Danish lesson and teaching!

We had a lot of Danish lessons. What could I use from Danish lessons so far? The colors, the words like what, where, when, how,… So that was very useful! I also used the sentences for introducing myself.

On Thursday I teached an art lesson in the Danish language. The pupils were 8 years old so they don’t understand English. Wow, this was hard but the pupils did understand me! First they heard a sound from insects and they had to name a lot of insects. Then they smelled and touched the grass that I brought with me. I find it very important that pupils feel, do, hear, a lot of things in real! After this they had to name the insects. I had my little paper for peeking with all kinds of insects in Danish. After this I gave my instruction in Danish and surprise surprise, everyone did what they were expected to do! I showed also one of my exemples so that they could see how it's supposed to look like.
First I was a little bit afraid that this lesson would be too difficult for them. But as you can see on the pictures, it was just for them! Now I know that this lesson works for 8 year old children, I can use this in my own practice in 3 weeks! Woehoe, one lesson more!

This was a chance to learn more Danish on my own while I was teaching!

Evalutation from the pupils:
- “She will be a good teacher.”
- “She is very sweet.”
- “The lesson was very funny.”
- “ She helped me, that was good.”
- “ She is trying to speak Danish, that was good.”

I was very happy after those comments from the pupils! I went home singing!

Teaching... and I loved it!

This second week of practice I’m teaching myself. On Monday, the day before I had to teach, a lot of questions:
- Will the pupils like me?
- Will the pupils eat me?
- Are my lessons good enough?
- Will they listen to me?
- Will they do what I ask them to do?
- …

Well, I’ve been teaching for 2 days now and I’m still alive.

My second lesson was art class, it was based on Keith Haring and I must say the pupils worked very hard. First they say a powerpoint about the works from Keith Haring. They got inspiration out of it. Then I explained what they had to do. Luckily Ellen was there to explain a little bit in Danish. I made to examples so they could see what the final result had to look like and then they started. Everyone was very active, they were drawing, cutting, coloring, designing,… all the time!

Organisation: The pupils worked individually but they were sitting in groups so that they could share their inspiration.
Communication: I told and showed first what they had to do. After the explanation they worked and I helped them were it was needed.
Type of activity: This is an art lesson so it was a creative one. They had to design something from their own. They were very active and worked very hard. Every pupil could work on his own speed and could draw whatever he/she wanted.
Materials: I used powerpoint, my own examples, pictures from Keith Haring on the tables,…
Language: This was a cross curriculum lesson. The pupils can speak English so they had to speak English in art class.

I really liked teaching this lesson. The pupils listened to me, they showed me their works, they asked questions,… Even the teacher said me that it was good and that she will use the same lesson next year!

My third lesson was an English lesson about Belgium. I made a lot of effort by making a corner work with a lot of materials! I made a ‘true or false game’, a smelling corner, a word grid corner, a comic book corner, a quiz,… So a lot of trouble for 1,5 hour learning about Belgium. But my work is been rewarded: the pupils came to thank me and said goodbye after class, shaked hands, wished me a nice afternoon,…

Organisation: I made 6 different corners within each corner 3 of 4 pupils. The pupils had to work together in the most corners. In one they had to work individual.
Communication: I explained first what they had to do and what they had to take. After this the pupils had to go to work and I helped when pupils needed me.
Type of activity: This was also a creative one because I made a lot of materials with just the things I have brought from home. The pupils had to be active to make it work. First I thought that the classroom would explode if they work in groups but they didn’t shout, screamed,… at all! There was a lot of differentiation. In every corner they learned something different then in another one. At the end I planned a quiz about the things they had learned. It was a big surprise for me that they remembered the most famous places, persons, comic books, smells,… from Belgium. They probably remembered a lot of things because they didn’t realize that they were learning, they played games…

2 points that weren’t so good:
- There were 2 mistakes in the word grid.
- I didn’t have a surprise for the winning team. (The pupils didn’t said anything but I thought about it at the moment they won…)

First days of practice

Today and yesterday we went to the Hertug Hans Skole in Haderslev. Carlos, Eliska and I will do our practice their. Before going to the lessons everyone had to come to the gym. There was a morning opening. Everyone had to sing songs and after that we went to the classroom. It's a nice beginning of the week. Everybody sits together before they have to listen and pay attention in the classroom.

