About FrauBastowMFL
Teacher / Subject Leader / Blogger / Author / Speaker
Hi, I’m Silvia Bastow, a German teacher, language lover and experienced MFL leader with 23 years in the classroom (where did the time go?). I did my PGCE back in 2005 and more recently I’ve started branching out into language consultancy too.
​
I’ve got a Master’s in German Linguistics and Literature, and over the years I’ve taken on a range of roles from GCSE examiner and ECTmentor to Specialist Leader in Education.
​
I’m really proud to be part of the Association for Language Learning council, a Fellow of the Chartered College of Teaching, and one of the German Expert Mentors in the GIMAGINE project, a brilliant partnership between the Goethe-Institut, NCLE and British Council working to turn things around for language learning in state secondary schools.
​
I love sharing ideas and working with teachers and departments, whether that’s through CPD, conferences or just a good old chat about what works. I’m all about evidence-informed practice and helping students not only succeed, but enjoy learning languages.
Education & Experience
-
I’m an experienced subject leader and MFL teacher with over 20 years of classroom experience in secondary schools across England. Along the way, I’ve also taken on roles as a Specialist Leader in Education (SLE) for MFL, a GCSE examiner, a Fellow of the Chartered College of Teaching and a mentor for both ITE and ECT colleagues.
-
I believe every student deserves an excellent education and that starts with supporting great teaching. I'm passionate about helping language teachers reflect, grow and stay in the classroom, where they can make the biggest difference.
-
My academic background includes a BA in Translation and an MA in German Linguistics and Literature from Prešovská University in Slovakia, as well as QTS from the University of Chester and the NPQLTD from LLSE.
-
Everything I do is grounded in the belief that when we support each other as educators, everyone, teachers and students alike, benefits.
Professional Associations
- I’m a proud member of the Association for Language Learning (ALL) council and one of their Honorary Membership Officers (HMOs) - a voluntary role I carry out to support the language teaching community.
- I’m also a Fellow of the Chartered College of Teaching (FCCT) and serve as a German Expert Mentor (GEM) as part of the GIMAGINE project.
Certifications
I am:
-
a qualified language teacher with a PGCE in German (University of Chester)
-
a graduate of the National Professional Qualification for Leading Teacher Development (NPQLTD) (LLSE)
-
an ECT Mentor, qualified through Best Practice Network