Study Abroad During Your Teacher Training Programme

Interview with Regine Eberhardt about her internship abroad in Melbourne

Which country did you visit and for how long were you there?

Australia/ Melbourne
29.01.2018-29.03.2018

Why did you choose your host country and the respective internship school?

It was always my dream country.

Did you do your internship at a local school or a school abroad?

At the private, German and bilingual German School Melbourne

How did your school abroad differ from those in Germany? How did the students learn in your host country?

More emphasis was placed on the individuality of the child rather than the class itself.

Did you supervise or lead a special project?

I supervised projects on paper production and determining water quality. I led a project on giraffe language and the introduction to cycling lessons.

Was it easy to socialise with the locals?

Yes, the Australians are super friendly and open and very easy-going when dealing with strangers.

How high was the cost of living at your internship location?

Almost twice as high as in Germany.

What was the biggest challenge in connection with your stay abroad?

There were no particularly big challenges.

What did you miss most about Germany?

In terms of Germany, the discipline in the classroom that I was used to up until then. Privately, I only missed my loved ones at home.

What do you miss from your host country?

I miss the friendly staff at the school, the friendships I made and the great cultural programme in Melbourne. I also miss the cool nonchalance of the Australians, which simply makes life more relaxed.

What would you recommend to others who are considering a stay abroad? What are three reasons to do an internship abroad?

1. to polish up your English, especially if you teach it.
2. to gain an insight into a completely different school environment.
3. personal and professional development.

What did you take with you or gain from your country? Experiences, objects, friends or inspiration?

I gained very good friendships, the experience of phenomenal helpfulness, great concerts and cultural events, creative development in painting and embroidery, great impressions of the landscape, a cheerful everyday school life and massive development opportunities on a professional and personal level.

Interview with Lukas Ziegler about his internship abroad in Brussels

Which country did you visit and for how long were you there?

I was in the Belgian capital Brussels for 2 months.

Why did you choose your host country and the respective internship school?

I have to admit that the International German School in Brussels was the only German school abroad that accepted me for the period. Originally, I wanted to go to Spain to improve my own Spanish language skills.
On the other hand, Brussels offered me the unique opportunity to experience what it means to live and work in a multilingual city.

Did you do your internship at a local school or a school abroad?

I completed my internship at a German school abroad.

How did your school abroad differ from those in Germany? How did the pupils learn in your host country?

In terms of what they learnt, the differences are not particularly great. The Thuringian curriculum is followed until the upper school. From the upper secondary level onwards, lessons are taught according to a separate curriculum, which is determined by the German schools abroad in the respective region. Brussels is part of the North-West Europe region. Classes are generally smaller than in Germany, i.e. the class size is usually between 15 and 23 pupils. Due to the smaller number of pupils and a higher number of lessons compared to domestic schools, pupils have more time to learn at school and receive more intensive support from teachers.

Have you supervised or led a special project?

In a year 7 class, we created a website in group work over the course of several weeks during English lessons. The pupils created and uploaded articles on topics of their choice.
There were also many other projects and working groups that I was able to take part in. There were very interesting student projects as part of Arts and Theatre lessons as well as evening sports activities in which teachers, parents and students participated together.

Was it easy to socialise with the locals?

Yes, it was very easy. I already had a contact in Brussels through an acquaintance who I stayed with for the first week. For the remaining seven weeks, I lived in a flat share of 17 people, most of whom were young people from different European countries who were in Brussels for a variety of reasons. Be it through internships in the European Commission or Parliament, with governmental or non-governmental organisations, or as students.
This situation allowed me to meet many great and very interesting people, some of whom I now call my friends.

How high was the cost of living at your internship location?

The cost of living is not significantly higher than in other major Western European cities. I had to pay 350 euros for my room and 50 euros for my monthly metro ticket. As in any big city, there are always neighbourhoods that tend to attract the well-off or people with less money. The prices of the shops are adjusted accordingly. I lived in the Sint-Josse-ten-Noode district, which is one of the poorest neighbourhoods in Belgium. As a result, the cost of food in the many Arab shops, but also food in restaurants in general or coffee and beer in pubs and cafés, was cheaper than in Germany.

What was the biggest challenge in connection with your stay abroad?

The biggest challenge was that 90% of the inhabitants of Brussels speak French as their mother tongue and some of them don't speak English at all. Although I don't understand French, I was able to communicate well in English and sometimes Spanish.

What did you miss most about Germany?

My friends and the sun, of course. Due to the geographical location of Brussels, the weather is very maritime, which meant that it felt like the sun only shone for five hours in the whole month of March.

What do you miss from your host country?

Of course I miss some of my great flatmates and other friends. I also miss school a lot. I would have loved to stay longer. But what I miss most, especially here in Thuringia, is the general feeling of living together with people from all over the world. I really liked the understanding, tolerance and openness towards foreign and other cultures during my stay in Brussels.

What would you recommend to others who are considering a stay abroad? What three reasons are there for doing an internship abroad?

I would recommend everyone to worry as little as possible, especially if you are planning a stay in another EU country. Most things in everyday life, with the exception of the language, are identical to those in Germany. You should go abroad with an open mind and meet people with self-interest and positivity. Before you worry about funding, you should check the various funding opportunities offered by ERASMUS, the DAAD and other organisations and apply for scholarships!

Three reasons to do an internship abroad?

1. To promote understanding of other cultures
2. Getting to know other ways of working
3. Networking

What did you take back or gain from your country? Experiences, objects, friends or inspiration?

I took Belgian beer and chocolate with me. No, of course much more: the internship at the International German School in Brussels couldn't have gone better. From the very first day, all my colleagues and employees welcomed me in a friendly and open manner. They showed me a lot of interest and I was integrated directly into everyday school life. Thanks to the very open and informal atmosphere among the staff, I was then able to plan and structure my internship myself in order to gain a comprehensive insight.
I learnt a lot for myself as a prospective teacher and received practical tips as well as very useful materials on lesson planning and the teaching profession. I am very happy that I was given the opportunity to do an internship abroad and that I took advantage of it. I had a great time and was able to develop professionally and personally during these two months.

Interview with a student about her internship abroad in Costa Rica

Which country did you visit and for how long were you there?

I was in Costa Rica for a total of five months and combined the internship with a one-month holiday at the end.

Why did you choose your host country and the respective internship school?

In terms of flora and fauna, no other country is as diverse in such a small area as Costa Rica. There is everything here: volcanoes, mountains, huge rainforests, secondary forests, savannah-like areas, lakes, oceans, beautiful secluded beaches, ... the most interesting animals are probably the sloths, toucans, of course the bird of the gods quetzal, hummingbirds, the beautiful blue morpho butterfly and so many more. Then there are the Costa Ricans, the Ticos, who are so incredibly friendly, open-minded and interested. With their "Pura Vida" attitude to life, they have a lot to teach us Germans. Compared to German conditions, stress is non-existent. They take everything in their stride, don't like to argue, are happy all round and enjoy life at all times.
The internship at the Colegio Humboldt was exactly the same: no stress at all. We forgot to give notice of an appointment, but hey, pura vida! Sometimes it does get stressful, but the friendly nature, the nice staff and the wonderful children make up for it straight away. I've never felt as comfortable at a school as I do here, right from the very first moment. So it's quite clear why I chose Costa Rica: this country is definitely a must for nature lovers but also for the party people among you!

Did you do your internship at a local school or a school abroad?

At a German school abroad, the Colegio Humboldt. My Spanish is not good enough to teach in the language. At Colegio Humboldt, the basic subjects Mathematics, German and Social Studies and Science are taught in German from the beginning of first grade.

How did your school abroad differ from those in Germany? How did the pupils learn in your host country?

In contrast to German state schools, the school was much better equipped: White-Board in every room, swimming pool, a large sports field plus two indoor sports halls (sports hall doesn't quite hit the mark as they are open courts), a large cafeteria with daily changing fresh food at very reasonable prices (and still definitely very good to eat), fully equipped Music, Arts and Science rooms and and and. In addition to the equipment, I was also impressed by the fact that the substitution programme is very well structured: whoever is substituting is sent the relevant material by the missing teacher. This meant that I was able to stand in for a missing teacher at short notice (i.e. ten minutes before the start of lessons) without any stress. Simply great!
If you like frontal teaching, this is not the place for you. This school likes to use station work, self-discovery learning, group and partner work and so on - everything that is NOT frontal. As a result, the children already work very independently in primary schools and are familiar with many different methods.

