Vandaag heb ik éindelijk mijn uitgebreid verslag van onze mobiliteit naar Letland op de website van onze school gezet. Ik wou een kopie ervan hier ook neer te zetten maar dat gaat niet. Ik verwijs dus naar onze website: http://www.wilfam.be. Het staat op de homepagina en als u dit later leest, klik dan bij "ondernemend" en kies het verslag.
Op 24 oktober 2013 hadden we ook 13 buitenlandse leerkrachten op bezoek samen met vertegenwoordigers van het DPO (een onderdeel van departement Onderwijs en Vorming)
Europa heeft nood aan meer ondernemers. Zij zijn immers zeer belangrijk voor de werkgelegenheid. Het promoten van het ondernemerschap en het ontwikkelen van de ondernemingszin dient reeds te gebeuren op school, aldus DPO. Reeds in 2002 startte DBO met zijn eerste project om het ondernemerschap bij jongeren op school te promoten. Sindsdien bouwde DBO heel wat ervaring op met het ontwikkelen en uitvoeren van allerlei internationale ondernemerschapsprojecten, initiatieven, competenties en wedstrijden voor secundaire scholen.
Zij kwamen dus een kijkje nemen hoe wij op onze school ondernemerschap integreren in onze lessen. Leerlingen van 5 OPR onthaalden deze buitenlandse delegatie aan de schoolpoort van campus Willebrord waarna ze een rondleiding kregen in de mode-, verkoop- en kantoorklassen. Daarna trokken we naar de ontmoetingsruimte van het vroegere Sint-Willebrordcollege voor de lunch en de presentaties.
5 en 6 handel stelden hun leeronderneming voor en hun voorbije projecten. 6 kantoor vertelde over hun ervaringen op de stage, de mini-onderneming en het comeniusproject! Als afloop volgde een informele babbel met de leerkrachten in het Engels. Ik maakte voor deze gelegenheid ook een kleine compilatie met beelden van de voorbije 3 mobiliteiten... onze directeurs waren onder de indruk... Zo'n waardevol project in 5:46 minuten gieten, is niet zo simpel... maar de sfeerbeelden spreken voor zich en ik mag dit ook tonen op de proclamatie!
All the pictures are loaded... now I know again why I drag my camera to every place I go... I have beautiful pictures... Watching them and reliving every moment is a sweet memory and I will never forget... nor will the students or the teachers...
Liesbeth Aerts is not only a teacher but she is also a successful poet... She didn't plan to write about Liepaja but this is the result... As she describes it the special mixture of beauty and lost glory of Liepaja that touched her deeply. It's a poem about a walk, like we made on that first Sunday and at the end she calls out to the Latvian youth to love their city.
Streets of Liepaja
A man was walking the lonely streets of Liepaja
to visit the sparkling sea.
He scanned the horizon, sun on his face
thinking: those sparkles could be me.
He walked past shaken houses
wondering who left them behind
poor old shattered ladies,
He figured: beauty is all in the mind.
Along came Liepaja
school
no building was ever so cold.
But through cracks all were buzzing and dancing
He said: I must capture this moment and hold.
By the end of the day he got to a church
shaggy, restrained, in despair.
He climbed all stairs and at its top
he realised: God, I love wind, I love sun, love this
air!
He would never forget
how the sun, how it set
from that tower, that late afternoon.
So much for escape routes, one way tickets out
He might as well do away with
and be free
be proud.
love,
Liesbeth Aerts
E-Motion The Way to work together in Europe
Third mobility to Latvia,
Liepaja, 28/9
to 5/10/2013
I didn't sleep a wink this last night... I kept worrying about everything... I can't explain...
So I was up before dawn again but Inge was in the shower so I just washed my face really well and made myself a nice cup of tea with honey from Latvia to start my day... a few toasts and I was off to the students to get them to pack and have some breakfast as well... That really didn't go that easy... They are tired too and a little bit sad to leave...
Then came the long walk to the bus stop... We made it in barely 15 minutes which was really good... At 6.30 am there are already people brushing the Streets... I was amazed... Arriving at the airport I was so glad to see the Norwegian team... although I didn't dare say too much to them... Some smiling faces to greet us .... great! After dropping of our Luggage we still had some time to shop and to relax a bit...
The flight went smoothly but the landing was a little bit shaky but nobody was scared or so... My students just had their first successful flying adventure... We had to wait at the airport in Brussels for an hour and a half but that went by quickly because we had some nice talks about these past days... We had fun reliving all these sweet memories... What a very good trip this was and what a great team this was!
I was home at 3 pm, took a nice long warm bath and ate...
This last day was spent in the beautiful city of Riga. I was here in 2010 with Enterprise without Borders but then there was still snow every where.We are very lucky that we had so nice weather this week. It was cold but very Sunny and the sun brightens up everything.
