What happens when an English teacher starts dancing to the Rocky Horror Picture Show? And why should you be worried if Axel starts speaking German at home?
In our exclusive interview, our Principal, Axel, takes us from the streets of Munich to the gym floor. Read all about his secret “treasure hunt” for the perfect German snack, the tradition he dreams of bringing to our school, and why he thinks we are all a bit like elephants.
Pretzels, P.E., and the Great Schaschlik Hunt:
An Interview with Axel!
Annika: What is the best thing about being the principal of our school?
Axel: It’s easily the people! Our school has such a wonderful community of staff, volunteers, and students. It is an absolute pleasure to work so closely with our teachers and board members. Plus, it’s incredibly rewarding to watch our students progress—seeing you all master the German language is a real privilege!
Riley: What does a normal Saturday look like from a principal’s perspective?
Axel: It’s a bit of a balancing act! I have to make sure every class has a teacher; otherwise, I’m hunting for a sub or jumping in to teach myself. I’m usually the first one at school to unlock the doors. I spend the morning supporting teachers and planning the school’s future with the board. But the undisputed highlight? The Brezeln at recess every Saturday!
Piers: Which story from your own school days still makes you smile today?
Axel: I grew up in Germany and had to learn English as a second language. I’ll never forget a party we had in Grade 10, our English teacher joined in and surprisingly knew every single dance move to the Rocky Horror Picture Show songs. We were stunned!
Teo: Where in Germany are you from and what do you miss most from there?
Axel: I’m from Munich. Besides my family, I deeply miss the food specifically Schnitzel, Schweinshaxe, and Rouladen. But most of all, I miss Schaschlik. When I was young, it was as popular as Döner-Kebab is today. Now, it’s become so rare that going back to Germany feels like a treasure hunt to find a good one!
Niko: If you had one wish for the future of the school, what would it be?
Axel: My favorite subject was always P.E. (Sport), so I would love to spend a day teaching students all the skills and athletic tricks I’ve picked up over the years. Watch out, I might still have some moves!
Tanmay: What makes the German language so unique and lovable to you?
Axel: German has these amazing “untranslatable” words. I love words like Gemütlichkeit, Schadenfreude, Fernweh, or Torschlusspanik. I still feel I can express myself best in German. In fact, my kids, Oliver and Rebecca, know things are getting very serious the moment I switch from English to German!
Annika: Is there a German tradition we should definitely introduce at our school?
Axel: We’ve already brought in some greats, like Oktoberfest a few years ago. But if I could add one more, it would be the Maibaum (Maypole) tradition. It would be wonderful to see a colourful Maypole standing tall at our school!
Riley: How do you motivate yourself on grey, rainy days when the alarm goes off early?
Axel: It depends on the goal! If the alarm is for a round of golf or something fun, I practically jump out of bed. If it’s for work, I just have to trick myself into believing it’s going to be exactly as much fun as a day on the golf course!
Piers: What is your most important goal for our students?
Axel: My number one priority is that every student learns German in an environment that is fun, safe, and truly motivating.
Teo: If our school were an animal, which one would it be and why?
Axel: An Elephant. Why? Because elephants are gentle giants and they have the best memories just like our students as they memorize all that German vocabulary!
A big THANK-YOU to DSD1 teacher Tanmay Joshi for guiding his students in interviewing our Principal Axel Rechlin and helping to capture and share his story.
