Cyprus - Luis Ibanez Fuentes

  • I am an ICT teacher. I have worked in "IES San Juan del Castillo" since 2010. The next 4th November I will go to Cyprus. It's the first job-shadowing period in my school.

    It's 5th November.

    We have rented a car and gone to Nicosia, capital of Cyprus. It has been very nice to walk on the narrow streets. We have eaten in a tradicional restaurant: braised chicken. 

    It's 6th November.

    Today, our job-shadowing has started. I am with Elena, she is from Cifuentes, She helps me a lot because she is an English teacher and the first hours I was very nervous and it was very difficult to say something in English. Christos is our coordinator in Agias Varvaras, a small village in the centre of Cyprus. I have met many teachers, walked around the buildings and visited some classrooms. Christos has invited us, to drink something and a delicious doughnut.

    In the afternoon, we have visited Larnaka, it is the city where we have rented an apartament.

    It's 7th November.

    It has been my second day. It has been very intensive. My job shadowing has been to observe five periods in different classrooms (Maths, Gymnastic, French, Computers and English). The classrooms are very well equiped. All of them have a projector. The groups have between 12 and 20 students. They are studying first, second and third grade.

    Now, I am in a conference about etwinning platform.

    Today I'm going to write a new section "Curiosity of the day", here, I will write a new curiosity each day that we learn more about Cyprus educational system.

    Curiosity of the day.

    There is a subject which boys and girls are separated. Do you know it? I will answer this question tomorrow.

    Thursday, 9th November

    It has been our fourth day in the school. We have observed three classes: 
    - Home economic, they have spoken about their feelings and how they felt in some situations. Students learn this subject 2 periods per week in the first grade.
    - Technology. The topic has been "Energies. How to save energy". (Only one period per week).
    - Music. They have listened to different types of musical compositions. After they have played with flute and percussion the song "Bittersweet Symphany" Oasis.

    In the afternoon we have known a little better the city where we are staying. We have visited the salt lake, the mosque and the ruins of Kyrion.

     
    Friday, 10th November

    Today we have observed two classes: Religion and ICT again. They were both quite interesting! In the religion lesson the students have worked on the orthodox church and its contribution to Christianity through some maps and outlines on the issue. The second class was about Pascal, so Luis has explained me some concepts about it. Unfortunately, all this sounds like Chinese to me! Then our coordinator Christo and Marina, a French teacher, have explained us a little bit about the requirements and the process to become a teacher in the country. Finally we have gone to the beach and had an amazing bath! It's unbelievable in November but... this is Cyprus! :)
     

    Tuesday, 14th November
    We are in a break and have taken the opportunity to advance work in the library. Here there are two computers with internet connection and printer.
    In the first period we have been in the chemistry classroom for the first time. They were second-grade students. The teacher uses the projector for his explanations. He has started with the theoretical part and then they have made a small experiment to apply it.
    Now, we go to the domestic economy class with second grade students. This subject is very interesting, works issues such as feelings, saving energy, healthy diets, recycling, etc.