Our first stop was another visit of an international company Lacu maize. They make bread the traditional way, very impressive... We toured the bakery, made some cookies and tasted the different kind of breads. Inga intended that this was counting to be a small breakfast but we don't eat cookies for breakfast... so it was only coffee for us and the students...
Vika gave us a tour around Riga and I went to places I had not been before... beautiful parts of the city... I definitely have to come back with Jef, stroll around and explore this cosy city on our own...
Again, Latvian people don't eat... While we had a very small breakfast because it was still early when we left they didn't break for lunch... We were sooooo hungry and they didn't seem to understand. Finally, Inge from Austria really made it clear we had to have something to eat before the tour would continue... So I broke a promise to myself and went to Mc Donalds with the students because by that time I couldn't care anymore... Of course we also were very tired. I think I only slept two hours because my students wouldn't stay in their rooms last night... I was a guard at their door till 3 am... and up at 5 again to waken them at 6. (I also had to pack myself)... Inge (my colleague) and I had to help the boys pack and clean up their rooms...
On our walk one of my students, Serhat, always gave tips to musicians in the street or to poor people... And all of a sudden these 2 musicians started to play "de Vlaamse Leeuw", the national anthem of Flanders. That was sooo nice of them and it was so beautiful again... (I always use beautiful these days... I can't think anymore, I'm sorry)
Finally we went to the Lido for dinner but of course not a lot of them were hungry because we just ate at 3 pm... But it was a very nice place. What a pity we couldn't have stayed here longer. We were tooo tired to explore it - as was intended. Sorry Inga for all your efforts! You really did your best!
And then came the horrible, official goodbye... I cannot stand goodbuys... so I couldn't keep dry any longer.... I don't want to leave yet... this has been such a great week with so much effort and engagement and thrilling moments....
Then we were taken to different hostels, the Norwegians, the Austrians and the Belgians... Each time they left the bus everybody went to the one side of the bus and waved goodbye again...
Our youth hostel was very cosy and clean. It was basic but very cosy and the students were happy... I was exhaused... Jan, Inge, Jef and I went for bus tickets. While Jan and Inge went to buy some snacks for the students Jef and I checked out where we have to leave the next day for the airport... That is not going to be simple with 2 times stairs up and down. It's rather a long way to walk with suitcases...
This time I didn't patrol... I only wanted to finish this and go to sleep... I said goodbye to Gert, Liesbeth and their students. They have all been so wonderful, also to my girls and boys... I'm so lucky to have such people as colleagues and friends... And of course I love Jef with all my heart... This is a one time opportunity to share such a project together. We worked on it together the whole 2 years and we experienced all the wonderful things together. And although he sometimes is a little bit crazy and silly he is one great teacher and I am very proud of him...and I am very lucky that he is also a calm, kind man because I realise it isn't easy for him. I have my school and my problems and sometimes he's right in the middle of it... it's not easy but he reacts perfectly to it... Thank you very much for your support, Jef! I needed this a lot these last few days...
Our last working day... I cannot believe it ... time flies so fast...
First we visited a big company AILE - it was a big group of different companies that is rapidly growing... We had a tour through the divisions. Latvia is certainly doing its best to grow and to develop.
The presentation of the business plans was held in school. Unfortunately there was no lunch, or time to lunch... but there was coffee and some nice cakes. After the presentation the principal of the school gave us the certificates. Jon thanked him and Inga on our behalf and Elke invited everybody to the last mobililty in Austria. I don't want to think about that now... I don't want this thing to end...
Because on Saturday it is international teacher's day the school celebrated the teachers and we were invited to come to the celebration with traditional music and dance... My students left the school with other Latvian students. I think they were too hungry to wait... so with the teachers and some students we went to the big concert room where the show started... the principal welcomed us once again and all the Latvian teachers could see us now... Some of them were honoured because of their best results in the state exams. Between the honours some students recited poems... I couldn't help to think that this is not possible anymore in Belgium... The teachers even knelt for their principal or they did a little bow for him... I was nearly in chock... I respect it of course but it's unthinkable in Belgium... Again two different cultures...
The music and the dance... oh, we should have more of that in Belgium... I think these dances should stay. They probably do in Belgium too but then the young people are considered old fashioned which they are not... it's simply keeping important traditions and being proud of your country and customs.... So congratulations to Vika and Ingus for giving us the joy to watch you in traditional clothing and seeing you dance.
After this we had some free time again until 8 pm to start the big final party... I had time to take some lunch but we also went to dinner with my students to the Barons Bumbiers again. We had an excellent, delicious meal...
