Benjamin Fries

WORK HISTORY

EDUCATION

ABOUT BENJAMIN FRIES

Personal Profile I am a globally experienced educator and academic specialising in German and Middle Eastern Studies, with a sustained commitment to inclusive, research-informed, and interculturally responsive language pedagogy. Holding a BA and MA in Middle East Studies, I have lived, studied, and taught in Germany, Israel, Tunisia, Egypt, Oman, the United Arab Emirates (Dubai), the United Kingdom, and the United States. These wide-ranging international experiences have profoundly shaped my approach to teaching, which prioritises linguistic precision, cultural fluency, and critical engagement with texts, ideas, and global perspectives. In my role as Head of the Language Department in Dubai, I led curriculum reform and spearheaded pedagogical innovation across a linguistically and culturally diverse faculty, mentoring colleagues and developing new frameworks for multilingual instruction. At Princeton University, I contributed to the delivery of rigorous, communicative, and student-centred instruction within one of the world’s most demanding academic environments. I taught across levels and also designed and led a German summer reading course, fostering linguistic proficiency, intercultural awareness, and independent critical thinking among exceptionally talented and motivated students. Fluent in German and English, with intermediate proficiency in French and Italian and a strong understanding of Arabic and Hebrew, I bring a multilingual and cosmopolitan perspective to my teaching. My pedagogical practice is grounded in the Deutsch Lehren Lernen (DLL) programme—an internationally recognised qualification in teaching German as a foreign language—and shaped by both CEFR and ACTFL frameworks. I design scaffolded, inclusive, student-led experiences that promote intellectual curiosity, intercultural dialogue, and long-term academic success. Career Objective I seek to advance the role of modern language education in higher education through inclusive curriculum design, pedagogical innovation, and interdisciplinary collaboration. I aim to elevate German and other modern foreign languages as essential components of a globally engaged education—preparing students to communicate effectively, think critically, and act responsibly across linguistic and cultural boundaries. My aspiration is to build transformative learning environments where rigour meets relevance, and language learning becomes a lifelong, empowering pursuit.