We did an observation in an English lesson with Brigitte. The pupils are 11 years old. They chose a subject for a presentation a week ago. Now they had to finish it en present it. The pupils worked in pairs about an animal. They had to present it in English. I think it's a good exercice. The pupils can choose an animal according to their own interests and they had to speak the language. They could talk as much as they liked. If they can't speak English very well, they kept it short. Others spoke for a longer time. We would call this differention. They were very creative: they made drawings, collages, printings,... . It was a very creative, activating and differentiated lesson. The pupils worked also very independant. They could chose the way of presenting it, what materials (paper, computer,...) they used, chose their own words, look them up in a dictionary, ask the foreign students,... . When the children didn't understand something the teacher was never far away to help. This is also a way of teaching in Belgium. We are very pro differention.

I have one negative point about this class: they a sitting everywhere, are talking,... It's a different way of discipline and respect here. I will have to get used to it because in my class they can harldy move or I have seen it!

After the English lesson we went to the gym with Rikke. The pupils from grade 3 had sports. This was very different from Belgium! Boys and girls have gym seperate. The teacher had only 14 girls to teach. They had a warming up that I will keep in mind, it was a good one! The pupils had to run in the hall. When the music stopped, the teacher said an exercice like touch the red line with your nose, touch the blue line with your elbow, touch the blue and yellow line with your hands,... After they warmed up, they played some ballgames. Some were simmilar to the Belgian one, others I didn't know. The pupils asked for Belgian games next time, so I will prepare a whole lesson of Belgian games that we can play outside.After the lesson all pupils have to shower. Pupils in the school were I will be teaching they don't take a shower after gym. I can smell them already!

On Tuesday we saw the 11 year olds. The teacher scared me in the morning by saying that she shouts alot and that the pupils are noisy. But it wasn't totally true. They were very nice and they came immediatley to us with a few questions about our names, country's,... So after we met, they started making name tags and painting easter eggs. They made them from klay last week and now it was time to paint them. They worked individually for about an hour and when they finish they have to work in their books. Every single pupil has a book where they can write, paint, cut,... . It's good and I think it will stimulate their creativity. Every one does something different so is very differentiated. The pupils know what they have to do and the teacher walks around to watch and help them.

This was a curriculum crossed lesson! The teacher is also an English teacher and the pupils had to speak English in art lesson! Very interesting because I find it very hard to work crosscurriculum with language and an art lesson.

Tommorow we will teach this class and I'm looking forward to teach them. It's a very nice class and hopefully they will work with me!

The North coast

On Saturday the 14th of March we went to the North Coast. We = Maté, Noémi, Karsten, Chriztie and me. We left early in the morning... And because we left early I fell asleep in the car...

Warning for Maté and Noémi: REVENGE WILL COME!

So after a few sleepingpictures we arrived in Fyrkat, a vikingplace. Then we saw the castle in Voergard, the dunes, a church. The most beautiful place was in Grenen where to sea's meet! Very nice! This was probably one of the best trips so far!

Njammie...

Last week (already week 8!) we started with a cooking lesson. Njammie! One of the most tastefull lessons! Everybody cooked very nice things. I prepared typical Danish food, but of course also Belgian food, what everbody seems to like! Baked apples with sugar, a very good dessert! I even had to promise to Maté and Noémi that I would make it again for them. But of course, I want something in return! Haha! We started eating around 11.30 and we ate our thummy's round and round and round until we couldn't eat any more! And the meals that caused all this are:

- bulgur from Turkey.

- bramborové placičky flrom Czech Republic.

- goulash soup and poppy seed cake from Hungary.

- dumplings and cheese cake from Poland.

- omelet from Spain.

- frikadeller from Denmark.

- baked apples with sugar from Belgium.

International week

Last week we had the international week.

