Letter from Ghana (4) & first experiences in Germany – by Gifty Edna Anani
Beginning my DAAD “Get Ready for Global Teaching” Journey to Karlsruhe, Germany: Early Insights and Experiences
I am Dr Gifty Edna Anani from the Institute of Education at the University of Cape Coast. The University of Cape Coast (UCC) is widely regarded as one of Ghana’s leading universities and has been an official cooperation partner of the University of Education Karlsruhe (PHKA) since 2024. It is known for its strong academic standards and its consistent performance in national and West African rankings. Over time, the university has built a solid reputation for serious scholarship, attracting students and researchers from across Ghana and beyond. UCC’s research work has also gained international attention, especially for its focus on real societal issues such as education, public health, and sustainable development. This combination of quality teaching and relevant research has led many students and alumni to describe the institution as the “University of Competitive Choice”.
The Institute of Education at the University of Cape Coast plays a key role in Ghana’s education system. Its primary responsibility is teacher training in basic education. In addition, the Institute serves as an examining body for several institutions across the country. Through these roles, it plays an integral part in shaping teacher education and maintaining academic standards in Ghana.
I am on the DAAD “Get Ready for Global Teaching” programme in collaboration with the University of Education Karlsruhe in south Germany, in particular with the English Department. My time in Karlsruhe as a guest lecturer has been one of the most eye-opening experiences of my career already, after only two weeks.
Here is a glimpse of how it all began and the moments that have shaped my stay in Germany so far.
It all started on an ordinary morning when Dr Christopher Kwaah mentioned PHKA’s new Get Ready for Global Teaching programme to me. Several departments of the university cooperate with the International Office in shaping this DAAD programme,1 which supports local students and lecturers and students from PHKA’s partner universities in developing cultural and linguistic sensitivity by combining scholarly engagement with structured international exchange. His encouragement convinced me of its potential benefits, and I carefully prepared my application, submitted it, and waited. When the acceptance letter finally arrived, I was thrilled.
That excitement soon gave way to anxiety as the visa process dragged on. With a baby under two at home, the waiting was stressful. Despite the International Office in Karlsruhe reaching out to the German Embassy in Ghana on my behalf, nothing moved until one quiet Saturday morning, just days before my departure, when the long-awaited appointment finally appeared. What followed was a whirlwind of last-minute packing, arranging childcare, and mentally preparing for the journey. Nervousness was there, but determination carried me through.
On 23 November 2025, I travelled with Brussels Airlines. The flight to Brussels was smooth, and the connection to Frankfurt exceeded my expectations. Frankfurt Airport, however, was more demanding than I had anticipated. Although Mirjam Hitzelberger (PHKA’s DAAD project coordinator) and Prof. Martin (Chair of the Institute of Multilingualism & the English Department) had carefully shared directions, photos, and tickets to make the journey straightforward, navigating the airport was challenging because there were just so many signposts, mostly in German. I spent almost an hour finding my way to the baggage claim and the long-distance train station before a helpful gentleman at the airport information centre guided me. Through this experience, I have mastered some signposts in German and have since learnt to look for images rather than words. Also, this is a lesson to take my German lessons seriously.
By the time I reached the station, I was relieved to learn that the train to Karlsruhe was delayed. The delay turned out to be a blessing, giving me time to settle after the airport experience and remain in contact with Mirjam, who reassured me that she would meet me at the train station on arrival. When I arrived, the International Office team greeted me warmly, easing my exhaustion. That first night, homesickness set in. The cold weather and grey skies felt overwhelming, but wrapping myself in warm layers and receiving messages from home reminded me that support was never far away.
The next morning, Mirjam took us guest lecturers on a campus tour, us being Prof. Martin’s cooperation partners from Cameroon and Ghana (a third partner from South Africa arrived the following week). Her warmth made settling in easier as she showed us the library, lecture rooms, staff offices, cafeteria, and other key places. By the end of the tour, the campus already felt welcoming.
My first class, “Aspects of English Grammar” with Prof. Martin, exceeded every expectation. Students spoke freely, engaged in lively discussions, and collaborated naturally. The following day, in Prof. Martin’s “Global Englishes, Global Citizenship Education & Teaching International English” seminar, students acted out classroom scenarios, connected them to previous lessons, and displayed critical thinking that left me genuinely impressed.
On the following Sunday that I will never forget, Prof. Martin hosted an “International Lunch” gathering for international guest lecturers, colleagues, and doctoral students. Everyone brought a dish from their home country, creating a colourful spread representing Germany, Ukraine, Marocco, China, India, Uganda, Cameroon, South Africa, and Ghana. We shared stories, discussed research ideas and teaching tools, and ended the evening with music and dance. It was a beautiful reminder of how much we can learn from one another.
Earlier on that same day, I had the chance to visit the Christmas market, and it was a lot of fun. Many people were there drinking, eating cookies and taking pictures. Since I love pictures, I took the opportunity to snap some photos.
Life in Karlsruhe has offered both lessons and laughter. Grocery shopping often became an adventure; I returned home more than once with condensed milk instead of evaporated milk, and once bought hand soap instead of detergent for clothes. These little mistakes reminded me of the importance of learning basic vocabulary before travelling to a non-English-speaking country. In fact, I am assuring myself that I will not skip my German lessons.
Even my wardrobe attracted attention. I had packed bright colours, unaware that many prefer muted tones in winter. The compliments I received encouraged me to embrace the local style while keeping my own flair.
One very cold Thursday, Prof. Martin took us along to her cooperation school, the Albert-Schweitzer-Grundschule in Muggensturm, to observe a teaching session in 4th grade. A trainee teacher – i.e. a PHKA student of English – delivered a lesson on zoo animals using colourful, well-prepared materials. The children were lively, engaged, and fully immersed in the lesson. Watching this made me reflect on the contrast between the resources available here and those in Ghana, while also reminding me of the creativity and resilience of Ghanaian teachers who make the most of what they have every day.
With two weeks still ahead, each day continues to bring new learning about teaching, culture, and myself. This journey has renewed my professional energy and strengthened my belief in the value of international collaboration in education. I look forward to gaining more insights, forming meaningful connections, and returning home better prepared to contribute to teacher education in Ghana.
I am deeply grateful to everyone who has made this transformative experience possible. I look forward to presenting a full account of my experiences in my position as a guest lecturer at the University of Education, Karlsruhe.
You’ll hear from me again – best regards!
Text by G. Anani
Photos by Gifty Anani, Godwin Kenneth Anani, Mirjam Hitzelberger, Isabel Martin, Donald Nchofua
Editor’s Note
1 Blog articles about our implementation of the DAAD programme and the first “Winter School” are in preparation and will follow.
Links
Dr Gifty Edna Anani, University of Cape Coast, Ghana
Research Gate: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Gifty-Anani
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gifty-edna-anani-phd-00877295
Orcid: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1005-7938
Email: gifty.anani@ucc.edu.gh
Google Scholar: https://scholar.google.com/citations?hl=en&user=PPu8aMQAAAAJ
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