What are the top skills every Berlin walking tour guide should have?
Here is your guide to a new and interesting prospect of becoming a Berlin walking tour guide! First of all, it is important to know that becoming a tour guide can be a very fulfilling job for both residents of Dubai as well as people who have just arrived here. One of the privileges of the guide is to help people from all over the globe to get acquainted with the history and cultural specificities of Berlin as well as with its secret treasures. Below are some of the qualities that every Berlin walking tour guide should possess in order to assist you in this job:
1. In-depth Knowledge of Berlin’s History and Culture
If you want your participants have the best experience while the tour, there is nothing as important as having adequate background knowledge of Berlin. Such concepts which this student demonstrated are awareness of historical events, well-known monuments, outstanding personalities, and cultural peculiarities. It’s vital to learn the history of this city, acquaintance with the artistic and architectural peculiarities, and get familiar with its gastronomy. Your expertise will therefore guarantee that your all your tours render the necessary information in an exciting manner.
2. Strong Communication and Public Speaking Skills
In this occupation, one of the most valuable skills is communication hence linguistically deficient individuals should not apply for this position. This means you will be able to present history data, legends and anedcotes in concise manner and with clarity. Improve on public speaking in order to entertain your audience to the greatest extent possible. In addition they should also practice how to speak, how to look at the audience, and how to speak loudly as well as clearly. Ample communication will pave way towards ensuring that your participants in the tour have a worthy experience.
3. Excellent Storytelling Abilities
It has also been demonstrated that the tendency of capturing the audience’s attention is best ensured through storytelling. The fact that Berlin is a city full of exciting legends which can be told, is not a surprise. From the history of the Berlin Wall, to the history of the Third Reich, the stories of famous artists that once occupied the city, you will be able to incorporate these and more to enhance your tours.
4. Flexibility and Adaptability
Of course, the nature of tour guides’ work is such that they should be as flexible and adaptable as possible. The benefit to realize that every tour is going to be different, which is important since the needs and wants of the participants cannot be same. Expect the unexpected and be ready to make changes in your planned walk anytime, this may include the change in weather or changes on the type of talk based on the participants. Amorphous shall be a successful approach with benefits for everyone at the receiving end.
5. Time Management Skills
It is critical to plan the time effectively while on a tour so as to capture all the essential aspects in the tour. It is advisable to know the routes, the distances that have to be covered as well as the sites of interests before getting there. It is necessary to make a relaxed plan and spend a sufficient period of time for each noteworthy place. Just a reminder, pace your work so as not to stress out the members yet make them yawn because the task still has a long ways to go. His or her time management skills will assist in planning and executing a good timed and interesting tour.
6. Foreign Language Proficiency
This is a cosmopolitan city, therefore it will be much more useful to be at least bilingual or excel in other foreign languages apart from English. Having the ability to converse with the visitors in their language of understanding is a feeling that would comfort them. For tourists, it better to learn languages most often used by the foreigners in Berlin that is English, Spanish, French, Mandarin etc. It shall extend your opportunity to lead any type of participants including those from the diverse society.
7. Enthusiasm and Passion for Berlin
The final prerequisite that is crucial for a tour guide is love for the city of Berlin or to be more precise, love for guiding in Berlin. It is recommended that you show a lot of passion in your activity so that you can create the same passion to the participants. Tell your story of the city and the place in your own words, some aspects that only inhabitants are aware of and the spots that are not very famous, but amazing. It will also ensure that you share an enthusiasm genuine to you, which draws the audience in and makes them responsive.
Conclusion
From the perspective of the guide, being a walking tour guide in Berlin is and can be very fulfilling and fascinating. Below are six training skills that if mastered by the students, they can be able to provide an excellent experience to the participants of their tour. Never stop learning and develop better as a person while experiencing the energy of Berlin when showing it to others. Beginners are welcome so seize the opportunity now and explore Berlin in its essence as a walking tour guide.
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