The last week...

Yes, it is already the last week of my stay in Haderslev...

During this week we worked on our presentations for next Monday. Manu and I wrote a paper about the differences between the school system in Belgium and the school system in Denmark. On Friday Manu, Carston and me visited Odense, Hans Christian Andersen's town of birth. There we visited the museum about his life and also the small house he lived in when he was a child. We had a very nice day. In the evening we all were invited at Jette's beautiful house for dinner. It was delicious... We looked back on our three months stay in Denmark and had a very nice evening. Afterwards we went to school for the gala party! This is a party organised by the 4rd graders. They celebrated the end of their last schoolyear. We danced all evening! It was great. During the weekend I packed my bags, emptied my closets and on Sunday Tim's parents, Tim, Manu and me went for a boat trip with Carston's boat on the fjord. In the afternoon we went to see the theatre play (in Danish) from 'Extremely loud and incredibly close'. I had a great last weekend in Hadersev. I really enjoyed it a lot...

The eleventh week! Already... The third and last week of our practice.

Hi there!

The eleventh week has started already. On Monday we met each other in front of the church at 7.45 am. The first lesson of the day was a Danish lesson with Ann-Mari. They corrected last week's small dictation and read in small groups to each other. At 8.45 am we joined the morning prayers and at 9.OO am we observed an English lesson in the 4th grade. Else introduced a new chapter 'Invitations and parties'. She introduced the characters of the new chapter to the pupils and afterwards they listened to small dialogues about 'Rita' inviting her friends to her birthday party. From 10.10 am until 11 am we observed the 3rd grade in another English lesson. Else continued her lesson about the members of the family and the house. They sang a song together:'Grandma, grandpa, mother, dad, brothers, sisters, ...'. The last lesson of today was in the 7th grade. Here Iva, Sylvie and me taught the pupils about London. We started the lesson with a small crossword in which the word 'London' was hidden. Afterwards there was a brainstorming about London. What do you think of when you hear the word London? What does London represent to you? At the end of the lesson we showed the pupils a powerpoint presentation with some historical sites of London, the typical way of transportation (dubbeldeckers, cabs, the underground,...) and typical symbols of London (tea, biscuits, red phoneboxes,...). We were stressed for this first lesson and it didn't go as fluent as we had hoped but Else was very happy.

In the afternoon I went to school and worked on the internet. In the evening I watched a movie: 'The constant gardener'. I went to bed at 11 pm.

On Tuesday I got up at 7.30 am and we met Sylvie at 9.50 am in front of the church. We first observed a music lesson with Ann-Mari. The children practiced again for their musical, they danced and sang songs. The second lesson was a Danish lesson in which the children read to each other in small groups.

In the afternoon I went to school until 2 pm and then went home. At home I worked on my thesis and read in my book. In the evening I watched a movie 'Perfume' and I went to bed at around 10.30 pm. I was very tired.

On Wednesday we started the day with a small party in the 3rd grade with Ann-Mari! We made cake together and we played games with the children outside. The sun was shining all morning. We also learned them the song 'Old Mac Donald has a farm'. I am very sad to leave this class, we had a great time during these three weeks. I learned a lot and I loved the teacher Ann-Mari. She is the most friendly, motivated, warm and open teacher you can wish for. I am very happy that I got to know her.

In the 7th grade we continued the lesson about London. First we played a small game with the pupils as a small revision of what we did last time. Then we showed them a small video of Mister Bean meeting the queen. This was so funny... Afterwards we showed them a PowerPoint presentation about the royal family in England. The last 10 minutes of the lesson the pupils had some time to work on their project for Thursday.

In the afternoon I went to school and worked on the internet. In the evening I went to bed early to be fit for Thursday evening... The Crazy Dasy!

On Thursday we started the day by teaching in the 7th grade. Today the pupils had to present their project about London to us. Two groups presented a project about 'Harrods' and the others about 'The tower of London' and 'Madame Tussaud's'. It was really great. They all did a very good job. Because it was our last day was offered them chocolat biscuits. Afterwards we observed another English lesson in the 4th grade where they continued the lesson about 'Parties' and 'Houses'. Else showed them 10 houses and discribed them one after another. The pupils had to guess which house she was describing. At 11 am we observed an English lesson in the 3rd grade where they learned about the furniture in a house. The last 20 minutes of the lesson we played two games together: 'The stork has lost it's cap and the colour is ....' and 'Mime an animal'.

I had a great time at this school, I learned a lot and I loved the two teachers we followed. They are amazing teachers. This was an unforgetable experience.

In the afternoon I worked on the internet at school and at 5.30 pm we all met at Liddle to go shopping for our dinner on Friday. In the evening we watched a movie together and at 11 pm we went to the Crazy Daisy!

On Friday I got up at 8 and I went to school to work on my thesis. I stayed there until 3 pm and then went home. At 5 the other erasmus students came over at our place and we started cooking for our dinner that evening with the following guests guests Jette, Lasse, Christina, Mette, Carston and Thora. They all arrived at 7 pm and we had a delicious dinner. We made fish, meatballs with curry, rice, salade, couscous, chocolat mouse, e.g. . We had a great evening.. I went to bed at 2 am.

