SARAH
Exceptional Education Undergraduate |
SARAH
Exceptional Education Undergraduate |
I have been back in the States for 11 days, but it still does not feel real. I have tried writing this blog so many times, but I am not ready for my wonderful adventure to be over. Not only did I explore Germany for two and a half weeks, I also went to Paris and Amsterdam with two of the girls from the program for some traveling of our own. I am officially on a traveling kick and need to plan my next adventure as soon as possible. When I first arrived home, I had to try to get adjusted as soon as possible because I had to go back to my normal routine. Driving for the first time since being home was something I needed to get used to again. I definitely miss taking the subway and the train everywhere! I also kept slipping some German words into my daily conversations. When you hear the German language every day for two weeks, it is hard to let go of. As difficult as that language was to understand, I am going to miss hearing it every day. Living with a host and teaching in a German school helped me grow as a future educator and as an individual and were the two most important parts of this trip for me. I emailed my host a few times before going to Germany, but I was still extremely nervous to meet her for the first time and stay in her home for two weeks. I live at home and commute to school every day, so I have never really had the chance to live on my own before. There is no better way to become more independent than to live on your own/with a host in a different country! She showed me what it is like to live in an apartment in your 20s in Germany; what they ate every day, how they spent their afternoons/nights, and she showed me that we were not so different. I miss my host dearly and she made me feel so welcome in Germany. Not only did I become independent by living with her, I was also able to take the trains everywhere and explore the city on my own. I never thought I was going to be able to do this, but I am so proud that I did. I truly stepped out of my comfort zone on this trip and I am so different from the shy and nervous girl who left for Germany in June. Germany changed me for the better and I am so happy and proud of the person I have become. Teaching in a German school was one of the most amazing experiences of my life. I sat in on almost every subject taught in my host’s school, and I am so blessed to have had that opportunity. I was able to see multiple different teaching styles from all of the teachers at that school and I have learned new management skills that I cannot wait to try in my own classroom. I have also learned so many incredible ways to teach students English. As I have said in my previous blogs, I had the chance to feel what it is like to be an ELL in a general classroom. After experiencing this, I want to make sure all of my students feel included and have an equal opportunity to succeed. I learned many new ways to teach English to ELL’s that I am going to practice and try out in my future classroom. Studying and teaching abroad is an opportunity that I think every student should experience. I am so blessed and thankful to have had this experience and I have grown so much during my three weeks in Europe. I just want to thank every single person that helped me go on this adventure, and I cannot wait to see where I go next. Thank you all for following my blog during this once in a lifetime adventure. Until next time, Sarah "There's the whole world at your feet"
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During the last few days in Stuttgart I had the opportunity to visit a Waldorf school. When I went to the Aurora Waldorf School back home, I instantly fell in love and could not wait to see the Waldorf School in Germany. The Waldorf School in Germany did not disappoint. Just like back home, I felt so happy and comfortable in this school the minute I walked in. We observed a 4th grade math and music class and took a tour around the school. The students sing during every lesson, draw a lot, take woodworking classes, learn to sew and knit, and are given so many opportunities to succeed. The motto for a Waldorf school is to teach students to learn using their head, their heart, and their hands. The students become so confident over the years and feel pride in the work that they do. I hope to bring back some of their teaching styles and their motto to use in my own classroom in the future. During my last day at the school, I was in my host’s 3rd grade English class. For the past few days, they have been practicing asking questions in English with a partner, but today they asked me all of the questions they learned and tried to understand my answers. After I answered their questions, they were trying to teach me many different German words. I loved how excited they got when I would repeat the German words (in my terrible American accent) and they would help me say it correctly. Every time those students saw me throughout the rest of the day, they would run up to me and start teaching me different German words. I have had so much fun with the students the past two weeks and I cannot believe Friday was my last day. I have learned from all of the teachers at the school and I hope to use some of their activities and styles in my future classroom. I feel that this trip has helped me grow as an educator, especially when teaching English language learners.
“Venture outside your comfort zone. The rewards are worth it”
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AuthorHallo, ich bin Sarah! ArchivesCategories |