EOS = Experiential Orientated Spring Module for student teachers

The ‘EOS – project’  for teacher training students

In 2011 the department of teacher training of  the KHLim  organises  the ‘experiential orientated spring project’ for teacher training students for the 8th time . During  4 months students of 8 different European countries learn to respect and understand the different cultures and they learn to know the advantages and problems of a multi-cultural group and society. Insight in European citizenship and in educational visions and systems will result in  a more global teachership.

The project consists of 6 units and contains a lot of activities. Every theoretical subject is linked to the experiential vision on learning and to the practice. The program is a balanced mixture of theory, practice, personal work and reflections.

During the introductory weeks students will learn to know the members of the group and the local region: visits to Brussels, Hasselt, Maastricht, Aachen, Antwerp, Leuven and Liege are planned. Students will present their cultures and educational systems to each other. The meeting of different cultures and persons shows the differences and reveals de similarities between people. During this period lessons of Dutch are planned, so the incoming students become able to understand the local people and children of practice schools.

In the second unit, the vision on experiential education is presented. Lectures on innovation of education, visions on good and inclusive education and diversity approach in education are planned .  School visits are an important way to illustrate the theoretical visions on education as well as trips to a Turkish community and a mosque, an Orthodox  church, a Spanish cultural centre and a Jewish synagogue.

Folk tales have an international character and contain general human values. By means of texts, books and  films students are made aware of the international character of folk tales. The students visit the international  storytelling festival in Alden Biesen and participate in a workshop on story telling. Finally they organize a storytelling festival in a primary school for 10 to 12 year old children. Students  tell and dramatize the stories of their home countries and the children learn and enjoy!

The fourth unit is an artistic and musical project. The students will learn to organize and to take part in this  creative project with children from 5 to 9 years old. All creative domains (drama, music, dance, art and ICT) should be integrated in this performance.

The fifth unit consists of classroom practice in an primary school. Students will present their counties and cultures and will work with children on their home-culture.  They will teach and coach children. The ‘grand final’ consists of a show made by  the children and an exposition of the results of the practice.

In the final unit the students present the links they find between their own country and Belgium. These presentations reveal  a  cultural and economical mixture of European presence in our country.

In EOS, our international program for students of the teacher training departments of European institutes, students will meet, study and live together.  In meeting other cultures, the students also get  a clearer, more defined view on the own culture. Discovering the richness of cultures is the major objective of this project.

For more information, please consult our powerpoint  (ppt 24 Mb)   

A four month programme in English 30 ECTS An enthusiastic teaching staff Highly qualified mentors in schools for practical experience (traineeship) Coaching by Belgian students A free Go-Pass, which enables you to travel by train to Brussels, Antwerp, Ostende, Bruges, Luxembourg We arrange for suitable lodging

 

WHEN?

EOS = annual course
EOS = from mid-February till mid-May

WHO?

EOS = open to Erasmus students in their 3^rd or 4^th year of Early Childhood Education and Primary school Education
EOS = open to our own final year’s students.
EOS = open to foreign students participating for just a few weeks (in some cases)

ORGANISATION?
EOS = a 3 month programme in English
EOS = 30 ECTS
EOS = coached by Belgian students

EXTRA?
EOS = limited free use of train (Go-Pass) in Belgium
EOS = unlimited free use of bicycle (VEDO) and bus (H-busses) in Hasselt

HOUSING?
EOS = no worries about housing (we arrange for suitable lodging)

REGISTRATION?
EOS = deadline for application: November 15 (later applications may be accepted)