On Saturday I got up at 9 am and went to school again. I worked there until 2 pm. At 4 Daniel came over to record a story with me for my thesis (What father does is always right by Hans Christian Andersen). We had a lot of fun.. At 6 Tim and Manu came over and we had dinner together. In the evening we all went to Thora's birthday party.

On Sunday I got up at 8.30 and went to school. In the afternoon I worked at home on my thesis and in the evening I watched a movie.

The tinth week! The second week of our practice...

Hi there!

On Monday we met at 7.45 am in front of the church for our second week of practice and we started the day with a Danish lesson in the 3rd grade. The children had to explain to each other what they did during their weekend. Afterwards they corrected last week's dictation and they read out loud to each other.

The second hour was an English lesson in the 4th grade. Here they continued their reading project.

The third hour was another English lesson, again in the 3rd grade. The pupils presented their houses to each other. Afterwards the teacher introduced the members of the family with little dolls.

The last lesson of today was another English lesson in the 7th grade. Here we watched a 10 minute presentation about Tanzania. One of the pupils lived there for 6 years. She told us about the main differences between Tanzania and Denmark. It was very interesting. The last 30 minutes of the lesson they continued their reading project.

In the afternoon I went to school to work on the internet and to call my family. I also worked on my thesis with Manu. I went for a walk at 4 pm and afterwards I went home and read in my book.

In the evening I listened to some music and I went to bed at 11 pm.

On Tuesday we only met at 9.55 am and started the day with a music lesson. The children sang several songs and they also practised their musical performance. This was really great and funny... Afterwards they could all choose an instrument and they played a small rock song. The second lesson we observed was another Danish lesson. The teacher asked the pupils about their free time and they read a text about a boy who spends all his free time on the computer and behind the television... Most children in the class admitted watching a lot of television themselves.

In the afternoon I went to school again to work on my thesis and in the evening I read in my book. I went to bed at 10.30 pm.

On Wednesday we got up early again and the first lesson started at 8 am. It was a Danish lesson with Ann-Mari. She is a great teacher.. During the first hour they discussed about the story they are reading (the characters, the place, the time, e.g.) and they sang a celebration song for Michael O. It was his 10th birthday today. At 8.45 three other classes joined us to do the morning prayers. We sang songs and prayed together. At 9 am the second lesson started, another Danish lesson. The pupils made a collage about their free time. We helped them and we had a lot of fun. At 10.10 am we went together with Else to the 7th grade where they continued their reading project.

In the afternoon I went to school until 1 pm where I worked on the internet. Afterwards I went for a walk in Haderslev, the weather was nice. In the evening Iva, Sylvie and me met to coninue the preperation of our three lesson for next week. I went to bed at 11 pm.

On Thursday we observed three English lessons with Else. The first lesson was from 8 am until 8.45 in the 7th grade. Here they continued their reading project. Today was the last day of the project. From 9 am until 9.45 am we showed Else our preperations about London for next week. She was happy with our work. From 10.10 am we observed the 4th grade where they also continued their reading project. The last hour was in the 3rd grade. They sang songs together (Itsy Spitsy Spider...) and presented their houses to each other.

In the afternoon I went to school and in the evening I watched a movie 'Little Miss Sunshine'... I went to bed at 11 pm.

On Friday we observed two Danish lessons. During the first hour the children went to the library to exchange their books. I had a look around and found many books by Hans Christian Andersen. During the second hour the pupils had a dictation and they read out loud to each other.

In the afternoon I went to school and worked on the internet. In the evening Sylvie and Manu came over and we watched 'Sense and Sensebility' after a novel by Jane Austen. I know this movie by heart.. Manu was a bit borred, it isn't really a boy's movie.. :-) After the movie we went downstairs to have a drink at Ras and I went to bed at 00.30 am.

On Saturday I got up at 9 am and I went to school at 11 am. I worked on my thesis and did some research on the internet. I returned back home at 2.30 pm and continued working there on my thesis. In the evening we were all invited at Thora's place for a 'movie evening'. We had a great evening all together. We watched 'Moulin Rouge' with Nicole Kidman and 'Save the last dance'. Both beautiful movies... I went to bed at 1 am.

On Sunday we all got up early because Thora and Lasse were waiting for us in front of Fakta to take us on a small 'Viking Tour' in the surroundings of Haderslev. We visited some Viking graves and an old mill in Torningvej: 'Torning Molle'. On our way we stopped at the 'Manège' ton have a look at Thora's horse. She was just so beautiful.. I went into the stable with her and she put her head on my shoulder. I loved this.. We returned back to Haderslev at noon and in the afternoon I went to school.



At 5 pm Iva and me went to Sylvie's apartment and we worked together on our lessons for next week aout London. In the evening I stayed at home and watched another movie: 'The Constant Gardener'.