Have you supervised or led a special project?

It depends on what you mean by "special project". My project was setting up a 2nd grade class that had to go through a surprising change of class teacher after the first year and apparently wasn't in school in the first grade. Social and work behaviour? What is that? It was incredibly nice to see how the class gradually internalised certain rules and grew steadily. As far as class management is concerned, no seminar in the world could have helped me better than this class.
In general, as a trainee at the school, you can always make suggestions for project ideas or participate in the many projects and festive activities. If you want to try things out, the school is the right place for you.

Was it easy to get in touch with the locals?

Easy is not a word at all! I stumbled out of the airport, found my driver for the night at the first hotel and was already involved in the first conversation about my life. The Ticos want to know everything, EVERYTHING! :D It's unbelievably great - here you can just chat to someone on the street and they won't look at you stupidly. FYI: Ticos are very happy to give out their mobile phone number. It's not a chat-up line, it's just their way of saying "Hey, you're nice if you need help, I know someone who knows someone who can help you with this problem or that question." If you can't strike up a conversation with anyone here in Costa Rica, sorry, there's something wrong with you. My Spanish is still not very good (just enough for small talk), but even I, who often forgets to smile or simply doesn't answer because I was thinking, was always involved in an interesting or funny conversation. The Ticos are open, warm, always friendly and interested. As long as you don't say you think Costa Rica sucks, everyone will like you.

How high was the cost of living at your internship location?

Costa Rica is more expensive than Germany, that's for sure. Before you come here, ask Google about the prices. And as a woman, bring tampons with you - they don't even exist here, for example. There is a so-called luxury tax here, which makes many products extremely expensive. For example, you can get sun cream for the equivalent of €15 (400ml). So inform yourself and bring certain things with you from Germany. This applies to toiletries, medicines, clothing, ... You will have to buy food here for better or worse, but it's better to go out to eat. If you choose a normal restaurant, you pay as much for the food as you would have prepared in your accommodation. And you're not standing in the kitchen for hours. I've eaten out here more often (practically every other day - minimum) than in my entire previous life ^^
Also check where you're staying beforehand. And when you read 3-star hotel, please do NOT assume German standards. My 3-star hotel for the first night would have been labelled a youth hostel room in Germany. And that for a hefty €60 is tough. Airbnb is more helpful...

So if you want to go to Costa Rica: inform yourself thoroughly, bring most things with you from Germany, have a bit of money on the side (not sooooo much, but so that you have a little pocket money in addition to rent and food), always compare prices, no matter what, and then don't worry so much. Pura Vida!

What was the biggest challenge in connection with your stay abroad?

Getting there... I'd never travelled alone before, I'd never been to another continent and I'd never flown. I hadn't even seen the inside of an airport before. My plane left at six in the morning, so I had to get to Frankfurt the day before and stay in a hotel. That night I would have loved to back out because I was so damn scared and doubted myself and this stupid idea. But as soon as I got to Costa Rica and left the airport, I was hooked. I felt at home from the very first moment (and I'm not exaggerating, I'm dead serious). I've felt at home here since week 1 - not "at home", but "at home", yes. It's been so amazing that I don't even want to go back to Germany. So you see: Costa Rica is no challenge, not even for a greenhorn like me.

What did you miss most about Germany?

Uhhmmmm....nothing?

Well, admittedly, I would have liked to have had my boyfriend or my best friend here from month three onwards. But I could do without them, as seeing them again meant that I would have to go back to Germany. And to be honest: who likes waking up from a wonderful dream? Exactly, nobody.
There are plenty of German products here: be it the incredibly delicious raspberry vinaigrette from Kühne, Ritter-Sport, Lindor balls from Lind or the ironing board from Leifheit. Costa Rica imports almost all its goods, which is why it is so expensive. Ritter Sport costs €5, but if you don't want to do without it, you don't have to. PS: I even discovered Thuringian Rostbratwurst in a shop (especially for German products). The Ticos have real flavour. And for those who don't want to miss out on German bread rolls: there is a German bakery (Mocapán) that sells original German bread rolls. God, I really felt like I was in Germany, Sunday morning at the breakfast table *-*
You definitely don't miss the German attitude to life either. And German parties? What are German "parties"? The Ticos know how to party. In Germany, you only find laughing stock.

What do you miss from your host country?

Thank God I'm still here. But I know what I will miss because I know what I will loathe in Germany.

I'll miss the positive attitude to life, the diversity, nature, my pet spider Alice (remember the spider in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire that Mad Eye Moody used to illustrate the unforgivable curses? That's the one! Completely harmless in reality, as it hates light and has no venom at all) and my three geckos - all wild animals that have taken up residence here over the years (i.e. before I came to the flat).
I will miss my host family, the parties, the crickets at night, the peace and quiet, the serenity, ... It's a good thing there are VPN servers, otherwise I would also miss Costa Rican Netflix (they simply have the best series here!). German Netflix is just a cheap imitation :/)
I will incredibly miss the fresh fruit: the bananas, limes and mandarins that grow behind my flat, the mangos that are just so juicy here that the juice runs down your hands in streams. I will miss the fresh melons and papayas. And damn: those avocados!!! I confess: I became an avocado addict in Costa Rica.
Basically, I'll miss everything...damn. I hope I can come back here again. But then for longer!

What would you recommend to others who are thinking about doing an internship abroad? What are the three reasons for doing an internship abroad?

Three reasons? What are they?

I'd rather list three reasons against it:

1. You need to get out of your comfort zone.
2. You have to break out of your previous student and life routine.
3. You have to take a risk. If you leave, you can't just call mum and have her come to comfort you. If you go, you can't chat to your boyfriend or girlfriend every day because you have a certain time difference (unless you stay in Europe). Here in Costa Rica it's always seven or eight hours (depending on the time in Germany).

If these three reasons don't put you off doing an internship abroad, if you want to see and experience something new, get to know a new culture, meet new people and surpass yourself, then DO IT and GO!!!! What have you got to lose? You already know German schools and German life.

What have you taken or gained from your country? Experiences, objects, friends or inspiration?

I will take too much with me to list here. A few examples:
A new attitude to life: Pura Vida! That means in detail: I don't stress myself. What I manage to do, I manage to do, what I don't, I don't. I always try my hardest, but if it's not enough, well, bad luck. That's the way it is. Can I change it or could I have done better? No. So I don't give it much thought. Time is money? God, where do you live? MY life comes first, what I like, what I am, not what others expect of me. I live my life, I enjoy it, I do what I feel like doing and I do it when I want to. I'm happy and I don't pull a face like seven days of rain. If I want to talk to someone, I chat them up (gets hard and depressing in Germany, but whatever, I do it because it's healthy. People are social, remember?) I see the positive in life, even in moments when the negative outweighs the positive. I hope you have gained an impression of what Pura Vida means. There is much more to it, but that was the most important thing,
a very good friend. The lovely Anais from Switzerland, who I still keep in touch with now that we don't see each other in the classroom every day.
A Costa Rica mug. - In my defence, I got it as a present!
My first two Spanish-language books *-*
Thousands of beautiful memories, many of them captured in pictures, but not nearly as beautiful as the real thing.
Around one hundred and sixty journal entries plus pictures in the Discord, which I will compile as a book in Germany and have printed for myself.
Knowing what I really want in life (I thought I knew in Germany, but realised here that I was completely wrong): I want to travel, see the world, live here for a few years and there for a few years. And here's the incredible thing: as a teacher, I can do that without any problems *-*

Interview with Benny Linse about his internship abroad in Costa Rica

Which country did you visit and for how long were you there?

Country: Costa Rica
Period: 19.06. - 11.07.20

Why did you choose your host country and the respective internship school?

I got to know the head of the Friedrich Ebert Foundation office in Moscow on the 2018 World Cup trip with Spirit of Football e.V., who took over the management in Central America (based in Costa Rica) for five years a year later. Through frequent contact with this person, I began to take a closer look at Central America, which was still unknown to me, and then asked myself the question: Why not actually spend six months there? The framework was set by the KSP guidelines, so I made contact with the German school there relatively quickly. The quick and uncomplicated communication with the school made me take the plunge.

Did you complete your internship at a local school or a school abroad?

At a German school abroad.

How did your school abroad differ from those in Germany? How did the pupils learn in your host country?

