL Inter-School Debating Competition
This event was launched in 2021 with students and teachers from from Goethe-Gymnasium, Görres-Gymnasium, Humboldt-Gymnasium and Max-Planck-Gymnasium. The competition final was held on the 2nd October, 2021 and was included on the official program for Nord-Rhein Westphalia's 75th Anniversary celebrations. Congratulation to Görres-Gymnasium for being the inaugural winners! The evaluation report of the 2021 program can be found here.
The 2022 program competition final was held on June 11th at Max-Planck Gymnasium. We were thrilled that the event was included on the program for Düsseldorf's 2022 Reading Weekend.
Congratulations to Max-Planck-Gymnasium - winners of the 2022 IEL Debating Competition!
Team Görres-Gymnasium
Team Humboldt-Gymnasium
Team Goethe-Gymnasium
October 2020: The International English Library is excited to announce the signing of its first official cooperation agreement with a school better known for classical languages, Görres Gymnasium. read more...
Under the leadership of English teacher, Julia Strohmeyer, the two historical Dusseldorf organisations have been working closely together for the past year and a half and have now formally ratified their partnership.
“In an ever more-dislocated world, shared language and stories are a proven bridge in bringing people together,” says Ms. Melanie Schuth, Vice-Chair of the International English Library. “This partnership is an act of hope for the next generation, who are currently watching their world become more divided. Since its inception in 1946, the Library has always had a mandate to be a “bridge” between cultures. In 2020, with the multitude of challenges unfolding, this is more important than ever.”
The first project between the institutions was a “Book Worm Club” where participating students have their own English book selection housed at the library, and also have access to the additional 26 000 English books and media in the collection. The Foderverein of the Görres Gymnasium have also been financially contributing to the project.
The International English library is looking to expand its school program and is in the initial stages of developing an Inter-School Debating Competition expected to start in 2021.