Which heritage language (HL) do you teach?
I teach Somali.


What is your favorite word in the HL you teach and why?
Dhaqan (Culture). I want to teach my students that their language belongs to their culture and for it to give them self-confidence.

What makes teaching heritage languages special?
To speak their heritage language is important for the students because they feel at home when they can speak their own language. It makes them feel that their language matters. Moreover, it makes them feel good and relaxed to speak their own language when they are at school.

What does a typical heritage language lesson look like for you?
I choose a topic for every class, which I then introduce to my students. Then I ask for their reactions because I want to hear their thoughts on the lesson’s topic. My students then get to discuss their opinions in small groups. Usually, I then also ask them to write down their ideas to practice writing.

You are an ex-table tennis professional. What made you decide to teach HL?
I have given numerous talks about my career as a professional table tennis player. I have done that in various schools and clubs, and I really enjoyed working with young people. That’s one of the reasons I wanted to teach heritage language. It also makes me feel good to teach my own language.

Is there anything from your professional sports career that helps you when teaching HL?
My experiences from my professional sports career allow me to transmit important values to my students, like perseverance and motivation.

What impact did the project “Your language counts!” have on your teaching?
The project was very helpful. It gave me structure for the lessons and provided me with various activities for class. I also really appreciated meeting other heritage language teachers from different countries — especially other Somali teachers. This way we could support each other and exchange ideas.

Do you have a memory from class that shows you how important HL is for your students?
My students are always present. Sometimes they stay longer at school, even though they are already free, just to wait for the HL class. Another student, who transferred schools, came back to my lesson, because he missed them. This makes me feel how important HL is for them and motivates me to keep going.