All-round professional...

Week twelve: 13/05/2013 - 19/05/2013
Professional Development:

The thought of packing my bags and going home really is bizarre! I believe I only have 6 weeks of Erasmus left but it feels like yesterday I was touching down in Linz for the first time! Whilst here in Austria, I feel I have developed in many ways. Amongst other areas I feel I have gained a much more professional grasp of education and how I can become the best teacher that I can possibly be. This is largely down to the modules I have undertaken and teaching I have received and carried out whilst here. 

Presenting to the class...

My modules at university are generally reaching their conclusion. At the minute I am finalising some assignments and portfolios that will help form part of my marks for this semester. One course that springs to mind is Teaching Across Borders (TAB). TAB gives us a chance to mix with Austrian students and express our viewpoints and opinions on many matters. This week for example, I was given the chance to talk about and present my impressions of Linz in both a positive and negative manner. Discussions are always very honest and open and a good debate is hard to beat! 

'Drake the Vampire'

Movie making is another course which I am really enjoying at the moment. Currently we filming a short movie entitles "Drake the Vampire" which basically involves myself putting a lot of make-up on, wearing fangs and covering my face in artificial blood, great fun - minus the makeup! Courses such as this are a great way of expressing and show-casing creativity and having lots of lots of amusement in the process!

Life in the Europaschule is also unfortunately coming to end. This week we were asked to begin the lesson with a short activity. Somehow, I was roped into dressing up like 'Chris Tarrant' and presenting our very own 'Who Wants to be a Millionaire' (Linz style). The children would be brought to the front of the classroom in pairs and be asked a question on Ireland. Each group would be given three lifelines just like the hit TV show, with the soundtrack and images from the show included. The pupils loved the activity and ended answering all of the questions correctly, which meant more sweets for them, which of course meant smiles all round. 

'Chris Tarrant' and some happy contestants...

Enjoying the run..

My week ended in a very enjoyable manner which involved taking part in a 'Fun-Run' which in annual event organised by the Europaschule in order to raise money and awareness for local charities in the area. The whole school, staff and pupils truly entered into the spirit of things and got their running gear on. The day was a real success and I believe lots of money was raised, the weather was beautiful and only added to the occasion. What a day! Who knows, 'Chris Tarrant' could be making a guest appearance at the 'Fun-Run' in 2014!!

Gute Nacht,

James

Familiar faces...

Week eleven: 06/05/2013 - 12/05/2013
Cultural Development

"A friend is one that knows you as you are, understands where you have been, accepts what you have become, and still, gently allows you to grow" (William Shakespeare)

This week was certainly a memorable one for me. On Thursday morning I welcomed three good friends from Northern Ireland. Ross, Robert and Michael have been my friends for many years and had always promised to visit if I ever did the Erasmus Program. We really did have a fantastic few days and the boys didn't take long to adapt to the unique culture that we have here.

The stunning view at Postlingberg...

My friends are all fairly well travelled and are quite appreciative and interested when it comes to culture. Therefore, it was my aim to show them some of the cultural delights that Linz has to offer. Our first stop was the impressive Postlingberg Chapel. Since the mid-18th Century the community of Pöstlingberg was a destination for pilgrims. A chapel was built there around 1720, and a church opened in 1748. This really is one the best views I have ever witnessed. A nice cup of coffee and apple strudel also went down a treat in the Chapel cafe.


The rest of our day was spent in and around the city centre and despite my friends bringing the rain over with them, there was still plenty for us to do. The cozy cafes and trendy bars compliment the contemporary culture and modernist feel of the area. Coming from Northern Ireland, my friends can appreciate a good pint of beer but the beers offered in Linz really are special and reasonably priced! After we had tasted the fine cuisines and relaxed in a few more bars we took a stroll down Domgasse and marvelled at the Alter Dom, a 17th century churn with a fantastic marble altar and rich architectural designs. Our busy day was nicely rounded off with a quick visit to the famous Arkade mall, home to many speciality shops and fashionable boutiques. I believe there will be some happy mothers and girlfriends when the boys return home!!

Michael, Ross and Robert sampling the Austrian beer!

Taking in the sights along the River Danube...

Michael, who currently lives in London is an graduate of fine art and currently works in the industry. Therefore I thought it was essential to give him and the lads an insight into the amazing art institutions that Linz has to offer. A few of the most notable modern arts venues to explore are the Ars Electronica Center and the Lentos Art Museum and our Friday afternoon was spent doing exactly this. The Lentos Art Museum presents exhibits of contemporary art from the 20th century, and it is a fantastic way to experience the youthful, modern influence of the city. The Ars Electronica Center is a multi-faceted museum housing some of the most advanced technology based pieces of art in existence. The exhibitions here were truly amazing and some even mind-boggling. To be honest, doing these activities even provided me with a new perspective on Linz. This city really does have so much culture and history to delve into and I would strongly recommend this to anyone!

Christoph and Robert!

So, as our time together was drawing to an end, it was time for the main event; Linz Rugby Club versus  Ljubljana Rugby Club of Slovenia in a crunch-game in the Austrian Cup. As rugby has become a big part of my culture and weekly routine I wanted to bring the boys (fellow rugby enthusiasts) along and show them just how much passion and heart these men play with. Thankfully we won our game and put in a fantastic performance which made the post-game beers taste even sweeter!


Guten Abend,

James



References:

• Sarker, S., K (2006) Shakespeare's Sonnets, Atlantic Publishers and Distributors, New Delhi  

Living life the Austrian way!

Week ten: 29/04/2013 - 05/05/2013

Personal Development:

The Danube at night...