My chosen placement school stood out due to its more or less "elitist" demeanour. The pupils were brought directly to the school entrance door and welcomed from there by the class teachers. The approx. 100 educational staff at the facility had to use a separate entrance and were checked. All pupils had to wear school uniforms, something I was not familiar with from my previous schools. The pupils were offered a varied and wide range of extracurricular and leisure activities. This "all-round service" for the pupils was new to me and at times impressive.

Did you supervise or lead a special project?

Unfortunately, planned projects had to be cancelled due to coronavirus.

Was it easy to get in touch with the locals?

Yes, I think I was lucky that I was placed with a Costa Rican host family. Compared to other interns, I was able to learn the Spanish language more intensively and, above all, get to know Costa Rican family life better. The majority of my colleagues lived in so-called condominios. These are demarcated residential areas and secure settlements.

How high was the cost of living at your internship location?

Despite my previous research in this regard, I was surprised at how expensive food and material goods actually are. So it makes sense to socialise with the locals and visit the farmers' markets. There is a lot of fruit and vegetables there at fair prices.

What was the biggest challenge in connection with your stay abroad?

Apart from many small challenges and hurdles (such as adapting to the new culture and language), the biggest challenge was probably not letting yourself down and looking for solutions in the dynamic and uncertain times of Corona. This may sound a bit "trite", but I have always and constantly tried to offer my help and support to the other teachers. Of course, I couldn't change the overall situation, which was and is more than difficult).
I actually felt a bit lost (especially after the news that the school was closing), but then I recognised my opportunity.

What did you miss most from Germany?

Good bread.

What do you miss from your host country?

The relaxed attitude and positivity of the Ticos. (locals)

What would you recommend to others who are thinking about doing an internship abroad? What are the three reasons for doing an internship abroad?

1. Expanding your own portfolio (expanding your strengths and weaknesses).
2. Inspiration through new encounters with people and places.
3. Leaving your "comfort zone" (home; friends, familiar things) naturally takes some effort, but you come back with lots of new impressions and learn to appreciate your old life to a certain extent.

What did you take with you or gain from your country? Experiences, objects, friends or inspiration?

In addition to unforgettable experiences, unique impressions and new friends, I gained a lot of inspiration for my new phase of life. By travelling to a more or less foreign world, you don't lose your previous life, instead you make it more precious and unique. You expand your cosy world with new impulses, so to speak. For me, it was particularly the way people deal with supposed defeats/disappointments. I would like to adopt some of this relaxed attitude (according to the motto: Pura Vida, everything will be fine). But the unique nature and wildlife also left a lasting impression and changed me.

Interview with Sophie about her internship abroad in Helsinki

Which country did you visit and for how long were you there?

I was in Helsinki, Finland from February to June 2024.

*(Perfect time to live there - pay attention to the seasons!!!)

Why did you choose your host country and the respective internship school?

I chose Helsinki because the Finnish education system is known for its high quality and innovative teaching methods. For this reason, I found it exciting to see and experience this for myself. English is also widely spoken, which makes communication easier. At the same time, I am interested in life as a teacher abroad.

Did you complete your internship at a local school or a school abroad?

I did my internship at the German School Helsinki (DSH).

How did your school abroad differ from those in Germany? How did the students learn in your host country?

The German School Helsinki (DSH) offers lessons from primary schools to the Abitur and follows the German curriculum while integrating Finnish educational elements. The language of instruction is mainly German, although there are also Finnish-language branches. Bilingualism plays a particularly important role at DSH - the children are prepared for it from pre-school onwards. This is particularly clear and impressive in lessons, where pupils from Year 1 (without a German family background) can already switch between the two languages - this is increasingly being encouraged.

Did you accompany or lead a special project?

I was allowed to be part of the theatre club, where I took on rehearsals independently and always worked together with the lead teacher. This allowed me to get to know the pupils outside of the classroom.

Was it easy to socialise with the locals?

Yes, it was relatively easy to socialise with the locals. The German and Finnish teachers and generally everyone who decided to go abroad were very open. There were also many interns and substitute teachers from all over the world, which made the exchange easier. The school facilitated initial contact even before the internship began, which also helped with getting started and networking. Nevertheless, you tended to stay in your "German bubble".

How high was the cost of living at your internship location?

Definitely very high! As a lot of food is imported, you should look for seasonal offers. As there was free lunch at the DSH, you can save a lot of money. Finding accommodation where you feel comfortable AND is reasonably priced was a challenge at first - but not impossible.

What was the biggest challenge in connection with your stay abroad?

Planning from Germany - especially organising everything alongside my studies (moving out of my old flat, writing my master's thesis, booking accommodation and flights ...).

What did you miss most from Germany?

Definitely good and fresh pastries - especially bread!

What do you miss from your host country?

The life and the people there.

What would you recommend to others who are considering a stay abroad? What are three reasons for doing an internship abroad?

It was a unique experience that I wouldn't want to miss. The internship abroad definitely took me out of my comfort zone. It offers the opportunity to get to know a new country and gain valuable impressions at the same time - especially as I was interested in life as a teacher abroad, this was the first and best opportunity to gain this experience. Getting to know school systems and professional aspects abroad is also a valuable experience. It not only enables a direct comparison with your own education system, but also broadens your understanding of different teaching methods and pedagogical approaches.

What did you take with you or gain from your country? Experiences, objects, friends or inspiration?

My stay abroad definitely gave me new, international friendships that mean a lot to me. I was able to gain valuable experiences, both in a school context and in life in general, which have broadened my horizons. The priceless moments I experienced alone or with friends and visitors will always stay with me. This time has given me an incentive to go abroad again for a longer period as a teacher and to discover other cultures.

Interview with Julia Bredemeier about her internship abroad in Dublin

Which country did you visit and for how long were you there?

I was in beautiful Ireland from the beginning of March to the end of June 2018.

Why did you choose your host country and the respective internship school?

As one of my future subjects is English, I wanted to go to an English-speaking country - the entry/residence requirements in Europe are quite simple, I've already been to England and Scotland and I wanted to go to Ireland anyway. So I simply made an enquiry at St Kilian's ...

Did you do your internship at a local school or a school abroad?

St Kilian's is the German school in Dublin

How did your school abroad differ from those in Germany? How did the pupils learn in your host country?

This is difficult to say, as almost every school is generally different and the concepts and approaches determine the pupils' learning. The bilingualism was definitely different - it's really impressive how some children can easily switch between German and English. German and Social Studies and Science were divided into mother tongue and foreign language lessons, Arts was taught bilingually and all other subjects were taught in the national language. What was also new for me were 40-minute lessons, three of which were strung together without a break (but with room changes and different subjects) and primary school lessons up to year 6.

Did you supervise or lead a special project?

I don't know if it was that special, but another intern and I were allowed to help with the pre-school children's performance at the graduation ceremony. Together, we also organised a series of lessons on the topic of fairy tales for the mother-tongue German lessons in Year 3 - team teaching and test creation were interesting experiences. At the end, each child received a book with the fairy tales written, performed and illustrated by the class in groups.

Was it easy to socialise with the locals?

As I lived with an Irish host family with three small children, I always got to talk to the nanny, the granny, some relatives and friends. There were also Irish teachers working at the school, some of whom I got to talk to during the breaks. Apart from that, I didn't get to know many locals, but that may have been because we two interns were usually travelling together ...

How high was the cost of living at your internship location?

High! Luckily there was Lidl with affordable prices, but finding accommodation in Dublin that was affordable was quite difficult.

What was the biggest challenge in connection with your stay abroad?

Apart from the fact that the flight was cancelled twice due to the snow in Ireland at the beginning of March, which made the journey a little more difficult, the most difficult thing was actually finding accommodation! A year before the start of the internship, we had already put up notices at school, looked on all the websites and asked at the embassy ... But it was only when we got there that we were able to find something after a few days at Air B'n'B thanks to the school's great support!

What did you miss most from Germany?

Honestly? My own four walls and bread!!!

What do you miss from your host country?

Being surrounded by the English language and the funny "look right" or "look left" signs on the road at the pedestrian lights.

What would you recommend to others who are thinking about doing an internship abroad? What are the three reasons for doing an internship abroad?

I would definitely recommend a stay abroad because ...

1. when else do you get the chance to gain an insight into school life and
the culture of another country?

2. you can gain professional, linguistic and personal experience of your own
skills, strengths and weaknesses at the same time

3. it is the last opportunity before "real" professional life to simply break out of
everyday life and get to know a whole new world, but without
"doing nothing"

What did you take with you or gain from your country? Experiences, objects, friends or inspiration?