Monday: I was really looking forward to meet the new students but especially the 2 Belgian girls and the girl from Holland. But when I came in the classroom there were a lot of people. Who will be the delegation from Belgium? I decided to take a seat and they were sitting next to me! Haha, found them. We immediately started speaking! They were great! After the lessons and the tour in Haderslev we had a very nice evening meal with typical Danish food, of course ‘frikadeller’.

Tuesday: We had a lesson about stereotypes. I had to present Germany. There was also a group who had to make a drawing about the Belgian stereotypes and they were very close. Watch the picture and you will see. After the lesson we went to Ribe and the old town. I went to lunch with the Belgian girls and of course, we ate some sweets…

Wednesday: We had a music lesson. It was very nice, we made music with our body, voice and instruments. I went with the Belgian girls for thee and pancakes to Kafka. Mmm… Belgian tradition: eat sweets at 4 o’clock!




Thursday: We had a morning off. The international students went for school visits. Later that day we prepared the ‘Plopdans’ for the Eurovision song contest! That was very funny! We had the most people dancing! I enjoyed it!

Friday: We presented ‘the Danisher’. Our self made newspaper with our reflections and thoughts. It was very special to see that every other country had made something different! After the presentations we had an international lunch. Eating, again! The Belgian girls left and I’m staying here for another 1.5 month, which I of course don’t mind!

It was very nice meeting all of you!

Gymnastics!

On sunday the 8th of March I went to the idraetscenter in Haderslev. There was a gymnastic show. But, it was so different then in Belgium! The biggest difference was that the boys are doing the 'dangerous' things on the trampoline, doing tumbling, using the mat,... . The girls were only dancing or doing a little bit of rhithmic gymnastics. I would go crazy if I couldn't jump into the trampoline!

Did you know...

... we went to Kolding last Saturday?
... I went with Maté, Noémi, Zeb and Eliska?
... I was on time at the house to leave?
... we saw the castle, the shopping centre, the church and many more?
... we had lunch in the streets of Kolding?
... Eliska went for a swim?
... we went to a nursery museum?
... it was oké, but we won't repeat that museum?
... we went to the fjord?
... the fjord is beautiful?
... I played poker that evening?
... I can play poker now?
... I didn't lose, but also didn't win?
... we ate international food?
... it was 'njammie!
... I will cook next time?
... we had art lesson this week?
... we got coffee during the lesson?
... we had to draw portrets?
... I already did this in Belgium?
... you can see the result on the pictures?
... it was Eliska's birthday on Wednesday?
... we got a 'Werther's Original'?
... she gave a party?
... that this party was fun?
... we played games?
... it were difficult but fun games?
... we arrived late at home?
... we had to see movies in school (after this party)?
... my eyes were 'a little bit' tired?
... I joined the 'erasmuschoir' this week?
... we sang a few songs?
... it was fun?

school visit: Kristne Friskole

On wednesday the 25th of February we (Misa, Eliska and me) went to the Kristne Friskole in Harderslev. When we arrived the teachers invited us to the staff room. It's was very nice in there. All teachers spoke with us, offered us coffie, the, Danish bolls, breakfast,...This school is a smaller school then the last one we visited. This one is a private school with 150 pupils. Every morning they start with a prayer. All pupils and teachers are gathered in the hall were they sing and pray.

After the prayer we went to see an English lesson. We had to introduce ourselves in English, so that was easy. Wait till we had to do this in Danish... They had to read a text. I think this took to much time, some of the pupils started to wisper, started to move on their chairs,... . After they read the text, they had to do a grouptask. They had to combine sentences from the text. It's good that they do this in groups because they will learn from eachother. I noticed that groupwork and learning from another is very importent in the Danisch schools.

The next lesson we saw was again an English lesson with the same teacher. I don't have to teach English but I thougt that maybe I could find a new practice method to teach language. The children had to read a text and after that they had a listening exercice. In this class there were 2 teachers. The other teacher was helping 3 other pupils who had difficulties with English. Maybe it's good to have a helping hand in the classroom. The weak pupils get extra help and the stronger one's can continue on their own level.

