In the final week of February, Tereza Havránková from the University of West Bohemia in Pilsen will speak in New York about how future teachers are being prepared for a world without borders. She will present experiences from Pilsen: Spanish trainee teachers in Czech classrooms, the new Wellbeing Journal, and other students who will soon set off on their first international placement.
In January and February this year, two student teachers from Universidad Pontificia Comillas in Madrid swapped pleasant Spanish temperatures for the frost of Central Europe. In Pilsen, the Czech Republic, they completed five weeks of teaching practice in schools where instruction is usually conducted in a language unfamiliar to them. Mariam joined classes at the František Křižík Primary School, while Clara worked at the university kindergarten.
They tried to communicate with children and teaching staff in English, sometimes in Spanish, and at times only through gestures or smiles. At the primary school, Mariam taught English lessons and took part in art classes and practical activities. As a result, children encountered a foreign language from a non-native speaker and even in contexts where they would not normally expect it.
“I felt very free and understood by all the teachers. They consistently asked for my opinion and gave me the freedom to decide whether or not to lead activities. I always chose to participate.” – Mariam Estela Crespo Sánchez.
At the kindergarten, things were initially more difficult for Clara. Young children did not speak English. Patience, therefore, played an even greater role.
“I decided to go abroad because I wanted to experience something different and not just stick to the usual. I thought that doing my internship abroad would help me grow a lot, not only as a future teacher but also as a person.” – Clara Rodríguez Salido.
“Future teachers must be open to new cultures and to the diversity of pupils. The best way to learn is to experience it.” – Tereza Havránková, Vice-Dean of the Faculty of Education at the University of West Bohemia in Pilsen and coordinator of international teaching placements.
© Clara Rodríguez Salido
© The City of PilsenA journal as a space for development
Within the EUPeace university alliance, which brings together nine universities across five European countries, a Wellbeing Journal was created for future teachers participating in this learning mobility. This structured diary accompanies students from the moment they start packing their suitcase to the final reflection. It asks about fears, first impressions, small cultural shocks, and moments when one feels lost.
“Little by little, I understood that I needed to trust my own abilities and my past experiences in order to face this challenge, which scared me especially because I was going to live it alone, in a country where I did not even speak the language.” – Mariam Estela Crespo Sánchez.
It is precisely this journal, kept emotionally by the two Spanish students throughout their five weeks in Pilsen, that Tereza Havránková will also present at a conference on teacher education in New York.
“For the alliance, we will introduce how the diary was created, the students‘ initial experiences, and plans for further analysis. The analysis of the diary entries will serve to improve the experience of foreign interns, but also the schools that accept them.” – Tereza Havránková.
The school’s feedback on both Spanish trainee teachers has been extremely positive so far.
“I see the main benefit in the long-term nature of the cooperation. The children got used to her; she attended the first stage regularly, teaching English and Spanish, and also had observation lessons. When she didn’t come one day because she was needed elsewhere, the children immediately asked where Mariam was and why she wasn’t teaching that day.”
– Evaluated the five-week teaching placement together with Mariam’s teaching supervisor, Ondřej Němeček, from František Křižík Primary School.
Ondřej Němeček also appreciated that the international project focuses on the well-being of young teachers, something he actively works on himself.
“I try to do all my work at work and keep work at home to a minimum. So far, it’s working. Setting a clear boundary between work and home is my basic prevention against burnout.”
The model, developed by the alliance of nine universities and described in detail in The Teacher Handbook, aims to create a deeper connection between schools and universities.
“The goal is to build a network of schools in the region that will host international trainees regularly, while also opening doors for Czech students to go to partner countries,” – Tereza Havránková.
The Teacher Handbook serves as a guide to incorporating EUPeace values into the preparation of future teachers—namely, justice, peace, and the much-discussed issue of inclusion in education.
“For me, peace, justice, and inclusion mean that all children should feel safe, respected, and valued, no matter where they come from, how they are, or what difficulties they have. In a classroom, there should be an environment where nobody feels less than others.” – Clara Rodríguez Salido.
© Mariam Estela Crespo Sánchez.
© The City of PilsenGoing abroad and back again
As early as March, five students from the French university in Limoges will arrive at a primary school in Chrást, where they will mainly teach English. In the next academic year, the first group of students from the University of West Bohemia will also head abroad to EUPeace partner schools.
“Personally, I was impressed by the system at Comillas. Students are strongly encouraged to take part in international placements, and they have a well-developed network of schools. At the Faculty of Education at the University of West Bohemia, we have now also clearly defined the conditions for recognising international practice, so students know what to expect and do not worry that their credits will not be acknowledged.”
“Not all future teachers can spend a semester abroad. But everyone should encounter another language, a different teaching approach, a different experience during their studies. This can also be passed on through online meetings or short-term placements.”
– Tereza Havránková.
Author: Andrea Čandová, University of West Bohemia in Pilsen
