Week 3 - Professional

So as our school placement doesn't start until March at the moment from the professional side of things we have only experienced class. This week class once again began after the crazy antics of the Dutch Carnival and our own trip to Amsterdam. To be honest I was looking forward to classes starting again as it would enter in some routine into our Dutch lives, but I most certainly wasn't looking forward to the bike rides each morning as we would have to get up earlier just to be on time for class – Urgh! 

Our first class was on Tuesday which was our Dutch language lessons… well that was interesting to say the least! The whole lesson or most of it was in Dutch as the lecturer would only speak Dutch and not English. We struggled on and managed (eventually) to be able to say “Ik ben Darren” and “Ik kom uit Ireland”; which is really saying what your name is and where you are from. Another hugely important sentence that we learned was how to say I understand and I do not understand – clearly the latter being used more often! So…“Ik snap het “or “Ik snap het niet”. Clearly though this class will be useful and will force us to think about the Dutch language and what to say. Obviously, I had not been used to thinking and concentrating so much in a while as I was completely drained after our Dutch language class.to say the least I am extremely looking forward to the next class to find out more of this historical language.

“One language sets you in a corridor for life. Two languages open every door along the way.”

Frank Smith

Homework’s also are starting to pile up which isn't a great thing but I suppose it gives us something else to do. The homework’s at the moment though don’t seem too strenuous because they really are making presentations on yourself and your own experiences. However, this will change as the weeks go on.

Dutch culture and society this week was a lot of people talking about their own countries through the representation of pictures. We got to delve into a lot of cultures and see what their country was about and what it meant to each individual. Again, it was interesting to see each student’s different perspective especially as I chose a more controversial picture for Northern Ireland with the reason of wanting to root out the stereotype placed against us as a country. However, I was severely glad to find out that other people’s perceptions were a lot different than expected! 

Finally, our class on Friday let us gain more knowledge into the professional side of teaching in The Netherlands concerning really our school placements. We were told that some placements might be outside the main centre of Nijmegen which did concern me but if I am placed there I’m sure I will be fine. We found out that we will have placement on a Monday and Tuesday of each week and depending on the class and teacher it is up to them how much involvement they want me to have. Though, we were told thankfully that if we want to do more we just have to ask! I see this as a brilliant opportunity and experience to be able to teach in a different country and so I am willing to do as much as possible. Furthermore, this will be a lot different to our own teaching practise and placement back in Northern Ireland as we have a block period compared to here, which has just the two days then class the rest of the week. Hopefully we will be able to see which process works better and that we prefer! Finally we also got to see lesson plans and got to see about how here they plan, assess and evaluate their lessons. This still corresponds with our curriculum as The Northern Ireland Curriculum states:

                                                 

“Schools will still assess pupils' progress in the key areas of Communication and Using Mathematics with reference to levels and report outcomes...”

N.Ireland Curriculum 2007 Assessment for Learning

This further relates with the GTCNI competences as Competence five states ““A knowledge and understanding of curriculum development processes, including planning, implementation and evaluation.”

Planning in The Netherlands seem a little different as the Dutch lesson plans seem to be a lot fuller of content compared to ours. Instead of our table format response the most of theirs seem to be more ‘question answer’ form, where you just have a for example learning goal and then space below to write in your goals. However, we were told if we wanted to use our lesson planners from back home we could, but I think I will truly experience the Dutch student teacher life and use their own planners.

So after week 3 we have nearly a month complete in Nijmegen and really it seems just so natural to be here now. Everything just seems normal, continuous skyping to family and friends, shopping, cleaning etc. Also, now that classes have begun and we are beginning to learn about teaching here and the schools, it really just feels like we are back home about to begin our own normal teaching practise. P.s. top tip for this week – get up earlier in the morning so you don’t have to cycle really fast just to be on time for class or this will result in sore legs and a sore bottom!

References

CCEA Northern Ireland Curriculum (2007). Assessment for Learning

GTCNI Competences (2008). Professional Competences. Available: http://www.gtcni.org.uk//index.cfm/area/information/page/ProfStandard. Last Accessed 23/02/13.

Week Two - Cultural

Okay so my week in Nijmegen was pretty short! This was because my sister had her second daughter and as the brilliant and aspiring uncle that I am I went home for a few days! (This worked out rather well as we were all off class this week as it is Dutch Carnival!). However, even though my time in The Netherlands this week was short I still did get to experience the culture of The Netherlands, mainly through the dreaded process of travelling!

