Job Shadowing in Finland

Rovaniemi, Santa's place, Sweeden, Salmia tasting in the car

Today we went back to our first school and were attending English language lessons. A really rewarding and fullfilling experience :)

Today we have spent the morning with 3rd, 4th and 5th graders (ages 10-12) in their English lessons with Veera and 5th graders working in a biology project. It is a new school in Kempele as well, nine years old, a different, appealing and engaging world with wide corridors, big and open spaces, well-equipped and furnished with modern and colourful sofas, chairs and cushions all around. The most shocking for us was the ratio of students per teacher, between 5 and 12, depending on the lesson. Besides that, the fact of using mostly Finnish in their English language lessons, both by their teacher and in their books, was also striking. We also learned that teachers usually teach twenty lessons per week and if they work long hours they get extra wage. They don't have any meetings during the morning, but some Wednesdays from 2 to 4 or 5 in the afternoon. They don't go on duty either, but get a substitute when a teacher is missing. As regards lunch, today we had it at 11 and cons

Today we have been at School from 8 to 1 o'clock and it has been really inspirational, intensive and thought-provoking :) The first thing that stroke me was finding boots in the corridors and seeing students walking into the classroom in their socks, or finding them sitting on cushions on the floor, or pilates balls in the hsllways. The second was the quiet and relaxing atmosphere in class, which contrasts with our often loud voices and exciteness. Another different aspect is the fact of doors in the classrooms remaining open during the lessons. And, of course, the fact of students getting their free lunch at the School canteen everyday at around 11 o'clock in the morning. Today we had reindeer soup which I have to admit was truly delicious. Focusing on the educational system, the non-existence of any kind of national tests along the nine years of compulsory education, the fact of starting University as "late" as when they are19 or 20 and the ways they work with