Uge Atten (Week Eighteen: 24.05.12 - 31.05.12) - Personal Development

As it is my last day in Denmark I feel that it is fitting that this is my final blog.  I cannot believe that the past four months have gone so quickly and that so much has happened and been achieved in this small space of time from adapting to a new way of life, school practice, new friendships, travelling and studying.  I have genuinely had the greatest time.

Yummy Swedish meatballs.

At the beginning of this week Jemma and I decided to squeeze in one last bit of travelling to visit Stockholm for two days.  We had a brilliant time and it was interesting to see another Scandinavian country.  As it is quite close to Denmark, I found that it was actually quite a similar city in that it was very relaxed and there was a positive atmosphere.  We visited the Palace, the city hall, the old town and took a boat cruise.  I have really enjoyed visiting other parts of Europe and learning about their culture and history.  If I hadn’t of come on Erasmus I wouldn’t have had the opportunity to see the places I did and I plan to continue this travelling when I’m home to hopefully visit some of the Erasmus group.

Outside the Palace.

Reflecting on my time here has shown me how much I have learned and changed.  I think that the teaching style in Denmark has helped me become more relaxed and comfortable when talking in front of others because we have had frequent group discussions where the rest of the class observes and presentations were a big part of our classes.  I came as someone who hadn’t really lived away from home, I couldn’t cook and my Mum did a lot for me in terms of washing etc.  I have definitely become more independent since I came here and this is a good thing and something I want to continue at home.  With this independence has come confidence as I now know that I can look after myself.  I think I have also become more confident through meeting so many new people and affectively having to start over.  I find it funny now how much I stressed and worried about coming here and making friends when I have made so many great ones.  Saying goodbye today was extremely difficult and I was a little emotional as I thought to myself I may never see this group of people again but I am hopeful that we will meet in the future.  The Erasmus group have become my substitute family here and it will be so strange not to see them every day. 

I have had an amazing time here and I am so glad that I came.  I only wish I could stay a little longer.  I have met so many great people and learnt so much about myself, the cultures of others, school systems and Denmark.  I am definitely sad to leave as I have had the best four months but as the saying goes – ‘All good things must come to an end.’  I really appreciate the opportunity I was given to come here and will always look back with happy memories on the four months I spent in Denmark.

Uge Sytten (Week Seventeen: 17.05.12 - 24.05.12) - Professional Development

As I move close to the end of my stay I am happy to say I have finally completed my individual assignment.

To complete the assignment I have had to carry out numerous visits to schools and kindergartens to conduct interviews and observations and this week I had an extremely interesting school visit.  Not only did I get to interview staff but I got to interview an Irish parent who is living and working in Denmark and whose children are currently a apart of the Danish education system.  Speaking with him was very interesting as he was able to offer his opinion having experienced an early school start himself in Ireland whereas his children began school at a later age in Denmark.  He was off the opinion that the Danish starting age was better, something I have begun to agree with and that in Denmark there is a much stronger focus on the development of social skills rather than academic ability.  Having completed the assignment I have came to the conclusion that both Denmark and Northern Ireland could learn from each other and that the borrowing of educational practice would be possible.  Working on this assignment and visiting schools in Denmark has challenged many of my opinions of the Northern Ireland school system, in particular the starting age and pressure we place on children from an early age.  The happiness of children in schools here is clear to see and they genuinely love school.  I think it would be great to see this in Northern Ireland but I fear because of our strict, formalised system it is hard to achieve.  What struck me most in one of the interviews with a teacher was that when I asked her why children in school in Denmark started later she stated that as a country there was a concern that the child wouldn’t be ready and would therefore fail leading to a bad feeling for them and trouble throughout their future schooling.  This is something that seems to be overlooked in the UK although through research I have realised that many concerns have been raised recently over the school starting age particularly in Northern Ireland.  However, there are no current plans to change this.  It has been an extremely interesting assignment and one that for once I have actually enjoyed writing and researching although I have almost as many new questions as the ones I got answered.

My opinions have obviously changed drastically since my arrival here, from initial shock to the seeming chaotic Danish classrooms with their lack of discipline and high levels of freedom to a familiarity and admiration of the relationships that the teachers create with their students.  It is surprising how many men work in both kindergarten and the 1^st, 2^nd and 3^rd Grade classrooms and how tactile they are with the children.  I think this is desirable for Northern Ireland as a male role model is great for children but unfortunately many men are put off by Child Protection Rules and strict guidelines.  It highlights how trusted the Danish teachers are.  They have no inspections, a broader curriculum and more freedom in what they teach.  Obviously this also has its downsides but it is definitely a enviable position.  I’m looking forward to getting back to classrooms in Northern Ireland to see how I view them now I have been here and hopefully some of my new questions will be answered!

