Randersgades Skole: Learning from the Danes!
Hello, Huihan and Nathaniel here!
Both of us were attached to Randersgades Skole (Copenhagen, Denmark) with Hoong Yan and Janelle for the five weeks of IP, but we were assigned to teach the grade 6 and 7 students (secondary 1 and 2 equivalent). Cooking, sports, english and nature & technology were some subjects that we were assigned to teach during the five weeks. It was definitely nerve-wrecking for both of us. It was not just about teaching in subjects that we were not particularly trained in back in NIE, but rather, it was about teaching in an entirely new environment - new teachers, new students, different cultures, practically almost everything was different. However, it was definitely an eventful five weeks as we were able to try out things that were unconventional, teaching topics without the worry of 'the syllabus' and to really impact life-skills and knowledge to our students - and of course cultural exchange as well.
Randersgades Skole Courtyard
Huihan teaching the students Cooking - Chicken Satay!
Nathaniel teaching the students English through songs - Drake, Katy Perry!
It is almost impossible to condense all the five-weeks of learning right into this blog space, but here are three important learning pointers that we would like to share:
1. Respect is earned not gained
This statement speaks for itself, it is a common mantra heard even in Singapore. However, in Denmark, this statement weighs much more. Unlike Singapore, there is no 'book-by-book' regimentation by the school, they do not have student handbooks outlining the 'dos' and 'don'ts' or have a department or committee that handles disciplinary issues. Students address teachers by their first-name and there is no outright dress-code upheld by the school. However, this does not mean that students are running their own school, rather, teachers themselves have to gain the respect of the students in order for their students to listen to them (and abide by the teacher's / school rules). The importance of maintaining a good TSR is of utmost importance - there isn't a given that since you are a teacher equates to a figure of authority. You have to earn their respect.
2. Teaching is never about just "information-passing" from teacher to student
At times we might be too overly concerned with passing of information from teacher to student in bid to catch up with the ministry's syllabus. However, as we taught in Randersgades Skole, we learnt tat that shouldn't be the only focus, we should engage our students actively in the learning process. Even crafting of lessons - why not asking the students themselves how they would like a certain topic to be taught? Evaluating our teaching - why not have our students play that part as well? It is our students that will be taking in the information and processing them, not us, thats why it is important that our teaching matches with their learning and only then can they truly learn in the classroom. Likewise, never be afraid to learn from your students as well. As much as we think that we might be trained in the profession and have a 'weath of knowledge', students themselves have a lot to teach us.
3. Dare to try
Teaching in a foreign land with little restrictions in lesson planning was one of the blessings of this IP experience. Having no set boundaries of what exactly to cover, we had the liberty to explore what we wanted our students to learn. Whether cultural exchange, teaching through popular rap songs, the list is endless! Sometimes, we did face some setbacks, but every single time, it was about thinking positive and taking each challenge or failure as a learning opportunity. If everything was as smooth-sailing, we probably wouldn't have learnt as much!
With our 6U class!
The experience at Randersgades Skole was definitely something that cannot be bought. It was an exciting and eventful five weeks in Copenhagen, Denmark!
Randersgades Skole Courtyard
Huihan teaching the students Cooking - Chicken Satay!
Nathaniel teaching the students English through songs - Drake, Katy Perry!
It is almost impossible to condense all the five-weeks of learning right into this blog space, but here are three important learning pointers that we would like to share:
1. Respect is earned not gained
This statement speaks for itself, it is a common mantra heard even in Singapore. However, in Denmark, this statement weighs much more. Unlike Singapore, there is no 'book-by-book' regimentation by the school, they do not have student handbooks outlining the 'dos' and 'don'ts' or have a department or committee that handles disciplinary issues. Students address teachers by their first-name and there is no outright dress-code upheld by the school. However, this does not mean that students are running their own school, rather, teachers themselves have to gain the respect of the students in order for their students to listen to them (and abide by the teacher's / school rules). The importance of maintaining a good TSR is of utmost importance - there isn't a given that since you are a teacher equates to a figure of authority. You have to earn their respect.
2. Teaching is never about just "information-passing" from teacher to student
At times we might be too overly concerned with passing of information from teacher to student in bid to catch up with the ministry's syllabus. However, as we taught in Randersgades Skole, we learnt tat that shouldn't be the only focus, we should engage our students actively in the learning process. Even crafting of lessons - why not asking the students themselves how they would like a certain topic to be taught? Evaluating our teaching - why not have our students play that part as well? It is our students that will be taking in the information and processing them, not us, thats why it is important that our teaching matches with their learning and only then can they truly learn in the classroom. Likewise, never be afraid to learn from your students as well. As much as we think that we might be trained in the profession and have a 'weath of knowledge', students themselves have a lot to teach us.
3. Dare to try
Teaching in a foreign land with little restrictions in lesson planning was one of the blessings of this IP experience. Having no set boundaries of what exactly to cover, we had the liberty to explore what we wanted our students to learn. Whether cultural exchange, teaching through popular rap songs, the list is endless! Sometimes, we did face some setbacks, but every single time, it was about thinking positive and taking each challenge or failure as a learning opportunity. If everything was as smooth-sailing, we probably wouldn't have learnt as much!
With our 6U class!
The experience at Randersgades Skole was definitely something that cannot be bought. It was an exciting and eventful five weeks in Copenhagen, Denmark!
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