Week 4 - Personal

Erasmus Family forming...

As the weeks steadily start to fly in, really this week was mostly a lot of social activities between playing games with other Erasmus students and going out. Also as time goes on we start to form our own circle that really becomes our new family for the next few months and to be truthful the laughs still haven’t stopped!

Dutch Numbers

We also had class this week that generally was us all struggling at Dutch once again – although to be honest we didn’t do too badly at our Dutch homework - which was a great surprise! This week in the class we learned in Dutch the different days of the week and also the numbers (which I found easy as I had already learned them back at Stranmillis; I  felt smart in the class for once haha!). Furthermore on the Dutch language class, as much as I am enjoying trying to learn some basic language skills this may have been the last class that I can attend. This really is due to the schools for placement being released to us this week and my school is quite a distance from Vossenveld or from HAN University for that matter. So thinking practically, I may not be back on time from the school in order to attend the class. However, fingers crossed that I am as I thoroughly enjoy the class even though we do scrape our way through it haha. As Hickson is acclaimed for saying the famous quote of:

“If at first you don’t first succeed. Try, try, try again.”

In this case, I use this saying or phrase quite often in the Dutch language class… believe me!

Inspirational History quote by Eleanor Roosevelt

Classes continued with Dutch culture where we learned about the history of the country and then of the other students countries and the famous dates that they had picked out. As an avid history lover that I am, I loved finding out things that I really had no knowledge of – especially the more recent events! Plus in my opinion it’s crucial for everyone to realise the history of their own country as well as other countries so that we can see similar events occurring as well as the similar dates that the events did occur. Also, as many people do say history does have a habit of repeating itself, so maybe if more were aware of their history then they wouldn't let certain events happen once again.

“If you don't know history, then you don't know anything. You are a leaf that doesn't know it is part of a tree. ” Crichton

My Placement Partner Souzy!

Finally the tutoring class was non-existent this week as we only have it every other week so we all know what that means… another beautiful lie in which was definitely needed! This then leads into our schools being released and glad to my knowledge I am paired with my Greek friend Souzy however, the school is in Gendt, North of Nijmegen so we have to cycle to the train station every morning and get a bus from there. The bus lasts about thirty minutes so we will be up at dawn making sure that we are on time… so on Monday and Tuesday I will be full of the joys of spring! 

To be honest I am a little anxious of starting placement as I am going to be teaching eleven to twelve year old pupils which I am not used to as back home this age would be first year in high school . Again though, it is all an experience and I might ask any way to spend some time with the younger children for a more beneficial experience for myself. Furthermore, it will also set a more solid routine for us and after all we are here to teach so it’s all quite exciting too! Throughout teaching practise though I will have to remember to be age appropriate no matter what. This relates to competence twenty one of the GTCNI teaching competences:

“Employ strategies that motivate and meet the needs of all pupils…”

My short hair...

Finally this weekend maybe not so much a ‘cut’ above the rest, as I received my first haircut in The Netherlands (in my opinion it is more of a hair-shave than a haircut as my hair is very short!). This again shows how crucial it is to try and learn the Dutch language in situations like this – maybe then I wouldn't have such little hair left on my head! Oh well I will get used to it like everyone else and it will grow back – Thankfully!

Ps top tip for this week… when getting your haircut and you hear the shaver being turned on and you value your hair, immediately say Nee Nee Nee Nee! (No No No No!)

References:

Crichton, M and W.E.Hickson. Good Reads – Quotes about History. Available: http://www.goodreads.com/quotes/tag/history. Last Accessed 03/03/13.

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