Job shadowing

Ålands lyceum

(October 22 to October 26, 2018)

In my job shadowing I expressed a wish to follow mainly English language teachers to learn from them about the use of digital tools and classroom management when students are involved in learning with the help of different digital tools. Since the school system is different from the one in Croatia and the lyceum offers different courses under English as a subject there were gaps in my schedule so I also attended Spanish and German classes which were also taught with digital tools.

First of all I would like to point out that the school system surprised me positively and I acquired many great ideas to be implied in my classes. I was also surprised at how much students actually participate in learning process and how much teachers involve them during the lectures. The idea that school is silent school (no bell ringing) was very much appreciated and it definitely reduces the stress level among teachers and students. Consequently, the relaxed atmosphere prevails in the school and leads to more productive learning process.

The school seems to be happy place for students because when they have a gap in schedule they actually stay at school corridors and type something or learn together. That cannot be seen in  Croatian schools because we lack facilities like libraries or sitting areas in the corridors and students hurry in the cafe bars which are conveniently situated right next to schools.

The courses in English offered variety of topics and what surprised me most was that students start high school with lower level of English and end up with advanced level. The state exam is taken for 6 hours while in Croatia it lasts for 2hours and 40 minutes and it is easier. It does not include use of English or speaking part.

The autonomy that teachers have in Finnish schools is very important and I noticed that the base for teaching/learning process is a course book from which lessons are chosen carefully and that can be expanded with teacher’s materials as well. Croatian education system is currently undergoing a reform and the most important is the autonomy of the teacher but it goes so far that the book is not important anymore but teachers still have to choose one text book between those offered by different publishers. Usually topics that should be covered are not all given in the chosen text book so the teachers are having difficulty to find materials for lessons. So this situation is better in Finland where teachers have basis for teaching and can expand it easily.

Digital tools are left as optional not obligatory as in Croatian schools currently being in a reform. If the old system works well no pressure is put on the teachers, which is good and brings to the relaxed atmosphere.

Finnish teachers have offices and work until 4 pm, which is better because they don’t bring their work at home unlike Croatian teachers who usually end up working all day. I find Finnish system much better.

The only thing that is becoming better in Croatian educational system is inclusion of students with different learning disabilities. As I could notice while doing job shadowing no special focus is given to students with learning disabilities. I do not claim that they exist in the school because I haven’t noticed any type of student like that but I have asked teachers about it and no special treatment is given to those with learning disabilities. In Croatian schools there can be a few students in a classroom with learning disabilities and teacher is to prepare separate working sheets for them which is paid very low so many teachers still put students like that aside which in my opinion creates social cases.

The second thing that Finnish high schools do not have as a subject is Art History class so I keep wondering how Finnish citizens managed to develop high level of sensitivity towards cultural inheritance and museums unlike Croatians who are taught about artists and periods of art.

All in all, my job shadowing experience was very useful and it broadened my perspective.

Silvija Pećanac Bačić