English is essential at Deutsche Schule Medellín.

Deutsche Schule Medellín students are increasingly improving their English language skills. The participation of Emiliana Jiménez Tejada from Klasse 10 in the Speak Up EF Challenge is proof of this.

English language teaching is one of the priorities at Deutsche Schule Medellín because, as Carolyn Marín, Head of the English Department, says, ‘we are talking about a language that is universal, that opens doors in areas ranging from academic to social’.
For this reason, the school decided to participate in the Speak Up EF Challenge 2024 with the students of Klasse 10, who were challenged to reflect on global issues through speeches in English. ‘We had a very good level and we decided to send the video speeches of several of our students, including that of Emiliana Jiménez Tejada, from Klasse 10B’. For her, this experience allowed her to unite her passions: English, public speaking and raising awareness of social issues.
Emiliana says that English was not her forte in her early years of study, but music and her ability to sing in English helped her overcome the barriers. This talent, along with her dedication and the guidance of her teachers, led Emiliana to excel in the competition, first regionally and then in Bogotá, where she represented the school.
Emiliana chose a subject that moves her deeply: eating disorders and low self-esteem among young people. ‘I'm interested in understanding it, we are the ones who are going to create the future,’ she explains. The EF Challenge allowed her not only to delve into this global problem, but also, to share her vision with others.
Despite the nerves and the competition, Emiliana achieved her goal. ‘I feel it was something that really flowed for me, something I achieved with the words I already knew in English,’ she says.

The preparation

Although the preparation path was complex, she feels she was able to achieve it thanks to the training she receives at DSM, not only in English, but also, in other areas of knowledge. Researching, constructing the speech, finding the right words and creating a message that resonated with her audience were steps she took with the support of her teachers. Her mother was also a great support. ‘The preparation was very complicated, I needed a text that I felt comfortable with, that would reach someone,’ recalls Emiliana.
This experience is evidence of the importance of English in DSM's educational proposal. ‘Learning a language is not just an academic skill, but a way of understanding and connecting with the world, and that is something I have also been able to learn at the school,’ concludes Emiliana.