Erasmus+ Journal (Issue 1)
DivuS: Intensive Erasmus-Programme Brussels
Author: Sarah Binder, Martin Schmuck
Working in international groups. Video from Martin Schmuck http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xz5F2xRseno
Martin, Johanna, Christina and I got the chance to attend an Intensive Erasmus-Programme in Brussels. The IP lasted two weeks (03rd to 16th April, 2013) and the main topics were diversity and sustainability.
Besides four Austrian students 24 students from six other nations attended this programme. There was a great variety of different nationalities, languages as well as personalities. In two weeks time we got to know each other better, were able to improve our foreign language skills and made some new friends.
Before the IP we had to prepare a presentation about our country as well as the Austrian school system. When we -the members of the Austrian team- met before the IP in order to create a prezi presentation, we also had the chance to get to know one another better.
At the IP we were among the first ones to present our country. The presentation worked out well and afterwards the other students got a handout and an English travel guide of Graz.
In my opinion, the whole IP was totally successful. We learnt about other nation’s school systems, listened to lecturers from different countries, got illustrative teaching material and took notes to be able to use some of the activities and games ourselves.
The lectures I liked best and enjoyed most were from Austria, Turkey and the Netherlands, because they were not only theoretical but also practical and you could easily use them in class. The Turkish lecturers gave us some input how to use music and drama games during creative lessons. The professors from the Netherlands showed us some creative biology lessons about natural diversity and sustainability, which could also be helpful some day. Moreover we got a collection of easy-to-use activities that do not require special facilities or preparation from the Austrian lecturer, Mrs. Linhofer.
The social programme was also really great, because we could visit not only a lot of sights, museums and cities but also experienced what smaller historic towns had to offer. We visited the European Parliament, the Spellenarchief in Brugge and some other beautiful places inside and outside the city.
The daily cultural dinners provided us an insight into the different nations’ cuisines. We were lucky because Johanna and Christina are studying nutrition and health care at the University for Teacher Education Styria. They knew exactly how to calculate the amount of food to buy and cook for so many people. The Austrian cultural dinner included a starters plate, Wiener Schnitzel, rice, salad with yoghurt dressing and a special desert. Nevertheless, the other students cooked extremely delicious meals, too. I couldn’t even say which one was the best dinner because every team did their best.
Through social interactions with teacher trainees of other countries we were able to improve our English skills enormously. Before the IP in Brussels I was still nervous and afraid of making mistakes when talking English, however in Brussels I got another positive approach to the language. We wanted to exchange experiences or just chat with each other – it didn’t matter which aids we used (mime, gestures, drawings) the most important thing was, that we were able to understand one another.
Additionally, the Intensive Erasmus-Programme provided us an opportunity to gain international teaching experience and to widen our horizon. In teams of four students from different nations we taught some lessons in schools in Brussels about topics which were related to diversity and sustainability. After the lessons we exchanged the teaching material we produced within the whole Erasmus group. That was an excellent idea, because I could use some of the prepared materials immediately after I came back home!
Before I got there, I didn’t know what to expect or what it would be like among so many students from different countries, but I was pleasantly surprised every day.
I would recommend such an Intensive Erasmus-Programme to everybody, who gets the chance to do it. You are not only improving your receptive as well as productive English skills, your gained experiences go far beyond. It’s a wonderful opportunity to make contact teachers from other countries, which could be helpful one day.