Arriving 1997 in Vienna with the aim to master the German language, I sought out the most effective German teacher I could find and that was Martin Schöffler. Students from all over the world flocked to his lessons at the Alpha Sprachinstitut and the University of Vienna because he was able to make the most difficult and complex German grammar and formulations easier to learn. He spoke a fine High German, had an admirably cultivated demeanour, was fluent in Portuguese, a Brazilophile. A theology dropout, highly intellectual and well read, from a staunch German protestant family, his complicated love life with a Greek opera singer resulted in his cherished son Constantin, whom he sadly rarely saw. He chose Vienna as his home because he was torn between many places and people. Most of his fond and grateful students probably never heard what happened to him, Martin died of brain cancer on July 26, 2008. I thank him for helping deliver me into the German language and showing me what great teaching is all about.

By Jeff Crowder / CaliWiener