Quotes from Participants in ASUs Department of Teacher Educations

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Quotes from Participants in ASUs Department of
Teacher Educations

• Study Abroad Trip to Sweden, Holland, and Belgium
• Spring 2008

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Quote From Before We Left

• Knowing that we are entering into a different
  society sparks an opening light to a darkened
  tunnel. I look forward to meeting new people and
  socializing with them. I look forward to
  learning new things and learning about a new
  culture. I also look forward to returning home
  and sharing my great adventure.

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Quotes From Reflection Journals

• While my experience in Sweden is different from
  anything I have experienced before, I have
  sincerely enjoyed every moment and cannot wait to
  encourage others to experience it.
• Im very appreciative for this opportunity and
  will not waste it missing people at home.

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Quotes About the School Visits

• From what I saw, most of the school instruction
  was independent, not whole group. Each day the
  students are given free research time to research
  anything they wanted. The students must
  participate in textile (Home Ec.) class and wood
  shop. Overall, the school was WONDERFUL!
• In the elementary schoolThey all pulled out
  different math books started working. This was
  very interesting to me because none of the
  students were on the same page.

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• I had so much fun in my school today. I learned
  that the grades were mixed part of the day and
  that the students in a class are not all studying
  the same thing at the same time, they move at
  their own individual pace. This is very
  different from our schools in the US. The
  children at the school were very friendly and
  took us outside and we made snow angels and rode
  down the hill on the sled with them. I really
  enjoyed my visit today and have a lot of new
  ideas to take back to the states with me.

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• Today I learned a great deal about the Swedish
  School System. Based on what I have seen, the
  children here are well prepared for becoming
  reliable, independent, responsible adults.
  They are assigned individual schedules in which
  they really stick to without any instruction.
  They make learning fun and interactive throughout
  the entire school. Words just cant explain the
  setup of the schools here. It is so wonderful.
  I believe any ASU student who decides to return
  or come to Sweden for lab will really enjoy it.
  If it was a two week apprentice lab I wouldnt
  mind returning myself. But I know I would have
  to be here much longer than that. As a whole, I
  really enjoyed my visit the students.

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• For lunch (in school), the children are able to
  serve themselves.
• They could also go back and get seconds!
• The children in school had two thirty minute
  breaks, which were breaks for the teachers. Also
  in the Swedish school system, many school
  children take their shoes off as they enter their
  classroom.

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• While the teachers did not seem to apply any
  management techniques, the students were
  responsible and independent. They knew when it
  was appropriate to behave playfully and when to
  focus on school work. The teachers allowed
  students ample time to play which seemed to
  release energy that may avoid poor behavior.

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• I will always remember seeing the students
  crouched over the table as the teacher was
  explaining the life of a caterpillar. I will
  remember the expressions on their little faces
  that showed they are more interested in learning
  by doing. I walked away from this experience
  with many ideas for my future classroom.

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• This trip has been a once in a life time
  experience for me! I have had the best time
  learning about a new culture and the way teachers
  teach! I saw so many ideas and sights that I
  will never forget! My favorite part of the trip
  was meeting all the children and teachers who
  welcomed us into their classroom. I could not
  thank them enough for making this experience one
  that has touched my heart so deeply. They
  respect us and made us feel right at home. All
  the schools were wonderful and I couldnt have
  asked for a better time here on my Sweden/Holland
  trip!

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• The International educational system has
  introduced me to some great ideas. The concept
  of learning to learn has great meaning behind it.
  This concept appears to be practiced throughout
  Europe. I believe it is a wonderful way of
  looking at Education. I highly recommend that
  everyone participate in at least one study abroad
  excursion. It was wonderful.
• I really liked how all these countries tried to
  get the children to be very independent. That is
  a characteristic that children need to have.
  They do not need to feel like they have to depend
  on everyone else to do things.

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• The positive aspects of this trip have
  definitely been getting to know new people and
  experiencing a new country. On this trip I had
  so much fun with people I had never met before in
  my life. I laughed many, many much needed laughs
  and relieved a lot of stress and tension. My
  time with everyone was so rewarding and
  fulfilling, I know that each of us who
  participated will have memories that we share.
• Being in the international schools helped me get
  a feel for what it is like for non-English
  speaking students that I may have in my class. I
  feel that I will be open to new approaches and to
  students of all nationalities.

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• One of my best experiences had nothing to do at
  all with the educational part of this trip, but
  the building of my own personal development and
  maturity. I have learned more about myself and
  what I can do than in any classroom, no matter
  how good it is.
• I have learned many things but the most
  important and simplest thing is that the school
  is for the children. The school should not be
  built for the teachers, parents, government or
  any other persons. The students growth and
  development is key and no tests or standards
  should take anything away from that. The
  teachable moments are what children really learn
  from.

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• It was so neat to say that in a week and a half
  we went to three countries and have been in the
  snow and at the beach! I feel like I am
  incredibly blessed to have the opportunity to go
  on such a fantastic, once in a lifetime trip!
  Lastly I am incredibly thankful for all the
  preparation, time, and effort that the professors
  have put in this trip! I have had a blast!
• One of the things that I have learned is that
  almost every person will take the time to help
  you out when you need it as long as you have a
  smile on when you ask.

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• My experience getting into Amsterdam is one that
  I will never forget! A lot happened, including
  getting engaged!
• I feel that I have learned so much about the
  culture of Holland and Sweden. They value their
  coffee breaks. It seemed that everywhere we
  went, whether in the schools or the lectures at
  the University, we were going to have a coffee
  break around 10am. I have also learned that in
  both cultures bikes and walking are the
  predominant modes of transportation. Another
  thing that I noticed is that they value
  punctuality very much. The culture of Holland
  was very interesting to say the least.
• We have a fast pace system but the Swedish
  people take everything so slow.

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• The first lesson I learned today was to not
  assume your pants will dry overnight after you
  hand wash then in a bathtub. You also should not
  wash all of your jeans and waste time blow drying
  them. That does not work very well. The
  Kevkenhof Gardens were an amazing break. It was
  like the Disneyworld of flowers!
• I have now eaten McDonalds in every European
  Country I have gone to.
• Overall, I really enjoyed my visit and I would
  love to come back someday for an extended trip to
  research and observe on a very detailed level.

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• As Dr. Pendegraft said This is an experience I
  would not trade for the world. I agree 100

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• We hope youll join us on our next trip abroad!!!