Lots of great memories of experiences, the country and (especially young) people, lots of inspiration for my future teaching, an incredible number of English (children's) books and a slightly more relaxed view of everyday life - an unforgettable time that I wouldn't want to have missed!

Interview with Antonia Groß about her internship abroad in Dublin

Which country did you visit and for how long were you there?

I was in the Irish capital Dublin for almost 6 months.

Why did you choose your host country and internship school?

Living in Ireland for a longer period of time had been a dream of mine for several years. My grandparents live in Ireland and I also have some very good friends there. However, they don't live directly in Dublin, but rather in the countryside, about two hours away from there. However, I wanted to do my internship in Dublin as I really like the big city life.
I chose the internship school firstly because it is relatively close to the centre of Dublin and secondly because it is quite multicultural.

Did you do your internship at a local school or a school abroad?

I did my internship at a local Irish primary school.

How did your school abroad differ from those in Germany? How did the pupils learn in your host country?

Irish children usually start school at the age of 4 and then attend a "Junior Infant" class for a year, followed by a "Senior Infant" class and then Year 1. Primary school lasts until Year 6, which means that the pupils are then in primary school for a total of 8 years. Lessons in the infant classes are more playful and shorter than those in the other classes. However, the children are already learning to read, write and do maths. They do a lot of handicrafts and painting and also learn about Social Studies and Science.

Did you supervise or lead a special project?

During my internship, I gave remedial lessons to Year 5 and 6 pupils.

The German club, which had taken place in some cases in previous school years, unfortunately couldn't take place for organisational reasons.

Was it easy to socialise with locals?

I lived in a shared flat with 4 Mexicans (3 boys and a girl) and quickly made contacts through them. There were also more foreign interns at the school, with whom I spent a lot of time in my free time. Dublin is a very multicultural city, and because of my flat share and the other interns at the school, I had contact with people from all over the world in Dublin.
As already mentioned, my grandparents also live in Ireland and Irish friends of mine live nearby. It was very easy to socialise with other locals there. In general, Irish people are very friendly and open.

How high was the cost of living at your internship location?

The cost of living in Dublin is a lot higher than in Erfurt and also than in other cities in Germany. The housing market in Dublin is a disaster, many students share a room in order to pay a lower rent.
I was very lucky with my shared flat. I had a single room for around €450 a month. This price is very good for Dublin. For example, a friend of mine shared a room with two other girls and had to pay €380 a month for this room. Another girl had a single room for around €700 a month. In addition, eating and drinking out is also more expensive than in Germany. You usually pay between €5 and €7 for a pint of beer.

What was the biggest challenge in connection with your stay abroad?

A bigger challenge at the beginning was finding affordable accommodation for the 6 months. In the end, however, I was very lucky and found a very nice flat share.

What did you miss most about Germany?

I missed my friends and family the most.

What do you miss from your host country?

I miss my flatmates, who have become really good friends in almost 6 months. I also generally miss all my friends there. I also miss my work at the Irish primary schools, I really enjoyed my internship there. I also miss my colleagues and my pupils at the school.

What would you recommend to others who are thinking about doing an internship abroad? What are the three reasons for doing an internship abroad?

If you are thinking about a stay abroad, you should realise from the outset that many things will be different abroad. You should be very open-minded and approach the foreign country with as little preconceptions as possible.

1. Getting to know a school abroad and the school system there.
2. Improving your language skills.
3. Unique practical experiences.

What did you take with you or gain from your country? Experiences, objects, friends or inspiration?

I made some really good friends in Ireland. At the moment I am sure that I will make some friends for life.
I have also been able to improve my English again.
I was also able to gain a lot of teaching experience during my internship. I learnt a lot about classroom management and gained experience in teaching and educating older and younger pupils.
After this internship, I now feel ready to work as a teacher.

Interview with Annalena about her internship abroad in Toronto

Which country did you visit and for how long were you there?

I was in Toronto, Canada, from February to June 2024.

Why did you choose your host country and the respective internship school?

As I had English as a minor subject, I wanted to go to an English-speaking country. I've also always wanted to go to Canada.

Did you complete your internship at a local school or a school abroad?

I did my internship at the German International School (GIST).

How did your school abroad differ from those in Germany? How did the students learn in your host country?

GIST is a relatively small, public school with around 100 students. The atmosphere is very informal. The lessons were organised very openly. The children learnt in different classes depending on their needs. Most of the teachers at
opted for open learning opportunities during lessons. I experienced relatively few frontal lessons.

Did you supervise or lead a special project?

I didn't lead any projects myself, but I supported the teachers with their projects when needed. For example, my mentor led the cookery club. At the end of my internship, we created a cookery book together for each child with all the recipes from the half-year.

Was it easy to socialise with the locals?

During my internship, I lived with a Canadian couple in their renovated basement together with another intern. From that point of view, it was easy to socialise with Canadians. In terms of school, I would say that you tended to stay in your German bubble.

How high was the cost of living at your internship location?

Very high! As there were two of us, we were always able to share the shopping at the supermarket. That made it okay :). If you live in downtown Toronto, I would definitely recommend buying your fruit and vegetables in Chinatown. It's much cheaper there.

What was the biggest challenge in connection with your stay abroad?

The time leading up to it was really stressful. Applying for and getting the visa and finding suitable accommodation from Germany... those were the biggest challenges.

What did you miss most about Germany?

The spring! Bread!

What do you miss from your host country?

The people I got to know there.

What would you recommend to others who are thinking about doing an internship abroad? What are three reasons for doing an internship abroad?

It is a unique experience. The KSP experience abroad was out of my comfort zone, but I would do it again and again. Before I start my traineeship, I think it's cool to have seen something completely different. It's a cool opportunity to get to know a new country. For me, it combined important things: travelling in a country that I didn't know yet; new people & a different culture and comprehensive insights into the everyday life of a teacher.

What did you take with you or gain from your country? Experiences, objects, friends or inspiration?

Lots of teaching ideas. I simply had the best time with the other interns.

Interview with Luisa Reiche about her internship abroad in Toronto

Which country did you visit and for how long were you there?

I was in Toronto at the German International School from the end of August 2019 to the beginning of February 2020.

Why did you choose your host country and the respective internship school?

I had wanted to spend some time in Canada for a while and the bilingualism of the country was also interesting for me as a future French teacher.

Did you complete your internship at a local school or a school abroad?

I was at a school abroad that followed both the Canadian curriculum and the Thuringian curriculum.

How did your school abroad differ from those in Germany? How did the students learn in your host country?

The Canadian influence was very noticeable, primarily of course because there were some students who first had to learn German as a foreign language. The main subjects were always taught bilingually. There were also more afternoon activities.

Did you supervise or lead a special project?

I had my own French club, with which I also performed at the Christmas Bazaar.

Was it easy to socialise with the locals?

Yes, the Canadians really make it very easy to make contact. They are very warm, helpful and very interested. Toronto is also very multicultural, where people from all over the world come together. I felt at home in the city very quickly.

How high was the cost of living at your internship location?

The cost of living was very high overall. Fortunately, I had a scholarship for student teachers from the DAAD, which really helped me financially. The cost of rent in Toronto is skyrocketing and food is also a bit more expensive than in Germany.

What was the biggest challenge in connection with your stay abroad?

The biggest challenge was not completely losing sight of university and the responsibilities that come with it. I was very busy at school, there was also the time difference and I wasn't in Germany over Christmas, so I wasn't able to register my master's thesis. I would have liked the university to be a little more accommodating, but I can only advise everyone to find a solution for the master's thesis, even if you are in the middle of planning for the KSP.

What did you miss most about Germany?

Of course you always miss your family and friends back home, but apart from that I didn't miss anything.

What do you miss from your host country?

I definitely miss the open-mindedness of the Canadians, the beautiful nature, my students in the class I worked in and also the people I got to know during my time there.

What would you recommend to others who are considering a stay abroad? What are three reasons for doing an internship abroad?

In my opinion, there are so many things in favour: firstly, of course, you gain a lot of experience that not only helps you "professionally", but above all personally.
Secondly, the work and everyday life at a school abroad is very different from a primary school in Germany in many areas. Seeing this was very exciting and will also influence my work in the future. I was also able to learn a lot about the Canadian school system and I learnt a lot. In addition, a direct comparison like this naturally leads you to question approaches and methods in a completely different way.
Thirdly, it is a unique opportunity to find out during your studies whether working abroad could be an option in the future.

