An Interview with the Recipient of Outstanding Community Language Teacher of the Year Awards 2025
Think about your school early school days- there must be at least on teacher, who made such an impression on you growing up. They go the extra mile in making sure that you make the most of your schooling days and puts in dedication like no other. Christine Reger is such a teacher, who was deservedly recognised for her outstanding dedication to teaching German to the next generation of leaders.
Following the recent Outstanding Community Language Teacher of the Year Awards 2025 at the WA Musuem Boola Bardip, WAGBA is proud to celebrate Christine Reger of the Goethe Society WA, who was recognised for her exceptional contribution to German language teaching. We spoke with Christine to hear her reflections on this honour and her passion for inspiring the next generation of German speakers in Western Australia.
Congratulations on receiving the Outstanding Community Language Teacher of the Year Award! How did you feel when your name was announced at the ceremony?
Honestly, I was humbled when I got the invitation, and I just thought, “Oh, yeah, let's go there, you know, with other nominees and get your Merit Certificate after 10 years, very nice.” But I was quite convinced not to come out as the winner —one of my friends from the Polish Club asked if I had prepared a speech. And I said, “Me? No”. I was totally surprised and could not believe it when they called my name, I was blown away and I think the anxiety to give a speech hit me. And then, I just spoke from the heart without a real script.
It was amazing. And as I said, I didn't expect it, but everyone said that it was clear that I [was to receive the award] and that it was so well deserved. But look, there were professors and doctors nominated amongst us. So maybe they gave me the award for being there the last ten years. And after my reflecting. I must admit that I have really invested my heart and soul for the Goethe Society WA the last 10 years.
10 years- for many it is long into one’s career, and perhaps longer more in the future. How does it feel to receive this award at this stage in your teaching career?
It is a good feeling; it is nice and really rewarding. I think it was the perfect time because I often thought about retiring or you know, like “that’s enough now”. A lot of associations are struggling with getting new and reliable people on board, especially on a voluntary base. So, we all struggle sometimes, which is why working with Iris and Agnes of the Goethe Society helped me a lot—these people who really make the association. You need a team; you need a good team.
And look, Iris was the Goethe Society president for at least, 13, 14 years, so it is good to have her expertise, and Agnes is there even longer. Luckily Tabea stepped up, but she works fulltime in a leading role, so it is also tricky to come together and get things done. On top of it, it felt like an era had come to an end when people I worked with when the PIP (Pathway of Improvement) programme started — like Moya McLauchlan and James Jegasothy of the Office of Multicultural Interests — also retired or moved on after 10 years. So I thought “Maybe it's also time for me to step aside”.
I think this award gave me another impulse—I found more energy within me again. So I thought, “Let's stick around a little bit longer and see if we could do more” and the new people in charge seem also quite nice.
What motivates you personally to keep investing your time and energy into this work?
When you're passionate about something and you really love what you're doing, you tend to stick to it. I love languages and I like to learn on a daily basis myself. Oftentimes when I look back with that PIP programme, which started about 10 years ago, Iris and I came home from these workshops at 10 pm and in a way I want to improve language learning also for the future generation including my children. Not only the German aspect of it, but, you know, multiculturalism, but I also understand that nowadays, not many people would commit to that but lucky there are some amazing people around and a lot of us became good friends, and it fulfills me to spend time with them.
I am now also involved with the Spanish Teachers Association, during beginning of the year we finalized the Constitution and now writing on the Spanish syllabus for the curriculum also as pure volunteers.
In a global world, we need this knowledge of different languages and cultures, and not just German, no, but also Indian or Chinese, etc. And it goes both ways. Because I think it's important for your career, for your work, for international connection. So, if the kids say, “Oh, I'm not going to continue with German, I'm doing French”—or even Mandarin— "in high school”. I’d say, “Yes, do it!”. Every language is important.
And that's what I said to Stephan (Kirsch) that's why I'm also so grateful that we have Torsten (Ketelsen OAM). When I started the whole journey 10 years ago, I started out as just as a mom, wondering if my kids feel included in their school and that they don’t feel like aliens and outsiders, coming from Germany and not speaking the English language. I had a supportive principal [at the kids’ school], and together we started a free fun German class on a volunteer base. With my passion and energy, I was able to inspire others, and the principal connected me with the former president of TAGWA Helen Kuhls.
From Helen I then learned about the roundtable meeting with Torsten, the German consul back then. Next thing you know I was invited to the consulate to have a roundtable meeting with him. And with his dedication and support and of course, his commitment and strength, my journey started to help preserve and promote the German language in schools. And he is such an exceptional leader too. From there, together with important members like Tanja Colgan, Dr. Dale Adams (UWA), Iris, Dr. Alexandra Ludewig (UWA), Anja Schulz, Kate Reizenstein and so many others, we began building connections and working toward the same goal. Iris finally invited me to join the Goethe Society WA and I quickly took over some classes.
