Hello!
My name is Lucía and I’m a primary education student from Madrid, Spain.

I spent four unforgettable months doing my teaching internship at Mutalan Koulu, and I can truly say it has been one of the most enriching and transformative experiences of my Erasmus. Since I started my studies, I had a strong desire to explore the Finnish school system, often praised as one of the best in the world  and now I understand why.

During my internship, I mainly worked in the first grade classroom with Jyrki, and I also joined some English lessons with Hanna Kaisa. From the very beginning, I was welcomed warmly by the whole staff and made to feel part of the school community. I learned so much from the children, from the teachers, from the classrooms, the structure, and the way the school functions.

What impressed me most was the Finnish approach to education: the focus on student well-being, respect, independence, and positive reinforcement. I loved how students are encouraged to grow at their own pace, with no pressure from exams, but with real motivation to learn. It was inspiring to see how conflicts and behavior are managed in a calm, respectful and discreet way.

Social and cultural factors in Finland also play an important role in the school environment. There’s a deep trust in teachers and in the system, which creates the freedom to innovate and adapt in the classroom. I’ve discovered new pedagogical strategies and more active, inclusive ways of teaching that I hope to use in my future as a teacher.

One of the biggest challenges I faced was the language. I didn’t speak Finnish and the English level of the youngest students was very basic. At first it was frustrating not to be able to communicate easily, but this challenge became a learning opportunity. I found creative ways to interact using gestures, visual aids and a lot of patience. I’m proud of how I adapted and developed new communication skills that will definitely help me in the future.

Being a teacher has always been my dream, and this experience in Finland has strengthened my desire to dedicate myself to education even more. I feel inspired, full of new ideas, and ready to bring everything I’ve learned into my future classroom.

Thank you so much to the whole team at Mutalan Koulu  especially to Jyrki and Hanna-Kaisa  for your kindness, support and for giving me the opportunity to grow both personally and professionally. This has been an unforgettable chapter of my journey, and I will always keep it in my heart.

Kiitos paljon!

Lucía