What did you take with you or gain from your country? Experiences, objects, friends or inspiration?

I had a lot of unforgettable experiences and was able to build friendships.
I also returned with a folder full of teaching materials, all of which I can use well in the Ref.

Interview with a student about her internship abroad in Riga

Which country did you visit and for how long were you there?

I was in the Latvian capital Riga from the beginning of October '23 to the end of February '24 (with a two-week Christmas break in Germany) and completed my KSP there from 9 October to 9 February.

Why did you choose your host country and the respective internship school?

My final decision was between Brussels in summer or Riga in winter - and as I really love winter, it wasn't a difficult decision. But the presumably more favourable cost of living was also an argument in favour of Riga. In addition, my internship school was the quickest to respond compared to the other schools I applied to, which is often a good sign.

Did you do your internship at a local school or a school abroad?

I completed my internship at the German School Riga, i.e. at a school abroad.

How did your school abroad differ from those in Germany? How did the pupils learn in your host country?

There were several differences. First of all, the students received full catering at school (breakfast, lunch, afternoon snack) and also received all materials from the school, so they only came into the building with their water bottle in the morning.
Then there were a total of two longer breaks (30 minutes after the 2nd lesson and 50 minutes after the 5th lesson), whereby the children were only allowed out into the courtyard during the second break; they therefore only had around 20 minutes of outdoor playtime during the day, as they also had to eat lunch during the big break. Overall, the school day was much longer than in Germany. Lessons always started at 8.30am and the earliest they finished for my 2nd class was between 2.05pm and 4.35pm, followed directly by homework time and then club time. The school is open from 8.00 am to 6.30 pm - a very long day.
Another difference was the multilingualism of the pupils. In my internship class, every child had knowledge of at least four languages (German, English, Russian and Latvian). The teaching staff was also more international than in Germany, as the foreign languages are taught by native speakers. So I noticed differences in teaching, but not in learning.

Did you supervise or lead a special project?

During the first two thirds of my internship, I was in charge of "organised afternoon supervision" in Year 1. I had complete freedom and was able to try out various games, handicrafts and writing activities (e.g. a wish list for Father Christmas) with the children. I was also allowed to substitute for the subject "Media" in the 5th grade for two months as well as teaching GFL in the 7th grade on my own responsibility.

Was it easy to socialise with the locals?

I found it rather difficult to leave the German bubble, as almost everyone at the school came from Germany, spoke German and there were surprisingly many Germans in the city. For the more open-minded, however, there are many small events where you could certainly socialise with locals; for example, not an evening goes by in Riga without live music in one of the numerous restaurants or pubs (a big recommendation at this point: folk clubs Ala Pagrabs!) and you can also learn Latvian folk dances every Sunday for free among the locals. Many young people speak English, but overall there are fewer than expected, so if you don't speak Latvian or Russian, you sometimes have to communicate with your hands and feet. My personal impression was that most locals are friendly when spoken to, but prefer to keep to themselves. Oh yes, and it's normal that nobody smiles back when you walk through the city in a friendly manner - I had to get used to that as well.

How high was the cost of living at your internship location?

Comparable to Germany; some foods are surprisingly cheap (e.g. meat products), while others are surprisingly expensive (e.g. berries). All drugstore products are also more expensive than in Germany; generally everything that is imported, all the branded products that you know from German supermarkets are considerably more expensive here (e.g. a tube of toothpaste from 7 euros upwards). However, I was surprised at how relatively cheap it is to eat out here (only 10 - 15 euros for very large portions + drink/ per person).
A tip: at the central market, you can not only eat delicious and traditional food, but also get a lot of fresh food of good quality and regional origin at a cheaper price than in the supermarket - in other words, exactly the other way round than at home.

What was the biggest challenge in connection with your stay abroad?

I would only describe the language barrier as challenging - but there was never really a situation where I couldn't get on. Riga is very westernised and you quickly find your feet here.

What did you miss most from Germany?

Good bread without caraway seeds; agave syrup; the sun; shopping via Amazon Prime

What do you miss from your host country?

Baltic garlic bread; the proximity to the Baltic Sea; the unbeatably cheap local and long-distance transport; the nature; the numerous, varied and inexpensive cultural offerings

What would you recommend to others who are considering a stay abroad? What are the three reasons for doing an internship abroad?

DO IT!!!

1. you get to meet lots of great new people and get the chance to expand your teacher network.
2. you get to think outside the box, in the best case even learn a new language and immerse yourself in a new culture.
3. you become (even) more flexible, self-confident, relaxed and stable.

And a fourth:
You learn to appreciate your home country more.

What have you taken with you or gained from your country? Experiences, objects, friends or inspiration?

My hunger has been awakened: this will definitely not be the last school abroad that I work at, and I really want to learn another language, maybe even Russian - German and English are just not enough!
I'm also taking buckwheat into my German kitchen as a versatile ingredient. And I will stay in touch with some of the people I have got to know and love.

Interview with Theresa Piss about her internship abroad in The Hague

Which country did you visit and for how long were you there?

I was in the Netherlands, in The Hague, for about 4 months.

Why did you choose your host country and the respective internship school?

I wanted to go to a country in Northern or Western Europe and applied widely, and was finally accepted by The Hague.

Did you complete your internship at a local school or a school abroad?

I was at the German International School in The Hague, a German school abroad.

How did your school abroad differ from those in Germany? How did the students learn in your host country?

I'm pretty sure that the main difference was not the location, but the difference between state and private schools. There was also the international environment, which is definitely due to the city, the location and the students and parents.

To be honest, I didn't notice any major differences in learning.

Did you supervise or lead a special project?

I can't say whether it was special or not. For example, I was involved in 2 wonderful projects. One was a charity campaign before Christmas, where we collected food donations for something like the Dutch "Tafel" and the other was the Christmas concert, where I helped supervise the children due to a lack of musical talent.

Was it easy to socialise with the locals?

Definitely YES! Everyone was open and welcoming, but I mainly had really good contact with colleagues in the sense of going out together, going to the bar in the evening and so on.

How high was the cost of living at your internship location?

High! But affordable thanks to a scholarship. The biggest problem in The Hague, and not just for interns, is affordable housing.

What was the biggest challenge in connection with your stay abroad?

As I just mentioned: affordable housing. Unfortunately, you can't be too choosy about that.

What did you miss most about Germany?

I know this should definitely say something like "my friends and family", but I enjoyed my time so much and everything went by so quickly that there was no time to miss anything.

What do you miss from your host country?

The openness of the people, the international environment, my class, my colleagues and the sea or simply being able to go for a walk by the sea after school.

What would you recommend to others who are considering a stay abroad? What are the three reasons for doing an internship abroad?

Go! Throw all doubts overboard, pluck up your courage and seize the opportunity!

I find it difficult to name just 3 reasons:

1. The new people you will meet and old friendships that you will learn to really appreciate.
   
2. I know I'm repeating myself, but: The international environment.
   
3. You learn a lot about yourself, about your own limits and how easy it can be to cross these limits and discover new things.

What did you take with you or gain from your country? Experiences, objects, friends or inspiration?

Lots of experiences, wonderful people I met, basic knowledge of a new language, lots of cheese (a little cliché is a must), new methods and teaching ideas...

Interview with Kim-Alicia Golez about her internship abroad in Vienna

Which country did you visit and for how long were you there?

I lived in Vienna, Austria, from February to August 2020.

Why did you choose your host country and the respective internship school?

I chose the great city of Vienna. It has rightly been voted the most liveable city in the world once again.
The placement school is something very special for me for three reasons: it is an all-day school with an exceptionally wide range of leisure activities. It is bilingual (Vienna Bilingual Schooling). Its school concept with a focus on reading is based on the values of Astrid Lindgren.

Did you do your internship at a local school or a school abroad?

At a bilingual (English and German) primary school in Vienna.

How did your school abroad differ from those in Germany? How did the pupils learn in your host country?

Mainly through the bilingual lessons and the all-day concept.

Did you supervise or head a special project?

No. Unfortunately, because I wasn't allowed to be in the school building due to coronavirus, that wasn't possible.

Was it easy to socialise with the locals?

It would certainly have been easier during a semester abroad at university, but unfortunately not for me during my internship, as you hardly get to know people of the same age. I then used the Bumble BF app - that was great, but you're more likely to get to know other newcomers. The Viennese like to keep to themselves ;-)

How high was the cost of living at your internship location?