Exactly. I'm sure that there are a lot of people who would like to teach the arts as a living, but unfortunately, with a way the economy is right now, it makes it very hard.
Exactly. You have the cost-of-living pressure. And a lot of us, we have families with little kids. If you don't have a supporting husband or if you aren’t lucky enough that your husband is earning a little bit more money than average, then you can't really do that amount of voluntary work what is necessary to run an association, it is a fulltime job itself. And because [this is the reality of] the younger generation overall, does not like to commit and do volunteer work — it is not just in the Goethe Society, it is happening in every club, and I hear it from other associations.
Some people are not stepping up because they are maybe afraid of what the job brings, it is a huge commitment. And nowadays we have this self-awareness to take care of yourself. You need time for yourself, that mindfulness. People would rather go to the fitness studio or do yoga or even just catch up with friends or spend time with the family. There are just so many factors, so many things to keep in mind.
What gave you the confidence to go from wanting to be accepted to proudly sharing your German culture with others?
It's all a bit tricky to be included in a society in Australia initially, because it's hard to find really Aussie connections from the get-go. I have international friends, and I value my friends because we share the same passion and the same goal—multiculturalism—and we love it. But [the initiative to share your culture] takes a while. And I have always wanted to share them because I'm proud of my culture. I also treasure other cultures, and I love to learn [about them]—it warms my heart. This is what defines me.
And that is why it’s necessary, you know, for the Office of Multicultural Interests and from the community languages WA, that all the community language schools, to get as many teachers as possible, workshops, and personal developments. When I became Principal of the school, I tried to do more from a multicultural point of view. I liked highlighting the multilingual side of Australia and bilingual families, so that we are all united and together. For example, we did projects with Henrietta Podgorska —who is now the CEO of Umbrella Multicultural Community Care Services and Filipa Pinto you runs story time in 4 different languages— together we did the International Mother Language Day in the Fremantle Arts Centre. We combined, Indonesian, Japanese, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, Hungarian, and Polish, and we did a big story-time session altogether.
I think that’s what differentiated me from the former Goethe Society coordinator, because they were focused only within the German language and culture. And because I'm also a member of TAGWA (Teachers’ Association German-Western Australia), we are doing a lot more projects together also with the Rhein-Donau Club. Steve Schlegel the new president, is trying to make every event possible like a flea market and as I said the lantern walk.
I am also grateful that Hon. Dr. Tony Buti, was Education Minister, and is still Minister of Multiculture Interests/International Languages, he understands the importance and made a positive difference for the last 5 years and he is a strong supporter of languages and CLWA. I think the best outcome is standing strong and coming together because, let’s face it, with one hour per week in mainstream schools, you can't learn anything substantial, and the best thing is to immerse fully in the language and have opportunities like cultural festivals.
Speaking as someone who took French once a week for three years in high school, I definitely agree.
True, that is why we welcome everyone to come to our weekend school for two more hours a week. We are a good example for other community schools, because we have the DSD Diplom from the ZFA together with the German Government and the German Consulate. We offer the DSD1 (B1) and DSD2 (C1) so students can go to Germany to study. Year 12, second language students at their mainstream school reach a A2/B1-ish kind of level. Background speakers are not allowed to do Yr 11 or Yr 12 in their mother tongue. They sit the WACE exam as a private candidate and most of the background speaker come to the Goethe Society WA. That’s why the German Community value us. Furthermore, associations like WAGBA are so important and demonstrate German strength. And again, with key figures like Stephan, Torsten and Pamela doing the hard work for so many years; with example SAGSE. These are all amazing opportunity for the students. Imagine, you can go on a scholarship for 10 weeks for free to Germany in an exchange, how amazing is that? Also, our partnership with the Goethe-Institut has grown, some teachers of the GS became GI examiners. Again, 10 years ago, when I was sitting at the Round Table, Torsten invited the former director to meet everyone, we had little idea about her before. He brought us together. So, I can't thank Torsten, enough. Of course, Helen, and Dale and Alexandra, what they have done for the Goethe Society WA and so many other people. In fact, Helen still doesn't want to retire. She’s helping SCSA with refining the curriculum. They are such amazing people, and this is what makes us strong— that is why I am also doing my share-we need a strong network. We need all this dedication because otherwise we will lose all this hard work being put in by these dedicated people.
Thank you, Christine, for making the time to hold this short interview with WAGBA and congratulations again for this winning Outstanding Community Language Teacher of the Year Awards 2025. We are delighted to see you be celebrated for all your hard work and look forward to the progress that Goethe Society will achieve in the future!
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