Uge Seksten (Week Sixteen: 10.05.12 - 17.05.12) - Cultural Development

On Thursday I boarded a flight eagerly awaiting my arrival in Milan and I was not disappointed as we had a brilliant time.

As soon as the plane landed we were met with a burst of heat and for the rest of the stay the temperature was around 30 ˚C which made a great change from the weather in Denmark and the constant presence of wind.  By far the highlight of my time was the Italian food; delicious doesn’t even begin to cover it.  Jemma and I definitely embraced this while we were there with lots of pizza, pasta and of course ice-cream.  As a city Milan is beautiful architecturally and it is clear it is very wealthy.  The people we saw and the shops were incredible.  Unfortunately we couldn’t afford to actually buy anything in any of the designer stores so we were left with the rather boring ‘window-shopping option.’



We were staying in Milan for five days in a city-centre hostel and I can safely say that I think we experienced most of what the city had to offer.  We visited the Duomo dedicated to Saint Mary Nascent.  The gothic cathedral was breathtaking in its beauty and this is proven by the fact that it took nearly six centuries to complete.  It is also the fourth largest cathedral in the world.  The view from the roof was amazing and it was definitely a highlight of our trip.  We also got a taste of some finer culture in the opera ‘Tosca’ at La Scala.  After what seemed like queuing for hours, we eventually got our tickets.  It was a great experience and as it was my first time at the opera I didn’t know what to expect but I would definitely like to go again.  The inside of the theatre was beautiful and was decorated in a very regal manner.  However, we did feel slightly underdressed in comparison with some of the fashionista’s in Milan.

At the opera.

On Saturday we decided to take advantage of the good weather and take a day trip to the beautiful Lake Como.  I was hoping to perhaps spot George Clooney as I had read that he had a house there but unfortunately it wasn’t to be.  The area was so picturesque, like something from a postcard and we had a wonderful day sitting by the lake and exploring the area.  Something I really enjoyed in Milan is their ‘apertivo’ culture which involves enjoying a drink whilst snacking on an extensive free buffet that is laid on.  Jemma and I really enjoyed this and as it was in the Navigli district of Milan, we sat out over the canal and had plenty of time for people watching.

Lovely Lake Como.

Something we did which surprised a lot of people when I told them was our trip to see AC Milan play Novada.  However, this was accidental but actually good! As we’d saw most of the city we decided to visit the stadium on our last day although on arrival it became clear that there was a match on.  After questioning a few locals we decided to be spontaneous and go to the match when we were already there.  Anyone who knows me, knows I am not the biggest football fan but it was much more exciting in real life and I’m glad we went.

It has been a busy week but a great one and I have really loved getting to see other parts of Europe and experience their culture.  Going on Erasmus has definitely educated me on the cultures of other countries and it has also given me the urge to keep on travelling.  With on a few weeks left, I now plan to make the most of my time left in lovely Denmark.

Uge Femten (Week Fifteen: 03.05.12 - 10.05.12) - Cultural Development

I am writing this blog entry a day earlier than usual as I have just returned from Madrid and tomorrow I am going to Milan.

Jemma and I decided to use a week within this month to do some travelling and broaden our cultural experiences so our first stop was Madrid on Monday.  After a slightly stressful search for our hostel we eventually found it and unpacked.  Staying in hostels is somewhere I never wanted to stay so I am surprised at myself that they are the option I know choose.  It makes our trips away more affordable, enables you to meet more people and so far they have all been clean and quite nice.  I definitely think living on a weekly budget and moving abroad has helped me become more relaxed in terms of accommodation when travelling.   

'Palacio Real.'

As we only had three days in Madrid we decided to cram in as many sights as possible.  We thought we would struggle to see half the things we wanted to but we soon realised that Madrid is smaller city than imagined and we were able to walk between the sights.  My map skills have certainly improved as sometimes I even directed us to the correct location. (Anyone who knows of my poor sense of direction will know what an achievement this is!)  I particularly enjoyed visiting ‘Retiro Park,’ 'Palacio Real' and ‘Plaza Mayor.’  The architecture in Madrid was beautiful and there was a real mix of old and new buildings.  However one thing I noticed was the huge numbers of Police in the city on a daily basis.  I am unsure of whether Madrid is a city which is high in crime or whether such a large Police presence is the norm in Spain but they seemed to be everywhere.  It also surprised me that right in the centre of the city prostitution seemed common during the day/night with numerous women lining the street which was slightly off-putting.  However, apart from this the city was lovely and it didn’t seem like an area high in crime.  Perhaps the Police presence was just because it was the capital city and there were high numbers of tourists as well as locals.  I plan on asking my Spanish friends in my class about both of these issues to discover whether any of my guesses are true of Madrid.

