Die Kurse des Sprachlehrer:innen-Seminars geben eine Einführung in den Fremdsprachenunterricht auf waldorfpädagogischer Grundlage. Basierend auf der Entwicklung der Kinder und Jugendlichen werden Methodik und Didaktik der Klassen 1-12 erarbeitet und vertieft.

Themen

How can storytelling lay a foundation for reading without rushing the literacy process? What techniques can teachers use to help bridge the gap between oral and written language? How does rhythm, repetition, and imagery in oral tales support memory and comprehension?

What kinds of stories are most appropriate for classes 3–5, and how can they evolve to support reading readiness? In this two-day seminar, we will not only explore these questions through theory, hands-on practice, and creative play, but also examine the progression from oral storytelling in lower classes to structured story reading. Participants will gain insights into age-appropriate methods and techniques for guiding students through this transition. Practical strategies and classroom examples will support effective and engaging story-based learning.

Designed for English teachers in Rudolf Steiner (Waldorf) Schools, this seminar focuses on the pedagogical transition from oral storytelling to reading stories, especially in classes 3, 4, and 5. Grounded in Steiner’s anthroposophical view of child development and the Waldorf approach to language, it explores the formative power of the spoken word. Drawing on the work of Walter J. Ong and Rudolf Steiner’s insights, participants will examine the shift from orality to literacy as a developmental journey. The seminar will include practical storytelling sessions (e.g., The Pancake, Silly Simon, The House That Jack Built, Selkie), group singing of traditional ballads like Tam Lin, and re-enactments of classic Celtic folktales. Teachers will also develop their own stories linked to seasonal themes and curriculum content, with time for collaborative feedback and performance. Special attention will be given to the techniques that help prepare children for story reading — bridging the imaginative world of oral tales with the skills needed for independent reading. We will look at the role of memory, rhythm, repetition, and imagery as tools for building literacy readiness. The seminar offers practical resources, including performing arts courses, reference literature, and storytelling archives. It welcomes both new and experienced storytellers who wish to deepen their connection to the living word. Come ready to speak, sing, move—and rediscover how storytelling evolves into story reading in the light of Waldorf education.

Dozenten

Iryna Chloni-Ediger was born in Ukraine in 1981 into a family of English and music teachers, where she experienced deep love of music, arts and foreign languages resulting in the studies of English, German, French and World Literature at the Teachers Training College for Foreign Languages in Eastern Ukraine.  She has been living in Germany since 2004 and working at the Rudolf Steiner School Mittelrhein in Neuwied since 2015, teaching classes 1 to 13. Being a former M.A. graduate from the University of Koblenz (2004-2009), majoring in English and German studies and Psychology (minor), Iryna Chloni-Ediger was pursuing her call for teaching a foreign language in a healthy environment, which guided her husband and two of their children to a Waldorf School, its teaching methods and Anthroposophy. She gained the most valuable experience in teaching at the Academy of Waldorf Pedagogy, attending the Seminars for Teachers of Foreign Languages in Mannheim for two years.