Then the party started slowly as always. Inga had made a reservation in a dancing so it was a private party for us with disco lights and cosy chairs and 2 dj's... My boys nearly went over the moon when they heard their Turkish song... they kept bothering the dj to play another song but one of them was so stubborn and kept denying that he couldn't... Then all of a sudden he did play it and my boys were hilariously happy again... They did their best to impress the girls and the teachers to show what kind of dancing they do in Turkey... We had a smashing time...
It was a very, very short night and I still have to go check my students again because tomorrow we have to get up very early to spend the very last day in Riga... it's 2 am and my students aren't tired yet... They will be tomorrow though! I'm going to go on patrol now...
My God... what a day... to be honest I dreaded the speakers because I feared my students wouldn't understand a thing... But the opposite was true! Inga made an excellent choice!
First was Ingus Palapis from Business Incubator Kurzeme... It's an organisation that helps, supports people with interesting business ideas and gives them the help they need in facilities, networking. They cover the cost of different services needed to start the company. They organise different events for the companies... The major idea was networking. Contacts are the best assets you have in a company.
One of their young starters was Artis Daugins. He came with the great idea of electrical bikes, only 21 years old but with this huge idea and plans. He was trying to find a solution for transport in a city. He studied electrical bikes all over the world and tried to find solutions for producing costs. That worked. To improve the service to his customers he also rents them. Then he was thinking about exporting. He already calculated what they could sell in Latvia. To export he needed connections in potential countries, Latvian people who lived in the country for export and who could work with them. That worked in Portugal, the UK and Norway. Latvia is a hotspot in Europe. By exporting more products the productions costs go down and their turnover increases. They don't stay on one level. They grow... Now they are developing e-bikes for artists, police and postmen. E-bike is a great business story of a young entrepreneur! The big message here was: in business you have do to the impossible thing... find solutions for impossible things and make them possible. You meet a challenge and you succeed.
The third speaker was Martins Vidzenieks. He has a lot of experience in the export business. His big message was "It doesn't matter what you know but who knows you (or you know)". One of his favourite quotes from a book by Robert Kiyosaki was "The richest people in the world look for and build a network. Every one else looks for a job."
Networking is the word. You have to build networks, get e-mails out, phone people, spend time with as many as you can. 3 rules: give, give, give...You look at people and ask yourself "what do they need? What are they looking for?" and then you tend to their needs. You have to listen carefully and ask questions, show genuine interest.
"The one who sows the seed will reap"... in business you constantly keep sowing a good seed....
You also have to devolop your people's skills. Talk to strangers, learn about them, smile all the time (also on the phone) be a nice person... Everybody is in sales, even wives and mothers....
You have to look for people that are where you want to be, like them and learn from them, respect them, be worthy of their trust.
And the last important thing: Never give up. Keep on learning. Whatever your dream is, be persistent....
I had tears in my eyes... these speakers were sooooo good! I wish we could have broadcoasted this on www.businesseducation.be... What a charisma of the 3 of them.... what inspiring words they gave us.... While I was still talking to Martins the students and teachers could take the e-bike for a spin through the halls of the school. I heard that was a lot of fun...
After these speaches there was a little break in which we danced to get warm again.... Then group work began to develop the business plans of their ideas of yesterday.
Befor lunch we also managed to skype with the team in Belgium, the team who is going to Austria... it's a pity we can't take all of the students to share the same experience. I must talk to the national agency about that... This project is so great... All students should be able to benefit from it...
We had a traditional lunch in Barons Bumbiers, served in a earthen pot (I don't know if that is the correct word for it), a mixture of potatoes, smoked fish, onions and sour cream... delicious... except if you don't like fish...but I do and it was yummie....
The afternoon was spend again on working to create the business plans. In the afternoon I "facetimed" with Sandra, my colleague back home... She was at the hairdresser and a little embarrassed but she enjoyed the faces of Elke, Jomar and all of the students...
After the hard work there was free time to shop or to do whatever you liked.... I tried to shop but I couldn't find what I wanted and I really didn't want to go all over town to shop so I took my camera and strolled around the city to catch the atmosphere and to think a little by myself and enjoy the peace and the quiet for a chance....
The students went of to dinner to a place of their own choice and the teachers had dinner in a pizzeria... What a difference again with Belgium... There was only one waitress and she didn't have all the dishes that were one the menu... We had to wait a long time for our wine but in the meantime we had a relaxing evening and some nice chatting and laughing again... It was a pity I had to go back to the hotel because my students were waiting there... I can't seem to catch my breath... I am always so tired in the evening... I wish I could spend the evening with the teachers but then I know I won't be very happy in the morning... I wish I didn't need my sleep so much... I'm definately getting too old...
