ERASMUS+ VISIT IN FINLAND

 

My name is Mateja. I am a primary school teacher teaching English to young learners through CLIL in a small school “Osnovna šola Dobje” in Slovenia.

I have always been interested in teaching methods and different didactic steps teachers can develop to support students learning. Therefore, a visit to Finland, to see how does Finnish school system works has long been on my wish list as professionals all over the world agree it is one of the best examples of a good school system practice.

I am extremely grateful an EU funding Erasmus+ and a National agency CMEPIUS in Slovenia made the visit possible.

 

As I also work as a teacher trainer and an assistant professor in the field of didactics I have to admit I came with many questions and high expectations. The best thing is they were all exceeded. I am so grateful for every lesson I had the opportunity to observe and every talk I had had with different teachers. To see that it is possible to build a learning space which is also a learning community with students and teachers who are all being appreciated as individuals has been an outstanding experience for me. Moreover, to be accepted as a part of this community as an equally important member truly made me feel all the feels. Every teacher took the time to answer my never ending questions and also to get to know me as a professional and as a person which really means the world to me. First shy students became really open and talkative so we could form a nice bond which made our farewell extremely difficult for me. I still remember and feel all the group hugs.

 

Let me conclude with words which some of the teachers might recognise.

“Sometimes we meet good practitioners. Sometimes we meet good theoreticians. Seldom we meet people who are capable of connecting both worlds. Almost never we meet people who can not only do it but they have a vision how to do it and where do they want to go”. I feel privileged to get to know some of them working at Mutalan Koulu School who are able to do everything of the above. They have reminded me and confirmed my belief how important it is for every teacher to keep their professional mind open and moreover to teach from their hearts.

 

Thank you for an amazing journey which supposed to be just a professional experience but has reached far beyond.