They were similar to those in Germany - fortunately. I lived with my boyfriend in a 46 square metre flat in an old building in the central 5th district, which cost €500 warm. Food in supermarkets is slightly more expensive than in Germany, but everything else is similar.

What was the biggest challenge in connection with your stay abroad?

Definitely the corona crisis and everything that came with it: the lockdown, the ban on attending internships, the travel restrictions (no one could visit us, we couldn't go anywhere except for June and July), the contact restrictions (we couldn't get to know anyone), no club scene/nightlife. It all made things very difficult, but looking back, we still had a great time in Vienna.

What did you miss most from Germany?

Family and friends.

What do you miss from your host country?

The Viennese dialect.

What would you recommend to others who are considering a stay abroad? What are the three reasons for doing an internship abroad?

1. the most important thing in life: Get out of your comfort zone, think outside the box, broaden your horizons! (Cleaning out your flat and living somewhere else with minimal luggage, leaving your own social bubble and getting to know other people/cultures/languages/etc.)
2. getting to know school systems (or even work-related things) abroad is such a valuable experience!
3. you can never again live abroad for a period of time as easily as during your time at university.

What did you take with you or gain from your country? Experiences, objects, friends or inspiration?

One item I have from Vienna is a great agate ring from the antique shop (there are lots of them!).
A great friend I made here is Willemijn from Amsterdam, who I will be visiting next year.
One thing I've learnt thanks to corona is that things never turn out the way you planned, but that doesn't have to be a bad thing. I was able to get to know Vienna without any tourism, in its purest form - who else has that?
So the Viennese saying "It all works out!" is an inspiration for me, because it really is true!

Interview with Tina Barthel about her internship abroad in the Philippines

Which country did you visit and for how long were you there?

I lived in the Philippines from mid-August 2018 to the end of March 2019.

Why did you choose your host country and the respective internship school?

The decision in favour of my host country was relatively easy because my boyfriend lives in the Philippines and we were able to spend more time together. As I wanted to get to know the culture and life in the Philippines a little better, I decided to attend a local school rather than a school abroad. Fortunately, my friend eventually found a small public school that made me feel very welcome.

Did you do your internship at a local school or a school abroad?

As I mentioned before, I did my internship at a local school.

How did your school abroad differ from those in Germany? How did the pupils learn in your host country?

The change was huge for me at first because the schools were different in every respect; it would probably be easier to mention the similarities!
The rooms were generally not as well equipped as you would expect from German schools. Chalkboards were not magnetic, the room temperature was sometimes 33 degrees Celsius as there was only one fan in most rooms, sometimes there were no chairs for pupils. Materials were virtually non-existent. If you didn't just want to work with the textbook with the students, you had to get creative. For the first few months, I didn't even have a printer and drew all my visualisations for the blackboard myself. Of course, that took a lot of time and it took me a long time to prepare a lesson.
Apart from the spatial and material conditions, another difference is that Filipino children grow up bilingually. English and Tagalog are official languages in the Philippines and the school teaches in two languages. Teaching at my school was also almost exclusively frontal and there was no differentiation at all. The grading system is also different and tasks in class are usually graded directly, so there are no real opportunities for the children to practise without pressure to perform. As you might imagine, punctuality was also not very important. In general, my school in the Philippines was simply more relaxed, more spontaneous and, above all, louder.
Nevertheless, all the students and teachers were super friendly, warm and open towards me. The school atmosphere was very pleasant, as everyone got on with each other and the relationship between students and teachers was closer than you are used to at most German schools. The teachers, at least at my school, were among the pupils' friends.

Did you supervise or lead a special project?

In the Philippines, schools have a theme for each month. For example, September is the month of the teacher. At the end of the month, there was a school party at which the teachers were honoured. Firstly, the children performed dances or sang songs, and then each teacher received lots of gifts and letters from the pupils thanking them for their work. This event was very special for me as it was my first "Teacher's Day". Other monthly themes included Language Month (Tagalog), Science Month and English Language Month.
Another project I was involved in was Scout Camping, where the older students stayed overnight at the school with the teachers.

Was it easy to socialise with the locals?

Filipinos are very open people and most of them approach strangers. As my boyfriend is Filipino and I taught at a local school, I was surrounded exclusively by Filipinos. So it wasn't difficult to socialise with the locals. Many people came up to me and asked me questions, sometimes even complete strangers on the street, because it's not that often that you meet foreigners, at least not in the region where I lived.

How high was the cost of living at your internship location?

As in most countries in Southeast Asia, the cost of living in the Philippines was significantly lower than in Germany. Although housing in Metro Manila is rather expensive, I was lucky and found a flat for the equivalent of around 50 euros a month. Electricity and water costs were also never higher than around five euros a month. Local food and public transport also cost significantly less than in Germany. In this respect, Western Europeans can get by very well in the Philippines.

What was the biggest challenge in connection with your stay abroad?

The biggest challenge for me was definitely teaching at the local school. As the entire school system and the conditions at my school and in the Philippines were very different to those in Germany, it took me longer to prepare lessons. Another hurdle was the language barrier and the large language differences between the students. Some students could barely speak English, which made communication inside and outside the classroom difficult.
Fortunately, I always had my friend at my side to help and support me with everyday life in the Philippines. Without help, I would certainly have had more difficulties using public transport, as there are only bus stops at the start and end points. Otherwise, you always have to stop the transport on the street and find out beforehand which means of transport go where. I never discovered any transport maps there either.

What did you miss most about Germany?

Apart from family and friends, I missed the German infrastructure and the German food the most.
Sometimes it took me an hour to get to school, which is only seven kilometres. In Manila, you are constantly stuck in traffic jams and I would have liked to have the German infrastructure.
In terms of food, I missed German bread and rolls the most. But I also missed cheese and other dairy products, as these are very expensive to buy in the Philippines.

What do you miss from your host country?

Most of all, of course, I miss my boyfriend, his family and the friends I made there. I also miss the sunny, warm weather and, above all, nature. In my opinion, the Philippines is one of the most beautiful countries in the world in terms of nature and has a lot to offer; mountain landscapes, volcanoes, lots of sea, lakes, fantastic beaches, coral reefs and a lively underwater world, rice terraces and much more can be found here.

What would you recommend to others who are considering a stay abroad? What are three reasons to do an internship abroad?

An internship abroad is a unique opportunity to try out life abroad for a limited period of time. For those who are curious to get to know other cultures, languages and people, an internship abroad is definitely the right thing to do. However, you should be able to adapt to different circumstances and living conditions.
Simply because you are building a life in another country, you will have many unique experiences. During this time, you learn a lot about the internship country and the people, make friends, find new favourite dishes and get to know new languages and the country in a much more intensive way than if you were just on holiday there.
For teacher training students, the Complex School Internship in particular is also a great opportunity to spend a semester abroad, as all 30 credit points are recognised at the end of the semester. This means you don't have to worry about having to catch up on courses in Germany and possibly study a semester longer.

What did you take with you or gain from your country? Experiences, objects, friends or inspiration?

I took my school uniforms and lots of letters back to Germany from my time in the Philippines and made lots of friends and a second family.
In general, I found my time in the Philippines very inspiring and I learnt to be more relaxed, spontaneous and creative. A lot of things don't go according to plan in the Philippines, but that doesn't drive anyone crazy. I also saw how happy and content most people are there, even though they don't own many material things and often lead a simple life. As my luggage was also limited due to the flight, I lived for 8 months with far fewer material things than in Germany, and I have to say that I didn't miss anything and even found it liberating. For Germany, I have now resolved to sort things out and only buy essentials. Here in Germany, we live in a huge abundance that doesn't make us any happier or bring any other added value in the long term, which I realised during my time in the Philippines.
I also realised even more in the Philippines that we should pay more attention to our environment and protect it. Many Filipinos don't think about their environment and have not been sufficiently educated. You can find rubbish everywhere: on the roadside, on beaches, in the sea, and so on. Dealing with rubbish in the Philippines has often made me think about how we are harming the environment and that more should be done about it, wherever we are in the world.

Interview with Julia Schmidt about her internship abroad in Lisbon

Which country did you visit and for how long were you there?

I was in beautiful Portugal from March to July. More precisely in the capital Lisbon.

Why did you choose your host country and the respective internship school?