After two lessons of English it was time for something else! A music lesson, I really looked forward to see this lesson. Maybe it will give me some new ideas! And yes, I found one! All the children listend to Vivaldi and the four season. There was a stop after every season and the children had to tell what they tought, how they feld,... Then they listend again and they had to tell which season it was. I will use this in my own music lessons. Nice detail: they had their own music class. Wauw, this was so big en so much space. There were instruments all over the place. I want this to! You have so many possibility's in a big room then in just a small classroom.

And for the last lesson, we saw English again. But this was special... We introduced ourselves in Danish. Jeg hedder Anja. Jeg kommer fra Belgien. Jeg er treogtyve ar. (It's a special a but I can't do this on my computer...) After the introduction the pupils asked if we could say something in our own languages. I said something and the teacher answered me back in Flamish... Finally, I could speak in my own language! Woehoe! After the lesson I spoke with her in my language and i turns out that she lived in Roosendaal, 5 kilometers away from the place where I live. Small world, isn't it?

I have found a few differences comparing to Belgium:

- Teachers are teaching 28 hours a week. I have to teach 36 hours. Teachers in Denmark can correct tasks and evalutions when they are free. We have to do this in the evenings.

- When teachers are free they can help weakers students in the classroom. In belgium we have special 'remedial teachers' to help those pupils.

- In the Kristne Friskole they work with grades and I still don't know what grade is what age. I know they have a primary and lower secundary school. The children are going to the same school till they are 15 or 16 years old. In Belgium that age is 12 and after that they go to the secundary school.

A colorfull lesson!

Yesterday we had a very special lesson about language and identity. In the beginning she told us what she had planned. I wanted to run away. Coloring with crayons to think about language, making a poem,... that's nothing for me. I thougt... but at the end I have to say I liked the lesson. We started to make a language portrait. You can see it in the picture. I have some explaining to do here.

Yellow: Dutch

This is my mother tongue, that's why I putted it close to my heart. But it's also over whole my body because I don't need to think about what I'm gonna say, how I am gonna say it,...

Blue: English

The English is in my brain. I'm always thinking how I'm gonna say things, what's the word for something.

Green: French

The French part has the same size as the English part because I learned French for a long time. I can understand, speak an writh French but again, I really need to think how to express myself in French.

Dark green: German

In my hands is the German language. I don't speak but I can understand it. I have to use my hands to express myself.

Brown: Danish

The Danish language is in my feet. I'm learning it step by step.

Reflection about this task:

- I was suprised that everyone knows more then 3 languages. I also learned a few new languages like some 'gipsylanguages'. I didn't knew that it existed.

- I don't know if I will use it because children in our primary schools know only one language. When they are 11 years old they learn French. But in the last two years of primary school it's a good instrument for evaluation. You can let the children color their languages and how think about it. So the teacher can see how they're feelings are towards the languages.

After this task we had to make a poem. An 'eleven word' poem. Better known as 'een elfje'.

yellow

the sun

in blue sky

I want some warmth

happy

presentations

Last week we had two presentations. Let's start on the first one. I had to talk about the school system in Belgium. First I started to tell that we speak different languages and that has his effect on the system. After that I continued with the Flamisch schoolsystem. A difference with Denmark is that the secundary school is split up. The children go to kindergarden, the same as us. But they have primary school and lower secundary school. After that they go to the upper secundary school. When they finish that, they go to higher education or universities. It's much more complicated then in Belgium. Another difference is in the teaching. Students who want to be a teacher need to choose 4 subjects. In stead of teaching everything, like me, they teach for exemple music, art, English and Danisch. Maybe it's better, maybe not. I have to learn a bit of everything while they can specialize in their subjects. They know their lessons very well.

The day after we had our second presentation. I could make it together with Carlos from Spain. All countries could work together but we are alone here so we could make it together. Try to combine the Spanish and Belgium traditions... not easy, but we dit very well! I talked about the typical Belgium traditions like Sinterklaas, the fisherman who get shrimps out of the North Sea,... I also talked about the differences in nature like the Ardens and the seaside. I told the history of Antwerp, the town were I study. And ofcourse the Belgian bears and food were on the program. We tasted real Belgian chocolate. And I could see on every face that they liked it! We also tasted a Spanish omelet. Not bad at all...

