I participated a Job shadowing project in a secondary school of I.E.S San Blas in Anover de Tajo in Toledo a week in November 2014. A French and Spanish teacher, Jose Antonio Moraleda Palomino hosted me for the visit. I travelled with my Finnish colleague Varpu Hyytiäinen who had a similar exchange with a primary school in Toledo. The host teachers accommodated us in their homes. I observed and participated in Jose’s working day, while during the afternoons we visited Toledo and the surrounding areas with him and his colleagues. The experience was great because the teachers and the pupils were very welcoming.

In a Job shadowing project the colleagues from different countries share their teaching experiences. In my opinion it is a very effective way to exchange working methods. We had a lot in common but there were also differences. I presented the programs and apps that I use in my work in Finland, for instance: Kahoot, Quizlet etc. I had prepared in Finland some program for the classes, presenting Finland and the Finnish culture and traditions. I participated mainly French lessons but also three English lessons. The students were very eager to participate and ask questions. A radio program that Ignacio Losana Ubeda organized with the students was an unforgettable experience. The whole school was listening to the program and the pupils filled in a questionnaire regarding the program. Varpu and me hosted the program. We even taught some Finnish for the whole school. All worked perfectly together; the program was well organized and the students were very motivated. In addition to the classes I followed some meetings: for example there was a meeting about discipline in the school. The vice director, Jose and his colleague participated in the meeting.

Some differences between the Spanish and Finnish school day that I observed:

-All the teachers in the Spanish school have similar timetables: 21 hours per week. Some of the time is for conferences and for being there in case you are needed to be a substitute teacher. In Finland we all have different timetables and the principal organizes substitutes if needed. We get extra money if we are substitutes. In Spain the teachers have to be available for certain hours.

-The teachers change the classroom for the lessons, not the students. Everybody is in a hurry to change the classrooms because sometimes there is only a five-minute break. In Finland the students circulate.

-The teachers have their own working rooms to keep their materials and where they can plan lessons etc. We don’t have that.

-The school area is well controlled because you can’t enter the school without ringing a bell. In Finland anybody can enter the school area without control.

-There are workers (office assistants) to take photocopies for the teachers. In Finland we do it ourselves.

-Jose is a homeroom teacher for a class. They have one class lesson per week. We have regularly only a 15-minute meeting per week and once in the period of seven weeks with our classes.

-Each department has their own responsible head teacher, who organizes regular meetings with the other teachers in the department. Jose is the only French teacher so he leads the French department by himself. In Finland we have teamwork but it is not organized in the same way.

-Another major difference is the school lunch is not free in Spain. The students may buy something in the cafeteria or bring their own packed lunches.

The entire week was a wonderful experience for which I want to thank the whole personnel in I.E.S. San Blas! You do a great job and I hope to see you someday again, maybe in Finland! :)

Here you can see some photos.

Paula Tossavainen