My Erasmus trip

On Monday 20th January we were introduced to our workplaces, mine is as an SNA, I began working in my work placement on Tuesday 21st. I met with the principal of the school on Monday where I’d be doing my work experience and hot it off straight away. So, I went in on Tuesday for nine am as I had asked the principal what the teachers work hours were, he told me nine to two, so even though my introduction sheet was for 9:30 – 2:30 pm, I changed it to match the school’s work hours, it seemed only fair.

Day 1: The language is the biggest barrier, it means not being able to ask questions and getting to know the people you are working with, but I managed. I spent the day shadowing and watching, then when I felt I had a handle on how things were being done I started to help out with the kids in my classroom. I found the day to be very rewarding even with the language barrier.

Day 2: I started off my second day in school. I wasn’t as nervous as I had been on the first day. Helped all day, the first hour and a half is all about letting the children settle in, we did days of the week with the children, then watched YouTube with songs based on the days of the week, months of the year and the four seasons. Then myself and the teachers set up a kind of assault course in the gym mid morning with soft play toys and turned it into a game with music.

After that it was break time so we settled all the children down for lunch at around 11 am and at the same time, relaxing music was put on quietly in the background.

After lunch was finished other teachers then took the children off in order for us to have a break for lunch. When our lunch break was over we then had quiet time in the classroom, again with relaxing music on in the background in order for the children to take a nap if needed. For the last hour or so, we just played games with the children, puzzles, word games, that kind of thing , until home time at 2 pm.