First of all, we will remember this Erasmus+ exchange because of the warm welcome from Vladimir, all the staff, the pupils and all Czech people we met.
We had the chance to shadow teachers of different subjects and watch their teaching styles and
methods: how they use digital devices, encourage group work, shorten notes to key-words to keep the
main ideas of the notions and prefer speaking-based lessons. Now we would like to share those ideas with our French colleagues to hopefully “move the lines” of our sometimes rusty educational system.
Each one of us spent time with teachers, before and after lessons, asking questions to understand
the way they work, pondering the pros and cons. We were always met with openness and a will to share
their tools, habits and practices.
With Raquel, a math teacher from Spain visiting the school at the same time, the exchange was
even more enriching. We talked about our challenges and our ideas to improve what we do, our activities
and the overall job.
The afternoons were also filled with experiences that we won’t forget. On the first day, a class of
9th grade students took us on a guided tour of Louny, we visited the top spots and landmarks and learned about the city’s history. We were impressed by the students’ ability to speak English and hold a
conversation with us.
The rest of the week, Vladimir and his colleagues had planned outings and visits such as Louny’s
Art Gallery, trips to Most and Karlovy Vary, and a hike of Rana hill to see the surrounding landscapes. Of
course, we tried Czech food as well! This Erasmus + experience was a great way to get a full picture of
the Czech culture and civilization.
Last but not least, we were met with smiles and laughs! The kindness of everybody we encountered
was a real gift and it made us reassess the environment in our school, the way we interact with the pupils.
As we already mentioned, we would have loved to extend our stay in Louny’s school.
It was a wonderful week and an incredible opportunity to take a step back to rethink the way we
teach in France.
Vladimir took care of everything efficiently and professionally: communicating with our team,
planning our visit, activities during the week, liaising between us and the teachers. He even went to our
hotel to check that our reservation was confirmed. Communication with him was perfect, efficient and
pleasant. He knew how to put himself at the service of the project to carry it through in the best possible
way. We can’t thank him and his team enough!
We fully recommend this Erasmus partner for a rich and full discovery of the Czech education. We
hope we can keep in touch and maybe create a lasting relationship between us and our respective schools.
Daphné, Camille, Morgan & Didier
