“Would you like a cup of tea,” asks the friendly lady, immediately after we meet. Sowmya Baumann is 36 years old, moved to the Vogtland area by choice and is one of the few certified English trainers in the region.

“Of course I’ve got a coffee machine upstairs in the flat,” the native of India says with a smile on her face; but she has discovered that most of those entering her office to learn English prefer the drink that originates in her home country. She was born in exuberant Bangalore, India’s third-largest city with more than eight million residents; she completed her schooling, went to college and studied psychology, English literature and Indian sociology there. It did not take long for her qualifications to be recognised in Germany. “I’m allowed to call myself a Bachelor of Arts,” says the young lady with an attractive, open smile – which definitely helps her in her work. She works as an English coach on a freelance basis with her own company called “Sowmya Baumann - English for You.”

But before things got this far, a very private love story played a role in leading her from her exotic homeland to the tranquil Vogtland area.

“I got to know my husband when he was on official business in India; we fell in love and I’ve now been living in Germany since 2004 – firstly in Heidelberg and now in Plauen, my husband’s home town, since 2008,” the mother of two reports; she speaks German, English, Hindi and her native language Kannada. She set up her own English studio as a business in 2009 and can point to her CELTA certification from the University of Cambridge. What she offers is very specialised and is geared towards private persons, who want to prepare for conferences or even their private holiday, or towards companies, which want to equip their employees for the international market in very small groups. “I give individual tuition, but also teach small groups of no more than five people. My customers often include doctors, medium-sized companies, but also public authorities like the Federal Environment Agency,” says Sowmya Baumann, expressing her delight at the mixed group of customers. 

What does it feel like to move from hot Bangalore to the Vogtland area, where it is often cloudy and dull?

“My heart naturally is in India, but I belong here in the Vogtland region. This is home and this is where I have my family, my husband, my children and our friends. I have little time to yearn for my old home. But it does happen sometimes, particularly in winter. We know nothing about snow and temperatures below freezing in Bangalore,” the English teacher explains; she grew up as a Protestant Christian in her home city. Despite this, Buddhist figures still adorn the teaching room in her home. “They have a soothing effect on me,” says Sowmya Baumann, explaining the reason for her interior decorations.

“The annual visit to my family is rather like a little round-the-world trip every time. I then enjoy the smells and the exuberance of India for a few days. But after a short while, everything is too loud for me – that’s how much I’ve grown accustomed to the peace and quiet in the tranquil Vogtland region,” the English expert explains.

She regularly attends the International Women’s Meeting as a guest; here women from all over the world meet to chat freely and exchange ideas. She has recently also been involved in helping migrants and gave German lessons in the youth hostel in Plauen for four months. “I got to know many fascinating people with a wide variety of ages and from very different nationalities. When you hear the stories of their escape, you can see that your own life is a great blessing,” says the 36-year-old in a thoughtful manner; she wants to establish German teaching as a second string. She is currently in the process of being recognised as a certified integration expert.

Personal Details Sowmya Baumann

• Born in Bangalore (India) in 1980
• Schooling, college and university in Bangalore
• 2004: came to Germany (Heidelberg)
• 2009: moved to Plauen
• Runs the certified English school called “Sowmya Baumann - English for You”
• Married with two children
• Speaks German, English, Hindi and Kannada fluently