Attempting to row in 'Retiro Park.'

I also noticed the eating out and drinking culture in Spain and this is something Jemma and I embraced.  I love Spanish food and also Sangria so we had some great meals. However, we made the mistake of ordering 6 tapas dishes in one restaurant, thinking that they would be small only to have the waiter bring us out 6 meal size portions.  Needless to say we were really embarrassed as you could barely see the table for all the food we had on it and it was struggle to try and finish it all.  The food was delicious though and I really enjoyed tasting the gastronomic culture of another country.  As the Spanish normally eat late in the evening, on our first night we found ourselves almost alone in the restaurant but on our second night we ate later and the atmosphere was better.

Our rather large but delicous dinner.

I have had a great few days in Madrid and I thoroughly enjoyed getting to experience a little of the Spanish culture.  I can’t wait to go to Milan tomorrow to see what it has to offer and hopefully we will have more sunshine added in as a bonus!

Enjoying the sun at 'Plaza Mayor.'

Uge Fjorten (Week Fourteen: 26.04.12 - 03.05.12 - Professional Development

It is lovely to see the summer weather finally arrive in Copenhagen and this week it has been beautiful which was perfect as I had a friend from home to visit.  We had a great time enjoying the sights in the sun but unfortunately when she left the work began for me.

Enjoying the sun with Jenni.

As this is our final month and half the group has gone home, we have no classes for the rest of our time here.  However this ‘free time’ is mainly taken up with work on an Individual Assignment.  This assignment can be based on any topic of your choice but must be comparative with your home country.  You also have to complete field visits, observations and interviews.  I have decided to base my project upon an investigation into the Primary School starting age in Denmark compared with the starting age in the UK as this is something which I have questioned numerous times since my arrival here and I have begun to wonder whether starting children in school at age four in Northern Ireland really is the right thing to do.  Therefore this seemed like a great opportunity to investigate not only my questions but the idea of childhood in Denmark and why they do things the way they do.  This week I began making school visits, observing and conducting interviews and so far it has been extremely interesting.

My first visit was to a 1^st Grade class – the equivalent of our Year 1, only in Denmark the children are seven/eight years old instead of four.  Here I learnt a lot through observing and speaking with the teacher.  She told me that this was her class now until they were in 5^th Grade and that she taught them most subjects but sometimes a different teacher came in to teach them Maths for example.  I was very surprised by the behaviour as in a lot of the classes I have been in there appears to be no discipline, however, this class was the complete opposite.  The atmosphere was still very free and relaxed but the children knew how to behave and what was expected of them.  It was interesting to watch what activities they were completing and I couldn’t help but think how children in Northern Ireland are doing the same work only three years earlier.  Another interesting idea the school had was that after the children had worked for 45 minutes they got a 5 minute break outside to run about and burn off energy before the next lesson began.  This seemed to work well and is definitely something I would like to look into at home.  However, it made me think about how children in Northern Irish schools only got breaks twice a day and this sometimes does seem to restrict their learning as they become restless and agitated when sitting still for too long.

My first visit was to a 1^st Grade class – the equivalent of our Year 1, only in Denmark the children are seven/eight years old instead of four.  Here I learnt a lot through observing and speaking with the teacher.  She told me that this was her class now until they were in 5^th Grade and that she taught them most subjects but sometimes a different teacher came in to teach them Maths for example.  I was very surprised by the behaviour as in a lot of the classes I have been in there appears to be no discipline, however, this class was the complete opposite.  The atmosphere was still very free and relaxed but the children knew how to behave and what was expected of them.  It was interesting to watch what activities they were completing and I couldn’t help but think how children in Northern Ireland are doing the same work only three years earlier.  Another interesting idea the school had was that after the children had worked for 45 minutes they got a 5 minute break outside to run about and burn off energy before the next lesson began.  This seemed to work well and is definitely something I would like to look into at home.  However, it made me think about how children in Northern Irish schools only got breaks twice a day and this sometimes does seem to restrict their learning as they become restless and agitated when sitting still for too long.

Although I am only beginning my investigation I am finding the interviews and observations insightful and it is helping me to reflect on our school system in Northern Ireland.  I hope to learn more about the Danish system through visiting kindergartens and also looking into research and history which I’m sure will only interest me further and prompt more questions in regards to the school system and starting age in Northern Ireland.

Uge Tretten (Week Thirteen: 19.04.12 - 26.04.12) - Cultural Development

Saying goodbye to friends from Germany.