On our own initiative

We had a few days off during the holiday here. So we searched for the adventure and founded it!

1. Trip to the sea by foot

Wednesday 11th February we were really ambitious to find the sea by foot. What an idea... It was a very nice day, sun was shining,... After a few hours off walking we saw the fjord. Very beautiful! The nature here in Denmark is really something special. You won't see this in Belgium! After we had lunch we tried to reach the sea but it was to far away... We walked for 3 hours and then we came back home. This trip made me think about the 'guerillatocht' at home. Walking trough the field, crossing a little river,... Those were my first thoughts about home and my friends...

2. Trip to the sea by bus

Saturday 13th February we went back to the sea. But this time by bus! And yes, this time we made it to the sea! It snowed the night before, so the beach was all white. It was again, beautiful! Especially because the sun was shining! And we didn't saw the sun for a long time!

Aarhus

The 10th of February we went to visit Aarhus. First we walked to 'old town'. It's a place where the houses look like lots of years ago. I really likes it. Snooping around in the small houses, walking around,...

After the visit in 'old town' we went to the cathedral. Unfortunately we had to leave sooner because of a funeral.

We walked a litte bit around in the streets and then we went to 'Aros'. An artmuseum were I would like to go back a. It is really big and we didn't had the chance to see everything. I liked this museum. It's was new, modern,... not like other museums. For this museum we had given the other erasmusstudents a task. We had to organise something at each point off the excursions and I was in the artgroup. We organised a search trough the museum with a few questions. Both groupes scored 2 points at the end so there is no winner.

Stereotypes

On 9th of February we discussed a bit more the Danish habits. We also spoke about our own culture and habits. I learned more about the other cultures:

- I'm a belgian because I like Belgian chocolate was one of my statements.
- I'm Turkish because I drink Turkish the in a special cup.
- I'm Hongarian because I like paprika and kissing in the streets.
- I'm Hongarian because I paint Easter eggs.
- I'm Polish because I drink wodka.
- I'm Czech because I play music instruments.
- ...

After this we learned about a Belgian man: Geert Hofstede. I told with a red blush on my cheeks that I have never heard of him... Bad teachers at KdG... Geert Hofstede talks about culture. There are symbols, heroes, rituals and values in every culture and all parts have an effect on another part.

School visit: observation

On Thursdag 5 february we went to a primary school. This is how our day went.

1. Tour

Annette showed us the whole school. It was an old school with new buildings. When children arrive they can choose what they do: sitting in the class, playing in a hall, playing on the playground, reading on the computers,... In belgium they have to stay at the playground untill the bell rings and the teachers says that they can come in.

2. In the classroom

At 8.15 the pupils and the teacher are in the classroom and then it begins. They overflow the tasks of the day, the calender, the planning of today,... After the formal stuff we went to the artclass untill 9.45.

3. Art

The children made the week before statues from clay and now they painted them. We were sitting at the of the class. We couldn't help the teacher, we didn't understand the children,... so it was just sitting and taking pictures. At 9.30 we went back to the classroom and started the first break. The children were eating in the classrooms. This is another difference, we have a break at 10 and children eat at the playground.

What i did noticed and it's the same in Belgium: the children are being approached very positive. They get compliments all the time. I also do that for the wellbeing of the children.

4. Writing

After the break the pupils had to write the letter 'h'. I saw myself in this lesson. I gave almost exact the same lesson during my experience in November. The teacher made a big house and wrote the letter on the blackboard. The pupils practiced a litte bit and said all kind of words with 'h'. A creative lesson like I would have done it!

5. Maths

In this lesson I saw what I wanted to know about Danish lessons. Do they have differention in learning? Cause in Belgium, we do that a lot! And yes, they do it here to! There were 5 different things to do in the mathslesson! Some children were making tangrams, others were making figurs, other pupils played a maths game, others were building with specials cubes. And they learned by playing! That's the way it should be done!