German in British Columbia
About BCCTG
Who we are
Bringing together all Educators of German in British Columbia
British Columbia Council of Teachers of German (BCCTG) is a non-profit provincial association of teachers of German in British Columbia who are working on all levels of education, from primary and secondary to higher and adult education. Its beginning in 1997 coincided with the founding of its umbrella organization CATG (Canadian Association of Teachers of German) and provincial associations of Teachers of German in other Canadian provinces.
As one of the founding members, Isolde Hey was instrumental in the continuation of BCCTG and the service it provides for Teachers of German in the most western Canadian province. Currently, BCCTG is led by a board of a minimum of four Board members elected at the general annual meeting typically held in October at the time of BCCTG’s yearly conference.
As a non-profit organization, BCCTG is completely funded through funds allotted by the German government upon the approval of the BCCTG yearly conference plan.


German at the Center
Meet the board of directors

Lidija Bakovic
President
Lidija Bakovic has been teaching German for almost twenty years, in both Germany and Canada. Inter alia, she has worked for the Goethe-Institut and Vancouver Westside German School, both as a teacher and a language program coordinator. She specializes in B2/C1 level courses. Most recently, Lidija has completed the UBC teacher training program and has been teaching with Delta school district. She has been a board member with BCCTG since 2017, and is currently active as its president. Her ambition is to strengthen and expand German educators’ networks and to help turn students from reluctant learners to passionate devotees of the German verb and the universes it creates.

Claudia Hein
Vice President
Claudia Hein is a Senior Lecturer of German at Simon Fraser University. Prior to coming to SFU in 1999 Claudia taught at universities in the US and Italy. As the coordinator for German language courses at SFU she supervises and teaches courses on the A1, A2, and B1 level of the CEFRL. Her ultimate goal is to get students excited about the German language and encourage them to spend a semester (or longer) abroad. Claudia is also a Certified Examiner with the Goethe Institut and serves as vice president on the board for the BCCTG.

Ute Steves
Treasurer
Ute Steves has worked with the Vancouver Westside German School since 2013 as a teacher and Exam Coordinator and took over the position of School Principal in 2019. She has 25 years+ of DaF, DaZ and ESL teaching experience gained in both Canada and Germany, including Examiner Certification for the German Language Diploma, International Teacher and Teacher Trainer Certificate ESL and a Canadian TESL and IELTS certification. She currently also works as Language Centre Lead in a non-profit immigration organization and volunteers her time as treasurer on the BCCTG Board.

Anke Sabo
Secretary
Anke Sabo has worked with the Surrey German Language School since 2008 as a teacher and Exam Coordinator and also with the Vancouver Westside German School since 2020. Having obtained her Examiner Certification for the German Language Diploma, she specializes in teaching the German Language Diploma on the B2/C1 level.
Currently, she works as a Web Designer and SEO Specialist and volunteers her time as secretary and webmaster on the BCCTG Board.

Juliane Wolfram
Director