Talking about my practicum experience, I can express that it was a fun and unique opportunity. However, I was really nervous at the beginning since I had never taught in a European context before. Many different points can be noticed if I compare it with my experience in Kurdistan. Thanks to the positive and encouraging feedback from the teachers at the school, Smart Bilingual Primary School, helped me gain confidence and made me promise to keep up the good work.
During my teaching practicum, I observed almost all of the English classes at the school by different teachers and with different grades and language proficiency levels. The helpfulness and kindness of the school staffers are one of my experience highlights. They provided many good tips and hints about the students and teaching. They also helped me with printing the materials and handouts I required for my classes. The students were also helpful, pleasant, and smart which made the experience better.
Regarding my mentor, she was a teacher with 15 years of experience in Poland and Canada! She was quite smart and a problem-solver. She helped with her feedback on my teaching and during my observations, she explained her class procedure and stages. I was impressed with the relationship she had with the students and made me reflect on that. I had to conduct action research, “Engaging Students in Collaborative Grammar Activities: An Exploratory Practice Approach”, and she assisted me with observing my classes critically and providing me with her reflections on them, without her contribution, I could not have finished the project. So I want to thank her so much!
Moreover, due to the many holidays in Poland and the school’s unique calendar and agenda, starting the practicum at the beginning of the first semester will be way better and saves a lot of time later. One more point that I wish to pay a little attention to is the school location that had an impact on the process. It took me almost 2 hours to get to the school and sometimes I had to take a taxi due to the buses’ delay or not arriving on time. I think it will be better and easier for student teachers to go to the school of city zone.
Finally, my practicum experience was overall positive, enjoyable, and a fantastic learning opportunity. I acquired important teaching experience as well as plenty of knowledge from the school staff, kids, and my mentor. Despite a few problems, the experience was really fulfilling and will aid me in my future teaching pursuits.
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