As I had never travelled on my own before, the very thought scared the day lights out of me – “What if I miss the train? What happens if I do not get off at the correct stop? Is there more security to do? Where do I go? What the heck does that even mean?!... Oh how I wish I learned Dutch!” These were only a few example of what was running through my head. Never the less, I found out that with a generous smile and speaking clearly, you will be okay… mainly due to the Dutch people being so helpful and friendly! One example of this warm nature was experienced while being on the train. As the snow had caused the main route to Schiphol Station being cancelled, I had to get off at Utrecht. This man who generously explained where I had to go, what platform my train was at and even helped me find the platform made sure then that the young lost (and more than worried) traveller would make his plane on time. Whether or not this was due to the man showing the best Dutch generosity that I had experienced or maybe it was just the man feeling so sorry for me as my face easily showed that I did not have a clue where or what I was doing haha

To make matters worse, the airport soon showed me once again the helpful nature of the Dutch people as I did not know where my gate for departure was at and also where security was at. Again, I was eager in my mind that I was going to miss my flight in some way or form. However, you will all be glad to know that I made my flight on time and had an excellent few days with my beautiful baby niece!

When I returned to my ‘Welcome Back Party!’ at the flat I knew that the next few days were going to be crazy! To truly experience the Dutch culture we decided to go to the big city of Amsterdam and yes whatever you have heard about Amsterdam, I can reassure it is all true! Again, travelling proved a task on its own but when we got there first thought was – it’s so busy! When in Amsterdam we did a lot of walking about and absorbing everything that we could see! The hustle of the city was amazing seeing the numerous amounts of museums that we could experience as well as the many shops filled with souvenirs. The souvenirs contained mainly the tulips, clogs etc the usual Dutch things as well as more… let’s just say interesting things! Haha We also got to see the canals in Amsterdam and at night see the city light up! Then on the second day we started by going to the Anne Frank museum which was breath taking. Honestly, the tour was so sad and humbling to see that such a small girl could write in such a way as she did in her diary. Also, the tour showed pencil marks made on the wall of the height of Anne and for once in my life I was speechless. This was by far the best experience I had in Amsterdam. It let us all see that The Netherlands, like all countries has a dark history but has climbed to become a beautiful city in many ways.

So week 2 is over and I can see that we will all be fine even though we know so little Dutch… or any language for that matter! I can honestly say that I now know my time here will be awesome with many new friends and numerous trips across The Netherlands or maybe even Europe? Hmmm… now there is an idea! P.s. top tip for this week – if your train becomes cancelled and you have to get off and change train, just keep calm, smile and remember to always speak slowly!

Week One - Personal

On the plane ready to go!

Eimear, Sarah and I began our adventure on Thursday the 31^st of January. We set of from Belfast and an hour and a half later we were in The Netherlands! First thought… Wow it’ so flat - they have no hills! Second thought was how the heck are we going to find the right train to get to Nijmegen in this place? Thankfully we did very well… Surprisingly! Bar from a few incidents with Sarah on the escalators with her two suitcases we hopped onto the correct train. Again, an hour and half later we were finally in Nijmegen!

No Wifi - Just a cable!

Once driven from the train station, by taxi, to SSHN (just like our Stranmillis halls office) we signed on the dotted line and paid the cash... that was it, our new home for five months was Nijmegen. We were then taken by the two Erasmus buddies to our flat at Vossendijk. We then had to fend for ourselves and track down our correct floor and room, in which when we did there was no one else there at first. Also to my shock there was no wifi which left me feeling like I had lost a limb! Things started to look up though as we then met two Belgium Erasmus students who we were going to be living with – Brian and Deborah, who we instantly got on well with and ever since have had endless laughs and fun!

The next few days consisted off meeting new people and having to slow down our speech – which for us Northern Irish is quite difficult! We met two people who would be important in our stay in Nijmegen – Magda and Ben. Both of them were so friendly and made Eimear, Sarah and I feel at ease and welcome. Through them we met another two important people who would aid the fun in the next few months, as these two people were also Irish. The two girls were called Ciara and Michelle, who study in Dublin – finally we found people who could understand us talking fast haha! They were able to show us around town and the different places that would aid us in our Erasmus adventure.

Welcome!

Classes began on Monday when we found ourselves walking around trying to find the correct building. As Nijmegen is big we did get lost and ended up consequently late for class. Never the less we got there (good thing Dutch people can speak English and point us in the correct direction!) and we sat down and began our first class. Strange as it is, the class was enjoyable as it let us gain insight into other education systems and make comparisons to our own in Northern Ireland. Furthermore, we got to meet even more people through class which was now becoming more and more frequent each day. Only problem being… trying to remember everyone’s name!

Me and my machine of a bike!

Finally on Tuesday we purchased a tool that would be of great assistance in the next few days, weeks and months – our bikes! So many bikes with so many prices! Eventually we all purchased a bike on the Tuesday which was brilliant as we cycled our way home within twenty minutes! The only down side of cycling is the other Dutch cyclists who fly past and I am trying to steady my bike so I do not fall off! However, after a while I am sure I will be the one ‘flying by’.

So over all our first week has been awesome and if the weeks to follow are to be like this, I am guaranteed a brilliant time! 

P.s. top tip for this week - when cycling wrap up warm and wear gloves as your hands will be freezing by the time you get home!

Me and my flatmates!