Tetyana Mühlbach

My name is Tetyana Mühlbach and I am very excited to join the German International School of Portland! Teaching German is my big passion.

I was born and raised in Ukraine. Ever since I was little I have been interested in becoming a teacher, so I decided to attend the State Pedagogical University in my home town Kryvyi Rih, where I began to study German and English.

From then on, my love for languages, cultures, and teaching was sparked. To immerse myself in a new culture, I decided to move to Berlin, Germany with my husband, where I continued my studies at the Humboldt University. I studied German Linguistics, English, and American Studies. During my studies, I worked as a substitute teacher for German. After my graduation I gained the First State Exam and after that I worked as a German and Music Teacher at some elementary schools in Berlin and Brandenburg for 5 years. After two years of my teacher training, I passed the Second State Exam and started working as a German and English Teacher at a Middle and High School in Berlin, where I worked for the last six and a half years.

Moreover, I have an additional qualification in teaching German as a second language by the Federal Agency for Migration and Refugees in Berlin, Germany, and more than 15 years of experience in Teaching German as a native and foreign language.

Since I speak four languages myself, which are Ukrainian, Russian, German and English, I can better understand children and young people who are learning other languages and know how important this will be for the children‘s development and their lives. That is why I would like to support my students in learning German, to give them the tools and perspectives they need to be active participants in a global community by nurturing their natural curiosity with inquiry-based learning.

My hobbies are travelling, enjoying nature, spending time with my family, playing the piano, knitting, cooking, and baking. After being a couple of times in the U.S. I wanted to gain some experience here, to learn new things and to share my experience with my colleagues and my students.

In 2022 I was offered the great opportunity to become a staff member at the GIS and I have moved with my children and my husband to Beaverton. I would like to help the school grow in its role.