The decision in favour of Portugal took several detours, as I originally wanted to go to another country but had to cancel my stay due to illness. I had already been to Lisbon a few years ago and I really liked the city back then; it is very diverse and authentic.
The contact and communication with those responsible at DS Lisbon went smoothly and I felt very well looked after and cared for right from the start.

Did you do your internship at a local school or a school abroad?

It was a German school abroad.

How did your school abroad differ from those in Germany? How did the pupils learn in your host country?

The DSL is an integrated school that mainly accepts children of German (20%) and Portuguese origin (80%). Other cultures are also occasionally represented. Bilingualism and multicultural exchange are at the centre of this school.
The DSL site is large and consists of a total of 8 buildings, where children and pupils can go from nursery school to upper secondary school and obtain the Abitur. However, it is also possible to obtain the Realschulabschluss or the Hauptschulabschluss. There are two well-equipped libraries, a pool, a large sports hall, plenty of outdoor space for the children to let off steam and much more.
Since the 2016/2017 school year, the school's concept has been a tied all-day school, whereby the Thuringian curriculum is used. Lessons start at 8 a.m. and end at 3.55 p.m., except on Fridays. From the fourth grade onwards, the primary school has three pupils, while grades 1 to 3 have two. In the subjects German and Portuguese, the pupils are divided according to their language level (depending on whether they have German/Portuguese as a foreign or native language) and are supported according to their level of development. Mathematics, Music, Ethics/Religion, Arts and Physical Education are also taught. There are also subjects such as FoFö (Forden und Fördern) and LÜZ (Lern- und Übungszeit). There is no homework at the school, but a weekly schedule that is handed out on Mondays and handed in on Thursdays.
What is special about the DSL is the so-called transitional level (4th - 6th grade), in which teachers from the primary school (4th grade) and the grammar school (5th and 6th grade) teach together. This is intended to facilitate the transition from primary schools to secondary school.

Have you supervised or led a special project?

The primary school organised a "Festival of Cultures" in the last week of school, where each class chose a specific country and various activities were offered for the pupils in the mornings.
I was assigned to a first grade class with a really great teacher. She carried out a chick project "From egg to chick" in her class and "hatched" eggs in an incubator in the classroom for 21 days. It was a really great idea that all the pupils, teachers and I were really enthusiastic about.

Was it easy to socialise with the locals?

The Portuguese are super friendly, welcoming and short conversations in the supermarket or across the street are not uncommon. The teachers at the DSL are also always open-minded and very friendly.

How high was the cost of living at your internship location?

Comparable to Germany, but rents in Lisbon are constantly rising due to high demand (rent €300-500 for a room; varies depending on location).

What was the biggest challenge in connection with your stay abroad?

Definitely the lack of friends and family.

What did you miss most from Germany?

Again, it was my friends and family that I missed the most. You can buy all the material things in Portugal just like in Germany.

What do you miss from your host country?

• the serenity of the Portuguese
• the famous and damn delicious custard tarts called "Pastel de Nata"
• The street music that accompanied me through every alleyway in Lisbon
• Connectedness and proximity to the water (Atlantic Ocean)

What would you recommend to others who are considering a stay abroad? What are the three reasons for doing an internship abroad?

During my stay abroad, I developed enormously as a person and left my comfort zone by overcoming my own limits. Even if you have doubts at the beginning and leave your family and friends behind in your home country, you should just go for it and be brave, because a stay abroad is very enriching in many ways.

1. Personal development: You broaden your own horizons and change your sometimes fixed views (change of perspective). You can strengthen your self-confidence by mastering new tasks and challenges.
   
2. Openness and tolerance: Openness towards other cultures and people is strengthened. Integration into a new, unknown culture/lifeworld promotes acceptance and tolerance towards other people.
   
3. Broadening your horizon of experience: By travelling, exploring and moving around in a foreign, new country.

What have you taken with you or gained from your country? Experiences, objects, friends or inspiration?

I didn't take any objects or material things with me from the country, it's more the experiences and adventures that I can talk and rave about for a long time to come. If I were to try to summarise the decision to do an internship abroad and the associated stage in my life in words, they would be the following:
It is often the first step into the unknown that prevents us from embarking on a great adventure. We should take it anyway, because it's worth it.
Great experiences taste sweet every time we think about them. Unfulfilled dreams always become more bitter.

Interview with Lisa Kriebel about her internship abroad in Tenerife

Which country did you visit and for how long were you there?

I was on the Canary Island of Tenerife, Spain from September 2020 to February 2021 to escape the German winter.

Why did you choose your host country and the respective internship school?

I've always wanted to spend a semester abroad in Spain because I'm very interested in Spanish culture, language and life. Of course, the good weather is also an important factor. The German school on Tenerife has a very good reputation and accepted me very quickly, so I took my chance.

Did you do your internship at a local school or a school abroad?

I completed my internship at a German school abroad.

How did your school abroad differ from those in Germany? How did the pupils learn in your host country?

The school is a comprehensive school that educates from kindergarten to the Abitur. There are no other differences to a German school, apart from two additional subjects.
The pupils learn the language in kindergarten through German teachers, and all other subjects in primary schools are taught in German, including German, Social Studies and Science, Maths, Arts, Music, Ethics, Sport,... Many of them are Spanish, so from primary schools onwards, Spanish is taught both as a spoken and written language, and Social Studies and Science are also taught in Spanish

Did you accompany or lead a special project?

No, as we were unfortunately very restricted in teaching during the coronavirus period and only face-to-face lessons or contactless work in class was allowed. In addition, the classes were not allowed to mix.

Was it easy to socialise with the locals?

We lived very much in our German bubble with interns and teachers from the school. As no events were allowed to take place during Corona, it was also difficult to get to know locals. We made friends with other Erasmus students in some bars and restaurants and you could always have a little chat with the man from the supermarket.

How high was the cost of living at your internship location?

Living in Tenerife, bus travel and entrance fees are expensive. It's worth applying for the Residencia, which offers discounts for residents. However, you can eat out very cheaply but also buy cheap food.

What was the biggest challenge in connection with your stay abroad?

The constant uncertainty as to whether I would be able to start the internship and whether I would be able to see it through to the end.
And the irregularity of the buses, Germans are not used to such unpunctuality.

What did you miss most from Germany?

Halloumi and meadows.

What do you miss from your host country?

The delicious tapas, the fresh fish, the sea, the sun and nature.

What would you recommend to others who are considering a stay abroad? What are three reasons to do an internship abroad?

YOU grow beyond yourself by going to another country alone and being on your own.
YOU become socially open and take home a lot of experiences and adventures.
YOU learn a new language and immerse yourself in another country.

What have you taken with you or gained from your country? Experiences, objects, friends or inspiration?

The people you meet on such trips usually have a similar motivation to you for being in that country, which means that a friendship or a nice acquaintance is inevitable. I also made very good friends there.
I saw such impressive nature, which was shaped by many different climate zones and offers so many opportunities that some experiences will stay in my heart forever.
The opportunities there helped me to surpass myself and climb a volcano at 3,700 metres and get a diving licence, which I would never have dreamed of.

Interview with Nia Kretschmann about her internship abroad in Seattle

Which country did you visit and for how long were you there?

I completed my KSP in Seattle, USA from 10/10/22 to 10/02/23.

Why did you choose your host country and the respective internship school?

As I am studying English as a minor subject, I wanted to go to an English-speaking country. The Seattle-Area-German-American School particularly appealed to me as it is a very small public school where German and English are spoken. But the proximity to Canada was also a big plus for me.

Did you do your internship at a local school or a school abroad?

The Seattle-Area-German-American School is a local school that follows the immersion method and thus mixes the German curriculum with the American one. At the end of their time at the school, students receive the same school-leaving certificate as children at a "normal" American school.

How did your school abroad differ from those in Germany? How did the students learn in your host country?

The biggest difference to the schools in Germany was that the children at SAGA do not learn the subject matter in their first language, but in German. For this reason, all pupils are bilingual. Another big difference was the class size. The classes usually contained 10-15 pupils and two teachers always had to be present when there were 15 or more pupils.

Did you supervise or lead a special project?

Together with another trainee, I led a working group every Wednesday. We did lots of different activities with the children, such as baking buns and Christmas biscuits, solving escape rooms, we also did arts and crafts and read a lot.

Was it easy to socialise with the locals?

As the teachers and the other interns at the school were all from Germany, we were often in a German bubble. On our subsequent trips, however, we got to know many locals and other travellers in youth hostels.

