This is a photo of Hr. Kirchoff at the Arches National Park in Moab, Utah. He visited Arches last March after hiking in Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado.
Earlier this year, Linsly welcomed Herr Benjamin Kirchoff onto the Linsly staff! Hr. Kirchoff teaches German I, II, III, IV, and V while also coaching the swim team and working as a dorm parent in Dicke. He is very excited to be welcomed into the Linsly community and is extremely appreciative of the freedom The Linsly School provided him by allowing him to teach more personally to a smaller group of students with his own curriculum.
After receiving his undergraduate degree at Wayne State University in Detroit, he studied in Munich, Germany for a year. He received his master’s degree at the University of Colorado Boulder, where he taught graduate studies before studying in Regensburg, Germany for a year.
He notes that living in Germany was difficult, as he had to function fully in German every day. He can relate to students struggling to learn a new language, but acknowledges that the challenges lead to learning, growth, and experience with difficulty. The cultural immersion in Germany during his studies gave him a better appreciation for different cultures and perspectives; a wider world view to be able to bring back to the classroom.
Originally, Hr. Kirchoff started taking German classes to meet the high school language credit, but he quickly fell in love with the language. While formerly interested in STEM classes, the idea and opportunity of sharing his love of the German culture and language with students was too appealing. In high school, he was also a part of the diving team, carrying over his skills to coach our Linsly swim team. He encourages students to consider joining the swim team, as it is a great way to get involved in the Linsly community and it is very rewarding to work up to and achieve athletic goals.
While being a dorm parent in Dicke, he gets to experience the Linsly community firsthand everyday. He admires how strong and inclusive the Linsly community is, and how in most regular high schools the student body does not cooperate and work together for the betterment of the school. From the swim team to the classroom to the respect of the students to their teachers, Hr. Kirchoff stated, “What makes Linsly so great is the time and energy that teachers and boarding staff are willing to put into the job [and] they get that right back. It’s a very fulfilling experience.”
In his free time, Hr. Kirchoff likes to spend his time outdoors hiking or playing tennis.
He also enjoys music and concerts, recently seeing Phoebe Bridgers in Detroit as well as visiting his friends and family around the world. He can be found in classroom Room 211 helping students pursue their education in German.
Thank you, Herr Kirchoff, for sharing your experiences with The Linsly Line!