This morning started with a visit to the City Council. They do a lot of efforts to grow on every level. It was very interesting to see which actions and plans are being made to make the city and the commerce prosperous again....
In the youth house (jauniesumaja - I cannot pronounce it) there were presentations of business success stories of each country. Norway provides us with a very nice break. One of their big success story is the success of a writers - composers duo that already made a lot of hits... the big success now is "the fox" and the 3 blond ladies started doing the fox dance - much to all of our admiration and fun! Also in this place there is no heating... How people get used to this I don't know... and then you should know that I am always complaining in Belgian that it is freezing cold in our school... I wish I had other more warmer clothes with me... or I have to go and buy some...
After lunch in the warm Latvian tradition culture centre (with an cosy open fire place) we are treated to real Latvian folk music and dance. Like in Norway this is heaven... I just love this... These 3 old ladies are so cute. They sing well and they have a passion inside them which works miracles. Every student joins in for a dance. What joy... How fun this is! I sang an old lullaby in Dutch (and I really can't sing), the Norwegian team sang an old song and my female students sang a song for a traditional Turkish wedding... it was soooooo beautiful I got tears in my eyes.... I thanked these ladies and Inga from the bottom of my heart! What a succesful afternoon!
Teachers and students went on a Liepaja city tour on which we visited the Trinity church tower and the Craftsmen House. I now wish I had bought this beautiful hat I tried on... The Trinity church is also very beautiful but needs urgent renovation.... We climbed all the way to the top on scary stairs.... the view was wide and open...
After that a nice warm cup of coffee with some Balsam warmed me again... Dinner was at restaurant Pastnieku maja... and it was a nice buffet... We ended the day in the hotel's restaurant where we celebrated a little bit the birth of the baby son of our colleague Kim... everything was ok but she had a pretty tough delivery... It's a pitty I cannot visit her now... I will just have to wait till I'm back in Belgium!
Jon and Jomar were at breakfast! The only one of their team I know is Thea... The rest look very young... As always Norwegian girls and boys have special looks which is hard to ignore by the others... they enter the room and immediately heads turn... I watch with smiling interest how the other students react to these looks... What will happen this time... I love the suspension...
As promised Latvian students come to pick us up at the hotel. With Klavis we went to buy some bus tickets for this week and then we were off the the Liepajas Valsts Tehnikums... It is what I didn't expect. I had the image in my head that Inga sent me and I wonder how I could have been so wrong about the entrance... There is a cloakroom, which is very convenient... We don't have that in Belgium... There 's a little coffee machine in the entrance hall which is practical... Arriving in the big theatre room the assistant of the principal officially opens this 3rd mobility. Inga also welcomes us. Then we start this very weard ice breaking activity with a story of Joe... Elke filmed us so we will look like a bunch of idiots at the end of the story... Saying hello and meeting as much students and teachers in 10 minutes is an exciting and fun excercise. Then we start time in international groups. You have to find out as much as you can about somebody in your group and then introduce him/her to the group.
In the meantime it starts to get cold in the room so some of the teachers head downstairs to get a warm cup of coffee. After the ice breaking activity each country presents its country. By the time this finishes some students and teachers went to get their warm coats... God, it's freezing... In Belgium it's 10 degrees warming than in Liepaja... so I guess we are not yet used to the cold... The tour in the school is also very different and interesting... although I cannot tell anything about it because I cannot judge a class in electricity or motors or computer programming...
After this tour we have a Latvian language lesson. Thank you very much, Vika for this interesting and quite complete lesson. You are a really good teacher! I wish we had more time to properly practice the pronunciation and the stress in words... Very, very interesting... As I am - yes, or I'm getting there fast - "at age" my memory needs continious practice I'm afraid...
The lunch was held in the school cafeteria and yes, there was already a kind of socialising going on between one Belgian boy and 3 Norwegian students... very cute. In the afternoon we go by bus to Karosta, a sort of neighbour area near Liepaja... When Latvia was still under communist government this was the area where a lot of Russians lived... some still do... You can see a lot of empty buildings or buildings once installed by the government and now there is no money to fix them... people still live in them... It's sad... The Naval Port Prison for "bad Russian soldiers" really is chocking... till 1997 "bad Russian soldiers" were still send here... you cannot image the barbaric, unhuman circumstances they had to live in... and the Russian interpretation of "bad" is not the same as ours... they were not murderers or so... they had to march 4 hours with military precision, run with gas masks for 2 hours, clean the toilets with improvised shovels and more of these "pleasant" tasks... one stupid thing could be the cause of more physical training or work... or even real punishments... The guide acted like one of the supervisors... In the very beginning I wasn't sure if it was a joke or if he was serious... It was really hilarious to follow his lead and act as "bad soldiers". My girls were very scared... although it was acted they thought it was pretty real to them... Elke managed to get him so "angry" that she was graciously allowed to visit the "VIP room" as they called it... "very, very bad soldiers" got the privilege to visit this room with a lot of privacy... unfortunately without a nice view on the sea or fresh air... In went "Sarah" - we didn't know she had an evil twin ;-) - and we were punished as well for her bad behaviour... Thank you, Sarah... I pity all these men who had to go through this terrible ordeal or this unhumanly forced imprisonment... This culture shock, heritage of the Soviet Union, we will not easily forget!
