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15 Feb 2011 13:39:13
Students from Spain and France have been enjoying their overseas teaching experience in the local area.
Ten came to these shores from Granada in Spain for four weeks and another eight from Grenoble in France for just under three weeks.
The students all had an induction day at the Bedford campus of the University of Bedfordshire which included an introduction to the primary school system in England and the roles and responsibilities of a teacher.
Then after going to their placement schools, the students also had a feedback day where they could discuss highlights of their school experience and present a particular area to compare and contrast educational practices in Spain and France to England.
The Spanish students believed schools are better resourced in this country where they are state funded, rather than parents having to pick up the cost of books and equipment.
They gained guidance on the management of the classroom and the importance of routine for young children during their placements. The students particularly noted the motivation and commitment of teaching staff and the benefits of teaching assistants for the teacher, as well as the usefulness of whiteboard technology and the desire of English children to learn Spanish!
They went to five different primary schools in Buckinghamshire – three in Bletchley (Drayton Park School; The Premier Academy; Chestnuts Primary School), one in Stony Stratford (Russell Street School) and Tickford Park Primary School in Newport Pagnell.
The French students echoed the sentiments of interactive whiteboards and other technology helping to engage children in the classroom. The students went to four junior and primary schools in Luton – Hillborough, William Austin, Beechwood and Wenlock.
Mario Moya, a Senior Lecturer in Education at the University, awarded certificates to both sets of students during their feedback sessions.
He said: “It’s an eye-opening experience for all the students; they’re still young and are abroad as well for a few weeks. The mentors in their schools were really helpful and the students realise our teachers are very, very busy and their time is limited.”
Some Italian students are coming over before Easter to go to schools in Bedford and more Spanish students are coming in the summer term to Luton schools.
The University’s own trainee teachers will be going abroad at the end of this month for four weeks. Eleven PGCE Primary students are off to Granada and also Malaga in Spain and a dozen more are going to the Italian town of Urbino.
Eleven B.Ed students will then be going to Grenoble in France in May and all the students will undergo informal assessments while they are overseas.
This exchange programme is a teaching experience which specialist students in the Primary Languages strand in the B.Ed and the Primary PGCE courses undertake as part of their training.
Latest news» 2011» February» Spanish and French students relish the challenge