This past week has been a very busy one filled with lots of plans, college work and unfortunately goodbyes.  For half the group their stay here is complete and it is time to go home, leaving a much smaller group of us behind.  I found it very hard to say goodbye, knowing that I probably won’t see a lot of these people ever again but I do hope to keep in touch.  Before coming here I never would have imagined I would make so many friends from places all around the world and I have definitely learnt a lot.  Slow speech being now my greatest skill!  I have learnt how people really live in different parts of the world, what they like to eat, their traditions, practices and culture of their country.  It is nothing like the pre-conceptions I had and I will definitely be leaving this experience more open-minded and knowledgeable.

We completed our classes this week and it gave us the chance to reflect on our experiences as the tutors produced the posters we made from our very first weekend here.  Looking back it is hard to believe that when it was created, we had only just met our partners and it was a bit awkward attempting to interview them but now after thirteen weeks we could comfortably sit and interview each other and reflect on our experience.  What we felt we had achieved was both quite similar, we felt we had gained independence, confidence in our own abilities and more relaxed.  I definitely think the laid-back atmosphere in Denmark ensures you become this way.  Culturally we both felt we had learned a lot about the Danish way of life, their food, their school system, traditions and history.  We have learnt some of the language, although on a very basic level and professionally we have developed as teachers with new ideas, techniques and questions to return with to our home countries.  So far, it has definitely been worthwhile coming here; I just wish I had longer than five weeks left.

Our landlady Kirsten took Jemma, Yon and I to the theatre this week.  I was a little apprehensive as she told us it was in Danish so I was worried we would be bored and not understand what was going on.  In reality I really enjoyed it.  Even though I couldn’t understand the speech, I could still figure out the story line and their actions and facial expressions helped.  The theatre was a very small, old one with a unique, cosy decor and it was great to do something different and witness more of the Danish culture.

I finally got two wheels this week and now I really feel like a Dane as it is a big part of their culture.  Cycling is not something I’d ever of imagined I would love so much but I find it really therapeutic, healthy and a much quicker way to get around.  I’m looking forward to taking advantage of my last few weeks, cycling to some places where I haven’t yet been with the rest of the group who are left.

My new wheels.

Uge Tolv (Week Twelve: 12.04.12 - 19.04.12) - Professional Development

I have now reached the end of my teaching practice placement and it has been a very interesting experience although challenging at times. I have experienced an entirely different school system to what I am used to but it has opened my eyes and definitely been rewarding. I feel that my Professional Competences have developed through this experience in particular ‘Competence 7 – an understanding of the significance of pupil voice’ and ‘Competence 10 – strategies for communicating effectively with all pupils.’  Danish teachers really do value the voice of their students and in turn the students are not worried or scared about voicing their opinion or even questioning the teacher.  As the classroom is so relaxed students often speak without raising their hand first or waiting to be spoken to and therefore are all confident in communicating their ideas.  This is something I would like to be more open to in Northern Ireland as it is difficult to get all students to speak out in class and many students lack the confidence to do so.  As I don’t speak Danish I have had to find many other ways of communicating with the students through using my voice, body language, gestures and pictures and I feel this will be extremely useful when working with children who have SEN or EAL.  I have also struggled on previous teaching practices to slow my speech when in the classroom and studying and teaching here has definitely helped me to achieve that.   

This week I spent time with a variety of classes and age groups from 1^st Grade to 9^th Grade.  After my first visit I am surprised by how comfortable I now am in a class filled with 16 year old students as this is not something I ever wanted to do but I think that the confidence and trust shown to us by the class teacher even though we were Primary Teachers made us feel a lot more comfortable and at ease.  The older students had a project week where they could take different classes each day in graffiti, poetry, rap and breakdancing.  I thought this was a great idea and you could see that the students really appreciated the fact that the teachers had organised this creative project for them and valued their interests.  Creative appreciation is something I have noticed whilst in my practice school and because of this the children really do flourish. 

As well as attending teaching practice, we have had to write a 10 page assignment for our Comparative Education Module and it has made me reflect a lot on my experiences.   After initially seeing more negatives than positives in the Danish school system my opinion has completely changed and not only have do I appreciate it and see the real benefits, I have begun to further question the school system in Northern Ireland. 

A typical laid-back classroom.

The children here are all happy and content in school and it is obvious they are relaxed and at ease with the lack of structure or routine.  There is no pressure in the classrooms due to very little testing, the teachers aren’t inspected and they have very little paperwork or assessment so they can focus on forging relationships and teaching what they want to. I have talked informally with the teachers frequently and they have explained that the emphasis isn’t so much on the academic side of school but on making it a fun, happy and positive experience for children so they want to be there.  This struck me as a stark contrast to home as although we work hard to try and make learning fun and enjoyable ultimately a lot of the children dislike school and don’t view it as a positive experience.  I think the informal Danish system, with its lack of rules, discipline or structure may initially come across as chaotic but their system works and not only that the students are confident, independent and creative individuals.