Fun and examinations: experiences in VET at the Buenos Aires VTC

"How am I supposed to remember all that, that's too much at once for the final examination," complains Sofia B, a 19-year-old Argentinian who is hoping to successfully complete her two year training in 8 weeks' time as an Industrial Management Assistant at the vocational training centre (VTC) in Buenos Aires. For the teachers at the VTC, this was reason enough to trial something new during the revision period leading up to the Chamber of Foreign Trade's (AHK) Management Assistant examinations.

Under the guidance of Matthias Gaede, teacher at the VTC in Buenos Aires, discussions in the project-based, interdisciplinary element of the curriculum addressed both how well, and the variety of ways in which, a fun approach might be adopted to the revision and consolidation of the learning content covered over the previous two years in business administration, economics and business accounting. The idea and preparation which followed was also supported by two students from Cologne University who are currently completing a school placement at the VTC.

Trainees prepared a range of games together in small teams. The purpose of the games was to enable repetition of the key content, for example by means of questions and answers. The moment had finally arrived. Amid much euphoria and excitement, the diverse and creative learning ideas were presented at the end of September. These included a climbing pyramid, a gambling game (no money involved) and Monopoly.

Not only the trainees and teachers at the VTC, but also guests from the Argentinian Teacher Training Institute "Lenguas Vivas" were keen and excited to try out the individual stations. On this particular day at the VTC, the guests were observing 'German Teaching'. "It has been really interesting for me to see the level of commitment shown by the individual groups in preparation for today. I have been really positively surprised, but to be honest, in some cases I found some of the specialist business questions a bit too hard," commented Carol Bauckhage with a wry smile — a student at Lenguas Vivas — as she described her impressions.

At one of the game stations for example, there were questions about the difference between external and internal accounting, the key responsibilities of the European Central Bank, the importance of a commercial register and a range of other themes. Each correct answer allowed you to climb one step higher on the pyramid.

"I think it is great how this has made trainees think independently and across a broad range of topics in order to find possible questions and their corresponding answers," remarked Lukas Bonacker, a student and prospective economics teacher at Cologne University. "What I find particularly remarkable is the simple fact that, as a result of this, trainees are addressing the relevant examination topics in a fun way as part of their revision, and this makes me feel even more positive about my future teaching," noted Matthias Gaede, who is responsible for German teaching at the VTC and who was visibly delighted at the enthusiasm shown by the trainees.

"Why can't we do games like this every day at the VTC — that was really fun," added Sofia B, who intends to revise for the Chamber of Foreign Trade's final examinations over the weeks to come in a slightly more relaxed way with her friends.

The Buenos Aires Vocational Training Centre (VTC) is 1 of 140 German Schools Abroad for which educational, personnel and financial support is provided on behalf of the Foreign Office by the Federal Administration Office's Central Agency for German Schools Abroad (ZfA). The ZfA consolidates school development with a focus on quality and supports the establishment of new schools with a German profile. It advises local schools on the development of German language teaching and on the introduction of German school qualifications in line with international standards. Dual education and training in commercial and industrial-technical occupations is offered at around 10 vocational centres abroad.