To ease this experience we walked to the St. Nicolas' Marine Cathedral... a magnificent cathedral where I couldn't take pictures but even if I could I wouldn't out of respect. The minute you enter this place you can simply feel the awe, the respect, the believe of the people inside praying... the smell of candlesticks is everywhere... it is amazing...and silently... One of my Islamic students also comes in and acts very respectful... This boy has surprised me this far... I'm wondering if this is the same person which caused a lot of trouble last year... Now he is full of respect, polite... active... I can barily believe it... but I love it... What this project does to people I don't know... it's enlightening...
The trip back took us to the beautiful beach again! Beau - ti - ful !!!! Really, it must be wonderful in summer. What a terrific place to relax... Everybody was tired but we still walked to the ruins of an old fort and back...
The bus brought us back to our hotel and around 7 pm we had a great diner in the hotel... I'm amazed that I'm so quickly tired... Must be from all the walking and strolling around... or maybe still not used to the cold. I get this "I cannot say it in English" "kind of knock on your head" when you enter a warm room after spending all day in the cold... with a full stomach it makes you sleepy... After dinner the students quickly left the room to socialize somewhere else ... without teachers ;-)
My girls are in the restaurant of the hotel taking dessert...I am invited to sit with them so I do that... I must say it is quite a pleasant change from last year... These girls are wonderful... they love it and they participate without objections. They are open, kind, polite... I am happy. And the boys... oh, to my big surprise they have already made friends with the other Belgian and Norwegian boys... I just love it...
Tired but very happy I go - totally exhausted - to bed. End of day one... a very successful one...
This morning started very relaxed. It was nice to meet the other Belgian team during breakfast. Of course the students are still very shy and stick to each other but that will soon change I hope.
In the morning we explored the small shopping mall. It was too small for us so my principal and my colleague Inge went to the beach to explore a little bit... I didn't take my camera because I thought we were going to shop but as it turned out I was now without camera in this beautiful place so I had to take pictures with my iPhone...
After lunch Latvian students Klavis, Arthurs and Klaus took us on a sightseeing tour of the city... and ... luckily for me... also to the beach... What a lovely place this is! What a beautiful beach... In Belgium it would be full of little restaurants and cafés I'm sure of that. Now there were not a lot of people... The sun graciously warmed us as if to give us - litteraly - a warm welcome in this striking city... You can see that the city is doing its best to rise again after the departure of the Russians... There still is a lot of work to be done. It's a pity that grand buildings are left empty because it costs too much to renovate them... Also this in Belgium would not be the case. Some are really gorgious houses... Developers have not yet discovered them I think... In Belgium they would turn into lofts and/or apartements. We took a brake near a small pont.
When we returned to the hotel we waited for the Austrian delegation which was due to arrive. It's great to meet Elke again...
In the evening we all went to diner in a delicious restaurant in the port. After spending half an hour with my students explaining the menu's and deciding on chicken the bar tender told us there was no chicken today... again discussing what we were going to eat... finally the decision was made... I was so hungry by that time but the meal was great... We will come back to this place!
The Norwegian team is going to arrive very late and I am dead tired so I went to bed before they arrived!
At 9 am on Saturday morning we left Antwerp to start our 3rd mobility to Latvia. Parents and students were waiting at Antwerp Central Station. We were all a little bit nervous. Some of the students hadn't flown in their lives yet so you can image the stress... but exciting stress... Every body was eager to start... so much ... that we almost left Ibrahim behind because he was half an hour late! Not a very good start of the trip!
We left by bus to Brussels Airport where we arrived on time. Check in went smoothly and also the flight by a small airplain of Baltic Air. We arrived in Riga in the afternoon but there was a time difference of one hour. From there on we took a mini bus to Liepaja... During this 3 hour trip we had a chance to look at the Latvian landscape and a beautiful sun set... We even saw a rainbow which must mean good luck on this trip!
We were greated by the Latvian teachers Inga and Daina and some Latvian students. Thank you Eleni from providing us with maps, folders and information about the city. It felt so good to see each other again! After our check in they guided us to a pizzeria to have our diner because at that time it was already 07.00 pm!