How high was the cost of living at your internship location?

I rented a room together with another intern from a young German/American couple. We each paid a total of 0 for the room and also had German lessons twice a week. Food costs were significantly higher in the USA, but you could save a lot by cooking at home.

What was the biggest challenge in connection with your stay abroad?

The biggest challenge for me was planning in advance. The application and finding a suitable school, applying for a visa and finding accommodation turned out to be very time-consuming. But once you've done all that, there are only beautiful and exciting moments waiting for you.

What did you miss most about Germany?

I missed my friends and family the most. Of course, life in Germany goes on without you, but you gain a lot of wonderful new experiences.

What do you miss from your host country?

I miss my internship class the most. I spent five months in a fourth and fifth grade class. I grew very fond of the children in this class and it was very difficult to say goodbye. I would love to go back and visit the school and the class again.

What would you recommend to others who are considering a stay abroad? What are three reasons for doing an internship abroad?

Personally, I would recommend a stay abroad to anyone. The experience you gain at schools in other countries is unique. You gain completely new insights into many different teaching methods that you are not familiar with from Germany. You become braver and more open to trying out new things. The new acquaintances you make abroad are also very special and will hopefully stay with you for the rest of your life. You are constantly interacting with new people, other cultures and the world.

What did you take with you or gain from your country? Experiences, objects, friends or inspiration?

I travelled back to Germany with many new experiences, methods and friendships. By shadowing my class teacher, who came from Switzerland, and my class teacher, who came from the USA, I learnt a lot of new methods and routines that I hadn't known before from the internship schools in Germany. The children at SAGA, who are all educated bilingually, showed me the many advantages of being able to speak several languages and being open to the world. I also made very good new friends who I would like to visit again.

Interview with Hannah Schwandt about her internship abroad in Seattle

Which country did you visit and for how long were you there?

I was in Seattle, in the state of Washington in the USA.
I was in the USA from September to March in total, but I also combined the internship with a bit of travelling before and after.

Why did you choose your host country and the respective internship school?

Because I am studying English as a minor subject, it was clear to me that I wanted to do my KSP in an English-speaking country. As I had already spent a long time in Australia after my A-levels, I decided in favour of Canada or the USA, and in the end I chose the USA.

Did you do your internship at a local school or a school abroad?

I did my internship at the German School Seattle.

How did your school abroad differ from those in Germany? How did the students learn in your host country?

The SAGA (Seattle Area German American School) was very different from the schools in Germany. The primary schools start with preschool (children start school at 5) and go all the way up to 5th grade. The children are at school all day from around 8.30 am to 3 pm. Some children stay even longer if they are enrolled in the aftercare programme. SAGA also has an integrated kindergarten. The fact that most of the children are on the school premises from the age of 3 means that school life there is a little more informal than in Germany. Everyone knows everyone. I also liked the fact that in addition to German and American cultures and customs, the children also celebrated all the other cultures and religions. This brought the children closer to different cultures. The school also had a "Spirit Day" once a month on a specific theme, so that everyone, whether pupils or teachers, came to school dressed up.

There was also a high security system. Every teacher/intern had a pass to get into the school. Parents were almost never in the building, but if they were, they had to ring the bell and wait for the secretary to open up.

The children were only taught in German and media such as whiteboards or iPads were frequently used. There is also more individuality for the children. The classes are much smaller than in Germany, which also makes this easier. Furthermore, from a class size of 15 pupils, two teachers are responsible for one class.

Did you supervise or lead a special project?

I ran a club every Wednesday afternoon where I did lots of different things with the children. We often baked, as this was particularly fun for the children. Escape rooms, playing games, reading and crafts were also part of the programme.

Was it easy to socialise with the locals?

Yes, the Americans are very open, extroverted and friendly.

How high was the cost of living at your internship location?

It was more expensive than in Germany. I was really lucky with the accommodation and had to pay relatively little. However, as my accommodation was a bit further away from the school, I had to rely on public transport. But I also had a bike, which I could use to cycle half the distance, as Seattle is very hilly. The bike also saved me some travelling costs. In terms of food, you first have to find your way around the huge supermarkets and pick out the right products. Then it's about as expensive as here in Germany.

What was the biggest challenge in connection with your stay abroad?

You shouldn't forget that in addition to working at school (I was there until 3 pm, sometimes until 5 pm), you also have university assignments, seminars etc., for which you have to plan time in addition to your important free time.

What did you miss most from Germany?

Family, friends and German bread, of course.

What do you miss from your host country?

I miss the staff and the children at the school. The friends I made there and of course Seattle and the beautiful landscape around it.

What would you recommend to others who are considering a stay abroad? What are three reasons for doing an internship abroad?

1. you gain great experiences that will last a lifetime

2. you get to meet great people from all over the world

3. you can improve your language skills and familiarise yourself with teaching and learning methods from other countries.

What did you take with you or gain from your country? Experiences, objects, friends or inspiration?

• New friends
• independence
• new teaching/learning methods and generally lots of inspiration for everyday school life
• I was able to discover great places, national parks, cities and beaches while travelling there

Interview with a student about her internship abroad in New York

Which country did you visit and for how long were you there?

New York, USA (March 2019, 4 weeks)

Why did you choose your host country and the respective internship school?

I was already an au pair in NY after graduating from high school in 2015. I knew the primary schools from my host children at the time. I was able to do my internship for a fortnight at a school abroad and see my host family and friends there again.

Did you do your internship at a local school or a school abroad?

The primary school I attended is an American public primary schools and is located in a suburb of Manhattan.

How did your school abroad differ from those in Germany? How did the pupils learn in your host country?

I noticed the constant use and application of media in the classroom. These are more widespread in America and devices such as smartboards or laptops/tablets are part of everyday school life (at least in richer areas).
Otherwise, I noticed that primary schools there go from preschool (children start school at 5) to 5th grade and are all-day (from 8:20 am to 3:20 pm) for all students.
There is also the subject "Library", in which the children learn about the historical background to well-known literary works and authors or even public holidays (if there are any) and can/should also borrow books regularly.
In Germany, this would be a supplement to "German lessons" and the public holidays would be covered in religious education lessons. Religious education does not exist there!
Furthermore, there was a very high security system. You couldn't get into the school without a passport (parents or others had to ring the bell and wait until the caretaker/security guard opened the door) and you had to sign in every time. I was given a sign with my name on it and what I was doing in the building for the period. I also attended a rehearsal in case of a shooting rampage. (There are also regular rehearsals for fire alarms or for things that happen outside the building).

Did you supervise or lead a special project?

No. I gave a lesson on German culture and the students were able to ask me anything they ever wanted to know about Germany. However, this was not a project.

Was it easy to make contact with the locals?

Yes, everyone was very open and friendly. They were also all very interested in German culture and happy to have "something new" in the classroom. There had never been a German trainee at this school before.

How high was the cost of living at your internship location?

Very high: New York is very expensive!
Primary school teachers earn proportionally less than here in Germany, rents are incredibly high and food is also expensive.
I was glad that I had a place to sleep with my former host family and friends. In addition, the school was only 3 minutes away, so I could walk to school with my former host children and save on travelling costs.
New York City is nice for a while (as long as you have enough pocket money), but for longer you have to work a lot to make a life there possible.

What was the biggest challenge in connection with your stay abroad?

The registration (enrolment in the system) at the school.
In addition to my visa, I also had to have my fingerprints taken on site (comparable to our "certificate of good conduct"), which cost me 0 and proved to be difficult at times, as I don't have American citizenship. But it all worked out and my local contact person helped me a lot!

What did you miss most from Germany?

Instructions and a precise timetable (and German health insurance, but that had nothing to do with my internship.

What do you miss from your host country?

The open and very caring nature between teachers and students.
I also miss the language and all the lovely people I got to know there.

What would you recommend to others who are considering a stay abroad? What are the three reasons for doing an internship abroad?

1. You improve your language skills.
   
2. You get to know wonderful people from all over the world and new cultures.
   
3. You gain experience for life. (Partly through conversations with parents, teachers, children, etc.)

What have you taken with you or gained from your country? Experiences, objects, friends or inspiration?

• Inspiration and ideas for my future appointment as a teacher
• Independence
• Contacts from teachers and parents for letters of recommendation, corrections of English work or contacts for questions
• Dear friends and interesting acquaintances
• Confirmation that the appointment "primary school teacher" is the right one for me