To Be A Teacher

German Film Festival
8/11/17 at NMS (free screening)

Looks at three passionate, idealistic teachers (Anna, Katja and Ralf) to be undergoing training in Berlin. The change they experienced over the course of one year as they get sent to grade school or lower high school to teach. The two female trainees are idealistic and I see how they get disillusioned with the system over time. Ralf is passionate but not so taken up by the fact that he is in this factory line producing cogs for society. Good workers for the benefit of society.

Director Jacob Schmidt was present for post screening and he mentioned that actually 20 applicants were willing to be in this film even though there's high pressure to perform and usually people may not want such additional pressure. Out of 20 he followed 5 teachers trainees around (3 years) and during editing (1 year) cut down to portray only 3 teachers. His selection of trainees include contrasting characters- Anna is a bit on the soft side whereas Ralf is very strong character. Moderated by Mayo Martin who used to be an educator, he had so many questions for Jacob. One audience member also had questions for Mayo regarding the education system here in Singapore, which took him by surprise.

A documentary but with the teacher trainees so natural, I could identify with Katja, who had idealistic beliefs in helping students, but towards the end of her two-year teacher-training, she felt short-tempered, easily depressed, had mood swings and basically just did not feel like coming to school. She thought she would fail but actually passed and transferred from high school to elementary school.

Anna transferred to another preschool during her internship period and felt much better. She passed and became a full-fledged teacher.

Ralf continued on in the same school and received A- for his practicum.

Teaching in Germany is considered a golden cage, comparable to how teaching is seen as a iron rice bowl in SG.

They filmed everything except the examination part where it was entirely closed door. The director mentioned that actually most challenges were faced with the officials and not really with the teacher-trainees or students.