William Shakespeare once said that "April hath put a spirit of youth in everything" (Sonnet XCVIII) and after the last few weeks that I've had, I have to agree with the great man! When I think back to a month ago; the snow was everywhere, the gloves and hats were on (not forgetting the long-johns) and the sunshine was nowhere to be seen. The arrival of the spring truly has transformed Linz and each day brings with it new plans and projects that make this experience so unique.

We are very fortunate that our residence is located right on the River Danube, the second largest in Europe. This iconic river passes through nine countries: Germany, Austria, Slovakia, Hungary, Croatia, Serbia, Bulgaria and Ukraine, astonishing! Within the last few weeks the river and its surrounding areas really have came to life. The masses flock to the Danube when the sun comes out and there are so many sights to see and things to do. For example this week, Warren and I challenged two Austrian ladies to a game of beach volleyball, confidence was short-lived amongst the Irish team as the Austrians gave us a proper lesson in how to play this sport, slightly embarrassing but extremely enjoyable!

On Wednesday of this week there was a public holiday in Austria. As the weather was fantastic our Finish classmate Paula thought it would be a good idea to have an Erasmus picnic by the Danube. Paula informed us that the 1st of May in Finland involves quite big celebrations throughout the country, especially in the form of picnics, so a multi-culutral feast beside the picturesque River Danube seemed like a great idea and what a success it was! There was a great turnout from the Erasmus gang and some fantastic food and drinks were also brought along. My personal favourite was the Finnish blueberry pie, delicious. Warren's and my attempts to make fifteens were perhaps not quite as successful but I think the effort was appreciated!

Some of the Erasmus group enjoying the picnic...

Let the celebrations begin!

My personal highlight of the week came on Saturday as I played my first rugby match for Linz Rugby Club, and to have the game in front of our home crowd certainly added to the occasion. We knew we would be up against it as we were facing an experienced and very physical side from Slovenia. The atmosphere at the game was amazing! Rugby is a relatively new sport in Austria but the people of Linz really do seem to care passionately about their team and their performances. The game was extremely close but thankfully we managed to win 15-7 which was a great result. As one of our teammates Thomas was recently celebrating the birth of his son, a BBQ and some cider was provided after the game and the 'craic was mighty'! Having some of our Erasmus friends there to support us was also fantastic. A memorable day in the sunshine shared with some great friends. 

A bruised and battered but very happy rugby team!

Next week amongst assignments and teaching practice I will welcome three good friends who are making the trip from the Emerald Isle. They have heard so many good things about Linz and simply want to experience it for themselves!

Guten Abend,

James

References:

• Sarker, S., K (2006) Shakespeare's Sonnets, Atlantic Publishers and Distributors, New Delhi 

Hard work and dedication...

Week nine: 22/04/2013 - 28/04/2013
Professional Development

“Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.” 

(Nelson Mandela, 2003)

Professional life in Linz is well and truly in full flow and I must say I am enjoying every minute of it! As you would expect both Warren and myself have busy schedules and are currently in the middle of several projects and assignments, but personally I would have it no other way. The Erasmus Program is not just a 'holiday' as many would think, infact, far from it. This experience (as enjoyable as it may be) involves hard work and dedication, commitment and oraganisation. Each of these aspects remain at the top of my prioirty list and are essential in achieving a positive Erasmus experience.

Content and Language Integrated Learning...

One module which I have really enjoyed and found beneficial has been Content and Language Integrated Learning (CLIL). This course is led by Catherine Carre-Karlinger, a passionate and extremely knowledgeable pioneer of CLIL within Europe. This course is used to describe educational methods where subjects are taught through a foreign language. CLIL has dual-focused aims, namely the learning of content, and the simultaneous learning of a foreign language.

A CLIL lesson carried out by some Turkish students...

I must admit when I first found out I would be taking this module I did have my doubts! How would this benefit a Post-Primary Technology and Design teacher based in Northern Ireland? Well, I was very wrong indeed. CLIL brings with it numerous advantages. Firstly it allows language to be used for real purpose and in context; it can be a very effective way of linking with other subjects. I feel within Northern Ireland it could be very motivating. Children will learn a language without thinking about it and discuss points of view which can contribute to an intercultural understanding.

Warren and I presenting to the class

In general my courses at the Padagogische Hochschule are very diverse, but they share one thing in common, presentations. Presentations are a big part of my modules here and would normally happen twice if not three times a week. When it comes to standing up in front of a group of people, confidence is not something that I lack. However, having to present different topics to a room full of differing nationalities can prove challenging. As Northern Ireland itself is becoming more and more multi-cultural, these experiences will stand me in good stead for many years to come.

Some of our Erasmus friends enjoying our presentation...

School practice itself has been progressing nicely. I feel at this point I have developed some strong relationships with both the staff and pupils at the Europaschule. Mrs Ratzinger (class teacher) allows us to integrate with the pupils every week and assist them with their English linguistic skills. This week for example the pupils were working on their past, present and future tenses and being a native English speaker can be very helpful for the children and at times the teachers. Next week I have been asked to prepare a short activity for the pupils at the beginning of class, I look forward to this very much!


All in all I am thoroughly enjoying and embracing the professional life here in Linz. The university work is certainly piling up but whether it be an assignment, making a video or carrying out a presentation, each aspect is proving great fun,  and very rewarding!

Gute Nacht,

James

References:

• Walsh, E. Catherine., (2009) Education Reform and Social Change: Multicultural Voices, Struggles and Visions, Lawrence Erlbaum Associates Inc, New Jersey.