It was strikingly cold outside. In Belgium it's 10 degrees warmer so... That will take a while before I get used to the cold again! The other Belgian team is due to arrive in the middle of the night. The Austrian and Norwegian team we will see tomorrow evening... I can hardly wait!
This time I only want to focus on the relationships with my European colleagues.
Comenius aims to:
- improve and increase the mobility of students and educational staff across the EU; - enhance and increase partnerships between schools in different EU Member States; - encourage language learning, innovative ICT-based content, services and better teaching techniques and practices; - enhance the quality and European dimension of teacher training; - improve pedagogical approaches and school management.
In my school the mobility of the students is certainly increased during the last two years, because of EWB (Enterprise without borders) and Comenius. My teaching definately got an European dimension in everything that I do. I find that my students are more interested, more motivated to participate when given real, concrete examples and goals.
A very lucky side effect of our Comeniusproject is the relationship with my European colleagues. I couldn't have dreamt it to be this intense, this great friendship and understanding, this great teamwork for which I am very grateful.
We skype regularly and it is always fun. We start seriously with the work to be done but soon we have other ideas and are talking about that and our personal lives... Amazing... It already started in Norway when we visited for the first time (the second time for me and Jef) but exploded in Belgium with bonds I could never have imagined. This is great and this is super.
That's why we are planning a trip to London to meet. Jon (from Norway) is coming, so is Elke (from Austria), Jef and me, Sandra and Wendy with her husband... We are all booked in the same hotel at the end of July to stay 4 days... I quite look forward to this... It was hard for the students to part at the end of the second mobility in Belgium but it was also for us a little sad. The pictures on facebook brought back lots of good memories. Inga almost immediately started to prepare the trip to Latvia in September and Elke was even faster with the mobility to Austria. During all these preparations we felt the need to see each other again. One thought let to another and so we are finally going to meet in London at the end of this month. Unfortunately not everybody could come. That 's a great pity... But we will keep in touch, absolutely.
And now, I'm going to show we what an amazing group of teachers we have to make this project a success! I'm going to let the photo's speak for themselves....
This time I only want to focus on the relationships with my European colleagues.
Comenius aims to:
- improve and increase the mobility of students and educational staff across the EU; - enhance and increase partnerships between schools in different EU Member States; - encourage language learning, innovative ICT-based content, services and better teaching techniques and practices; - enhance the quality and European dimension of teacher training; - improve pedagogical approaches and school management.
In my school the mobility of the students is certainly increased during the last two years, because of EWB (Enterprise without borders) and Comenius. My teaching definately got an European dimension in everything that I do. I find that my students are more interested, more motivated to participate when given real, concrete examples and goals.
A very lucky side effect of our Comeniusproject is the relationship with my European colleagues. I couldn't have dreamt it to be this intense, this great friendship and understanding, this great teamwork for which I am very grateful.
We skype regularly and it is always fun. We start seriously with the work to be done but soon we have other ideas and are talking about that and our personal lives... Amazing... It already started in Norway when we visited for the first time (the second time for me and Jef) but exploded in Belgium with bonds I could never have imagined. This is great and this is super.
That's why we are planning a trip to London to meet. Jon (from Norway) is coming, so is Elke (from Austria), Jef and me, Sandra and Wendy with her husband... We are all booked in the same hotel at the end of July to stay 4 days... I quite look forward to this... It was hard for the students to part at the end of the second mobility in Belgium but it was also for us a little sad. The pictures on facebook brought back lots of good memories. Inga almost immediately started to prepare the trip to Latvia in September and Elke was even faster with the mobility to Austria. During all these preparations we felt the need to see each other again. One thought let to another and so we are finally going to meet in London at the end of this month. Unfortunately not everybody could come. That 's a great pity... But we will keep in touch, absolutely.
And now, I'm going to show we what an amazing group of teachers we have to make this project a success! I'm going to let the photo's speak for themselves....
Tiller
videregående skole has worked together with its partners from Latvia, Austria
and Belgium in realizing the goals outlined in our project application. We have
during our first project year had two mobilities. The first one was in Norway
21.10.12-25.10.12 and the second one was in Belgium 24.02.13-02.03.13.
1st
mobility Trondheim, Norway:
This mobility
had 58 participants altogether. 39 of these came from the visiting schools.
One of our aims
for the 1st mobility was that the participants should get to know
each other better to make a foundation for future cooperation. Other important
aims were:
-Exchange
experiences on working with minicompanies
-Make a
foundation for an international partnership
-Develop
innovative business ideas and form joint ventures
-Learn how to
cooperate on an international level and cultural awareness in an international
cooperation
-Use social
media and web solutions in an international cooperation
-Interviews on
cultural sterotypes
During the 1st
mobility we had speakers who addressed these issues. Kristine Ræder from JA-YE
Mid-Norway talked about their programmes that were useful for us. Sven-Erik
Knoff from Visit Trondheim gave a presentation on how to use web solutions and
social media. Andrea Hosen from Tiller Upper Secondary School talked about the
importance of cultural awareness when working together. Tim Rudi Veiteberg from
Utvikling.org had a session on Management and Cooperation for the students.
