Week 1 @ Tornhagsskolan (Estee)
Clarise and I share the same school for our International Practicum, Tornhagsskolan.
Here is a photo of Tornhagsskolan (on a no-school day!):
I have two coordinating teachers, who teach English and French, and SO (social sciences / humanities) respectively. Majority of the classes are taught in Swedish, though in English classes the students are encouraged to speak in English as much as possible, with my coordinating teacher speaking mostly in English to the students. Apart from these subjects, I am exposed to to a wide range of different classes and lessons, including Mentor classes (akin to Contact Time where the class engages in administrative tasks, led by their homeroom teachers) and study hall.
The most striking difference I have noticed between my experience in Singapore schools and Tornhagsskolan is the strong rapport students and teachers have with each other. I have not seen very much intense class management yet, because the students are familiar with the teacher's expectations and demands, even when given the freedom to go outside of the classroom to do their individual or group tasks. All the students (of course, with varying levels of concentration), will complete their assigned tasks following the schedule that the teacher has laid out, while the teacher walks around to prompt them or answer the questions. I have not heard any teacher raise their voice to strongly reprimand any student yet in my first week at the school. Furthermore, the teachers have very deep knowledge of their students' talents and interests, ranging from the unique such as an interest in outdoors survival to the artistic talent that the students showcase, pointing to the strong bond between students and teachers nurtured over the years, facilitated by the fact that the teachers will usually 'follow' the same class for around two to three years. The sense of continuity and stability, combined with genuine concern for their students as individuals is lovely and something I personally feel Singapore could improve on.
Here is a photo of Tornhagsskolan (on a no-school day!):
I have two coordinating teachers, who teach English and French, and SO (social sciences / humanities) respectively. Majority of the classes are taught in Swedish, though in English classes the students are encouraged to speak in English as much as possible, with my coordinating teacher speaking mostly in English to the students. Apart from these subjects, I am exposed to to a wide range of different classes and lessons, including Mentor classes (akin to Contact Time where the class engages in administrative tasks, led by their homeroom teachers) and study hall.
The most striking difference I have noticed between my experience in Singapore schools and Tornhagsskolan is the strong rapport students and teachers have with each other. I have not seen very much intense class management yet, because the students are familiar with the teacher's expectations and demands, even when given the freedom to go outside of the classroom to do their individual or group tasks. All the students (of course, with varying levels of concentration), will complete their assigned tasks following the schedule that the teacher has laid out, while the teacher walks around to prompt them or answer the questions. I have not heard any teacher raise their voice to strongly reprimand any student yet in my first week at the school. Furthermore, the teachers have very deep knowledge of their students' talents and interests, ranging from the unique such as an interest in outdoors survival to the artistic talent that the students showcase, pointing to the strong bond between students and teachers nurtured over the years, facilitated by the fact that the teachers will usually 'follow' the same class for around two to three years. The sense of continuity and stability, combined with genuine concern for their students as individuals is lovely and something I personally feel Singapore could improve on.
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