Nie do widzenia ale do zobaczenia!

Week 16 –Personal Development – 16th June 2011

I safely arrived back in Northern Ireland on Monday evening. After four months of living in a completely different country and culture, it feels weird being home but it has been great to see my family and friends again. Unfortunately although it is nice to be home I really miss all my friends who are still enjoying Erasmus in Poznan. My last week in Poland was filled with revision and exams. I had a lot of work to do but fortunately it paid off as I got very good grades. The hard work also took my mind off the fact that within a few days I would have to say farewell to some of my best friends.

After my exams were over I had a few days to spend with my friends before returning to Northern Ireland.  My roommate organised a BBQ for me because I was leaving and most of my Erasmus friends in Poland came along. It was a very nice gesture and a great opportunity for me to see everyone before I left.  We also went out for dinner the night before I left. For some of my friends, although we are close, I know that I won’t be able to see any of them again. I know that one of the hardest things that I had to do on Erasmus was to say goodbye.

Erasmus is such a life changing experience! I definitely feel that I have changed during my time away. Some of the ways that I have changed I cannot pinpoint but I know that for certain I have become more independent. Being away has given me a great opportunity to look after myself. It has really helped me to budget, cook, clean and shop for myself and has made me more international minded. It has made me more curious to learn about other countries and cultures and has prepared me for the possibility of living abroad in the future.

Thanks for reading! I hope you have enjoyed reading this as much as I have enjoyed writing it.

Jeff Scott

My Penultimate week in Poznań!

Week 15 –Personal Development – 8^th June 2011 

As Erasmus is starting to come to an end there is so much to do. I need to revise and sit exams, meet with lectures but also enjoy the last few weeks I have with my friends. With two Exams and a presentation within two days this week I have had to do a lot of preparation but just like at home, you always get the best weather during the summer exam period, so it is difficult to stay motivated when there are +30^oC temperatures outside.

Wilk i Mysliwy (Wolf and Hunter)

A few months ago I wrote in my blog that I had joined a beginner’s polish drama group with a couple of friends from my class. For the past few months we have been writing the script and doing rehearsals for our big performance that took place last Friday. Writing and performing has been a great opportunity for us all to practice both our written and verbal polish. As a group we wrote our own short interpretation of the story ‘Czerwony Capturek’ (Little Red Riding Hood). We looked a little bit ridiculous but our audience loved us and it was so much fun to do.

Me with my MVP trophy!

Also at the weekend I had the opportunity to play my first competitive volleyball tournament since I got here. When I got to Poland I hoped to have the opportunity to play a great deal of volleyball but unfortunately in Poland foreigners are only allowed to play in the top professional leagues. This meant that for the past few months I have been training with a team, but haven’t been able to play any matches. This weekend we attended an amateur volleyball tournament with three other teams. One of the other teams was very good and gave us a great quality match! Fortunately we came out winners though, winning the tournament, and I also won the MVP (Most Valuable Player) of the tournament award! I was absolutely thrilled to be MVP of such a high quality tournament.

The realisation that Erasmus is coming to an end is setting in. With less than a week left until I am back in Northern Ireland I have had to start saying some goodbyes. On Monday I was in my school for the last time. As you know, I have really enjoyed being there and it was difficult to say farewell to both my class and the other teachers. I have really loved my time here in Poland and have made some lifelong friendships. I think this week will be a difficult week for me not because of exams or presentations, but because I will have to say goodbye to some of my best friends!

Until next time,

Jeff

My last few days with G2!

Week 14 –Professional Development – 1^st June 2011 

Over the past few weeks I have really enjoyed working with my G2 class in the International School of Poznań. It has been really interesting having experience in this type of school and teaching this different curriculum. Like any school based experience it has been invaluable at developing my professional competences. Through working with such differing international children I have developed strategies for communicating effectively with pupils (C10), developed strategies that motivate and meet the needs of pupils who are not learning in their first language (C21) and it has helped me to develop a knowledge and understanding of the significant features of pupils’ cultures, languages and faiths and any implication this could have for learning (C8) (GTCNI 2007). Not only this but like being in any classroom, the experience has helped develop my behaviour and classroom management skills, communication skills and my awareness of different strategies for support and assessment.

One thing that has struck me from being in this school though is the lack of academical differentiation in the classes. In my classroom all the children are treated exactly the same, provided the same work and the teacher’s expectations from them all is the same. If the children do not get their work finished, or do not understand it then it is the responsibility of the child to complete, or receive help at home. This system, although flawed, does work in this private school as the parents are very supportive to the children at home and therefore although some children have a lot of homework, they do not fall behind. This is far from an idyllic system though. I feel that some of the children are not able to work to their potential in the school because what is being expected from them beyond their ability and on the other hand some of the extremely bright students are not being pushed to their learning potential.

During my first year teaching practice I taught in a composite primary four/five class. When I was teaching mathematics both classes would do the same topic, which was time. During these lessons I differentiated for five different ability groups to ensure that each of the children had the opportunity to work to their potential. This amount of differentiation is completely normal in Northern Ireland schools. I believe although differentiation may be extra work for the class teacher it is essential, and I believe this is something that we are definitely doing correctly at home within the Northern Ireland curriculum.

Unfortunately my last day in school is next Monday as my exams then start next Tuesday. I am not looking forward to saying goodbye to my class but I have really enjoyed my time in this school and I feel it has been extremely beneficial for me as a trainee teacher.

Until next time,

Jeff

General Teachers Council for Northern Ireland (2007) Teaching : the Reflective Profession