The schools gave
a presentation of themselves to their partners. All students presented
themselves for each other with their respective minicompanies and business
ideas.
There were also
various student activities. There were various creative exercises in mixed
groups. There were also speed dating activities so that the minicompanies could
get a bigger network and to find a common denominator for a future partnership.
Some of the students made interviews with teachers and students on Tiller
videregående skole
2nd mobility Antwerp, Brussel and Zandhoven, Belgium:
The first part
of the 2nd mobility was hosted by Sint Willebrord- Heilige Familie
and the second part was hosted by VTI Zandhoven.
-Presenting and visiting the 2 schools
-Visiting Antwerp and Brussels
-Visiting the European Parliament and speaking with a member of the
European Parliament
There were
several international speakers. We were received at the town hall of Antwerp by
the mayor Bart De
Wever, who is also a well known politician. The municipality of Zandhoven
welcomed the European delegation and the hosts parents with a reception.Stefan De Laere is an international business
development manager. He spoke about the strategies to become and to stay a
successful entrepreneur. Koen van den Brandt, international business coach,
gave us tips for selling.
We did an international market research of
chocolate. The students compared their result and prepared the findings in a
nice presentation.
We visited 2
local international companies: Van Hool and All Packing
The outside
activity in the Kempen consisted of visiting the small town of Lier and
Pulderbos. The students and teachers visited an old mill.
The students
informed each other about their business progress and gave tips to improve.
We also had an
E-twinning session so that the students can follow up on activities on this
safe twin space.
Students and
teachers stayed in contact through Skype, facebook, EWB and e-mail. The
results. were put on the twinspace of E-Twinning.net.
The teachers
planned a trip to London to plan the next two mobilities face to face at the
end of July/beginning of August. We pay for this trip ourselves. Its important
to us that we increase the team spirit as well to improve our international
European cooperation.
Own school
Voor onze multiculturele school had dit project een enorme impact.
We hadden de eerste mobiliteit al goed voorbereid door fotos op te
hangen aan de inkomhal van onze partnerschool Tiller Upper Secundary School.
Alle leerlingen kennen de mini-onderneming op school. Ook na ons bezoek werden
fotos en materiaal tentoongesteld in de inkomhal. Ook de persberichten veroorzaakten
prettige reacties.
De voorbereiding van het tegenbezoek aan onze school paste perfect in
mijn leerplan. Mijn leerlingen maakten vergadermappen en bundelden alle info
over de te bezoeken plaatsen. Ze maakten badges en leerden dat nauwkeurigheid
zeer belangrijk is. Ook hun eigen kennis van onze Antwerpse stad vergrootte.
Tot mijn grote verbazing kenden ze Antwerpen toch niet zo goed waardoor ook dit
eerst grondig moest voorbereid worden. Alle pittige verhaaltjes hebben ze toch
op prijs gesteld.
Het bezoek van de buitenlandse scholen in februari was zowel voor onze
leerlingen als voor de buitenlanders (en de andere Belgische school) een
cultuurshock. Alle deelnemers aan het project zijn alle klassen gaan bezoeken
op Campus Willebrord van het eerste tot het 6de jaar. Alle collegas en
leerlingen hadden vraagjes voorbereid en waren zeer benieuwd naar de andere
leerlingen. Ook de leerlingen van 6 kantoor had ik de eerste dag ingeschakeld
om het onthaal en de rondleiding te doen, wat deel uitmaakt van het leerplan.
Het vergrootte hun zelfvertrouwen en zelfwaardering. Ze zijn mee naar het
stadhuis geweest en waren zeer fier ontvangen te worden door de burgemeester
van Antwerpen.
De eerste dag van kennismaking was eigenlijk veel te kort.
Wat ik zeer bevordelijk vond, was het feit dat leerlingen met een zwakke
Engelse kennis werden geholpen door de sterkere waardoor ook zij het gevoel
kregen mee te kunnen en minder zenuwachtig waren. Ook het bezoek aan de
nijverheidsschool VTI te Zandhoven liet een grote indruk achter op mijn
leerlingen. Doordat ze daadwerkelijk in de vaklokalen mochten en daar uitleg
kregen van andere BSO-leerlingen vergrootte dit hun waardering voor technici en
beseften ze dat goede vakmensen nodig zijn in het beroeps- en bedrijfsleven.
