Description
Ireland’s educational system is unique in Europe. Children start school at the age of four and attend primary school for eight years. Many Irish secondary schools offer a transition year.
During this time, students don’t attend formal classes. Instead, they do internships and project work. Here they have the opportunity to learn important skills for their later life. Students can be as young as 17 years old when starting to go to college. Irish graduate students commonly receive their Ph.D. degrees at the age of 25.
During this course, you will get to know the Irish educational system in detail. You will visit Irish schools and institutes, you will watch teachers’ lessons, and there will be discussions with headmasters, teachers, and students about school life and the Irish educational system.
There might be possibilities to make connections between principals and participants during the school visits to initiate future Erasmus+ projects. In addition, we will provide lectures and workshops to prepare for the visits, focussing on the Irish educational system, culture, and history.
As schools usually close in May and open up again in September, we may not be able to offer site visits to schools during the summer.
Please note: This course is only suitable for primary and secondary school teachers.
Learning outcomes
The course will help the participants learn and enhance their knowledge about the Irish educational system, daily school life, and Irish civilization. An important aim of the course is to facilitate language experience and cultural exchange between European participants and Irish staff, leading to a truly international experience.
Tentative schedule
Day 1 – Course introduction
- Introduction to the course, the school, and the external week activities;
- Icebreaker activities;
- Presentations of the participants’ schools.
Day 2 – The Irish Educational System
- Lecture about the Irish Educational System;
- Workshop;
- Differences between the Irish and the participants’ systems;
- Introduction to the schools to visit;
- Preparing questions to ask the students and host teachers.
Day 3 – First school visit*
- School visits I;
- Discussion of the visits;
- What is different? What is amazing?
Day 4 – A special tour of Dublin
- Cultural activities: A special tour of Dublin for teachers and educators;
- Possible choices: Dublin Botanic Garden, Dublin Museums (Project-based), Malahide Castle & Howth, and Dun Laoghaire & Dalkey;
- Trinity College & Book of Kells.
Day 5 – Second school visit*
- School visits II;
- Discussion of the visits;
- What is different? What is amazing?
Day 6 – Course closure & excursion
- Course evaluation: round-up of acquired competencies, feedback, and discussion;
- Awarding of the course Certificate of Attendance;
- Excursion to the Wicklow Mountains and Glendalough National Park and Monastic Settlement.
*Please note: As schools usually close in May and open up again in September, we may not be able to offer site visits to schools during the summer.