27th Feb and 2nd March - English lessons

Me, Míša and Vašek had on Friday 27th an Enlish lesson with Danish students too.
I was surprised that

• around 2/3 of the students were adult people - already teaching. In Czech Republic we have a daily study for young students and distant learning for adults - but in Denmark they go to one class. One of the girls even have a small baby in the classroom during lessons!

A few more things which were really interesting for me:

• the atmosphere in the classroom was very friendly and cooperative, the students could be much more critical and express their oppinions (what is more - they were expected to do that :) ) The relationship between university teacher and students is more friendly and "equal" then in CR.
  
• The students are pretty good at English, much better than most of the Czech English-teacher- students. But you know, English is much closer to Danish. Nevertheless, if the pupils at schools have such a good-level English teachers with good pronunciation, that is also better for their beginnings.

• the whole study is much more focused on practice than on learning something by heard (there is no point in it, anyway). In CR we have to study English literature for 4 semesters, British history for 2 semesters, USA history, USA and colonial literature etc. ... And Danish students don´t have to know all these information by heart. Lucky them! They only read 1 English-written book per semester, for example they are reading Harry Potter and the Philosopher´s Stone for analysis at the moment! Good choice :)

The part of their final exam is for example an analysis of a pupil´s essay. They have to characterise the text as a whole; find, cathegorise and analyse the pupil´s mistakes and offer 3 most important things on which to work with the pupil and how to explain it to him/her. That is grammar (+methodology, stylistics and syntax etc.) IN PRACTICE! :)

We also did a group work - comparing English teaching books. Very practical (and much more useful than many parts of my university studies in CR).

On Monday 2nd we did another practical groupwork - focused on usage ICT in English lessons.

We were nicely welcomed by the Danish students in the lessons, thanks. ;)