De ouders hebben de buitenlandse reis en de mobiliteit in België ten
zeerste geapprecieerd. We zijn van ver gekomen met onze - van Turkse en
Marokkaanse afkomst - ouders. Die zijn niet meer zo weigerachtig om hun
dochters te laten deelnemen aan een buitenlands project en velen van hen
moedigden hun kinderen aan omdat ze beseffen dat dit een grote waarde heeft
voor hun toekomst. De waardering en medewerking van de ouders is dus zeker voor
ons van grote betekenis.
Ook collegas van andere graden namen deel aan de activiteiten in hun
vrije tijd. Dat deed mij enorm deugd. Zelfs nu nog houden sommige collegas met
de buitenlandse collegas contact! Er nam ook een stagiaire deel aan sommige
activiteiten en ook deze studente was zeer tevreden dat ze zon internationaliseringsproject
heeft kunnen meemaken. Het was zeker nuttig voor haar opleiding dat ze de
theorie in de praktijk heeft kunnen ervaren.
It's been a while since I last wrote here. We were very busy preparing the 2nd mobility of our Comeniusproject in our school and at VTIZ. Now it's 3 days left... I think I have everything under control... I hope that it 's not pride before the fall...
Nowadays I'm teach everything: English, Project General Subjects (history, culture, geography...) and my own subjects. Our English teacher broke her right wrist so she had to have an operation and is out until the first of March... that's the end of the second mobility... Unfortunate for her... she misses all the preparations and all the work but also all the fun! So very unfortunate because I still love this project! A lot of our energy is going into the project but it's worth every second! It's a giant step forward for my students. Speaking English in natural circumstances with students of their own age is a great opportunity! 6 Office in my school are also looking forward to meeting the foreign students. Of course the boys are really more interested in meeting foreign girls but I don't mind that! I think it's really sweet and great fun seeing them socialize and working together...
I already did the Antwerp tour with 5 and 6 Office separately. Both times I was so astonished that they don't know basic things of Antwerp. They are of course new Belgians but I was so amazed they didn't know Peter Paul Rubens or the difference between a priest and a monk... On the tour I had to tell them about the famous painters of Antwerp, the famous history of the Flemish people, de Guldensporenslag, de Leeuw van Vlaanderen... Hendrik Conscience... My God... I didn't realize this enormous gap in their own culture... Of course it is not their culture... but they are living in this country... Luckily for me they were very interested and I really got a kick out of explaining them everything. Of course they especially liked the stories about the giants in Antwerp and how Antwerp got his name... We were received in the Carolus Borremues church by a very friendly guide who also explained them a few things and draw their attention to some similar things between the catholic customs and muslim ones... Very, very kind of him... I'm very curious because tomorrow it's a kind of general rehearsel... They are going to show me around and tell me some remarkable things about Antwerp...
They are all very proud that we will be received at the town hall of Antwerp by the mayor himself: Mr. Bart De Wever. To tell you the truth I'm also very eager to meet him... I'm so terribly glad my principal arranged this. It's a big honour for us!
Today my class and I did some really secretarial tasks... We prepared the maps with all the information and made the badges. Hard work... They had to arrange themselves how they are going to receive the guests on Monday, a great practice opportunity for them!
I was soooo very tired when I went to school on Friday. A lot of students stayed home because of the sacrifice celebration so I could do some paper work instead. After that day it was a week's holiday in Belgium.
I gladly worked on all my pictures and finally on Friday I could put them on the website of the school and on facebook.
Now, nearly a week has passed. I'm glad I can teach again although it was a very busy week again. The National Agency had a teacher's meeting so we had to attend. It's nice to talk to colleagues who are also working on a Comenius project. I'm very proud of ours.
Jef and I also tried to make some appointments already for the return visit to Belgium. So far we still have to wait confirmation. Jon is in Belgium this week but has a very busy schedule. Jef managed to meet him in Antwerp together with Gerda and Gert. I couldn't. I was soooo very tired again... and now I'm sorry I missed this little gathering...
I also did some group pictures which are a nice remembrance to our visit of the Tiller Upper Secondary School.
It snowed when we left Trondheim... I secretely hoped we could not take off so we would have another day to ourselves in beautiful Trondheim... so did some of my students... it's very cute to watch the boys being so enchanted by the foreign girls... so terribly cute...
But they also longed for a chicken burger... I haven't had the pleasure yet to taste one but according to them, in Antwerp are the best! Today it is also their sacrifice celebration... that's litterally translated. I really don't know the word in English. It's the day they remember when Abraham tried to sacrifice what was most dear to him, his own son, as a token, as proof for his great respect in God, Allah. Because God was convinced of his loyalty he gave him a lam which he must sacrifice instead... Muslims all over the world celebrate this by slautering a lam and giving a family celebration...
