Two Junior College lecturers from the Department of English have recently participated in a job-shadowing exchange, which was made possible through the Erasmus+ mobility programme, with a view to learn more about the educational trajectory offered in upper secondary Finnish schools.
The participants visited the Tammerkoski Upper Secondary School in Tampere, Finland between 29 April and 3 May 2024, where the Vice Principal, Ms Maarit Luhtala, provided a very thorough overview of the compulsory educational programme in Finland, which has recently been extended to 18 years of age. They were also invited to sit in on a number of classes to observe the pedagogical tools used and teaching approaches adopted by various teachers of English. The visit also included a number of cultural outings many of which coincided with Vappu, the May Day holiday that brings thousands of people and students out on the streets to celebrate spring and mark the end of winter.
The participants were Dr Janice Sant Balzan and Dr Stephanie Xerri Agius. This project was coordinated by the JC International Office and co-funded through the Erasmus+ Accreditation funds.