Comenius Newspaper Zeitung zum Comenius-Treffen in Finnland

Kinder der Welt-Welt der Kinder; Das Leben und Lernen der Kinder

Europas.

1

In der Woche vom 19. – 26.04.2009 trafen sich Schüler aus Den Haag (Niederlande), Tonbridge (Großbritannien), Halle

(Deutschland) und Helsinki. Gemeinsam arbeiteten sie an dem 2-jährigen Comenius-Projekt:

2

Die Woche in Finnland

Monday 20.04.2009 The first day started in the gym of the Oulunkylän Yhteiskoulu with music played by Finish students. It sounded very nice for everybody. After that the principal of the school gave us a warm welcome introducing her school by using a short powerpoint presentation. We watched a film about Helsinki, as well.After that we were divided into groups and played some games to get to know each other better. Then Finish students showed us their wonderful school building explaining everything in detail. It was interesting for the guests to see the differences between their own school and the Finish one. Then they went to the cafeteria for lunch. The food was delicious. Food is very important for Finish people.After that we made a tour through Oulunkylän. Finish guys showed us the important sights for example the churches and the forest with an old bunker. Our first day ended and we went home to our host families.

Isabell Schweyen

21.4.2009 TuesdayThis was the city day. First we got the bus and went to the design and technology museum. There we had a guided tour, which took half an hour. Then we took the bus and went to the city. There we had 45 minutes free time for eating and to do other stuff. For lunch we had bread, banana and juice. And we could go to Mc Donald’s if we wanted.

Then we had a city tour by bus. There we saw the sights of Helsinki. Then we had some free time for half an hour. Then we went to Kiasma which is a museum. After Kiasma we could go home.

3

22.04.2009 WednesdayOn Wednesday the guests went to normal lessons with the other Finnish pupils. it was interesting to see how the Finnish lessons go on: the teachers have got technology and the atmosphere was very different to the school at home.¨After school, we went to the Oulukylän curlinghalli and started to play curling together. Students and teachers were as excited as each other and enjoyed the fun together.When we finished that, we started to work on our presentations for the week: texts for a magazine, power point presentations and so on.

Isabell Schweyen

23.04.2009 Thursday The trip to TallinnOn Thursday we had to get up very early because we went on a trip to Tallinn, the capital of Estonia. We boarded the ship at half past seven and we had to be at the port at 6.45. The ship was huge but very nice and after a journey of two hours we arrived in Tallinn. We went on a tour through the city with a bus and a guide who explained the relevance of important buildings to us in German,, but a teacher from England translated it into English. After driving by bus we walked through the old town that was founded in the middle ages.

When we finished the tour everybody was hungry and was happy about the wonderful buffet in a hotel restaurant. After that we had two hours free time that could be used to buy some souvenirs or go shopping or just enjoy the feeling of Tallinn. At 16.30 we took a ship back to Helsinki and we arrived in Finland at half past eight. The day was hard for everybody but very nice and a special experience.

Isabell Schweyen,Olivia Ogunko

4

24.04.2009 FridaySchool started at 8.45. We did the Comenius project 3 hours. We had lunch from 12.00 to 12.45. When it was 13.00 o’clock, the bus left from the school and went 20 km to Nuuksio which is a conservation area. We had a walk about 4 km to Kattila. We had a barbecue and a great time together.

5

Host family

Meine GastfamilieMeine Gastfamilie ist sehr nett und freundlich, der Name meiner Gastgeberin ist Viia und der ihrer Schwester ist Virpa. Sie haben Eltern und die Mutter ist Virpa. Sie haben zwei Papageien und nicht, wie sie einander. Die weiblichen Papagei namens Nelly-The-Zerstörer und die männlichen Papagei heißt Hebe. Ich lebe in dem Haus, zusammen mit meiner Freundin Georgina.

Olivia Ogunko

I stay with a girl called Helena. I live with her in her house with her mother and father. It’s a nice and cosy house! I speak English with them. They are helpful and tell me different things about Finland. We eat with each other in the evening and it tastes always very good. I’ve eaten very nice things this week. I’ve eaten chicken pasta, potatoes, wraps and they took me out for dinner at an Italian. All these things are not very different from the Netherlands. I feel comfortable in their house because they are very kind. I can use the shower if I want, also I can watch TV and more things. It makes me feel at home. One very different thing from Finland is the sauna. Everyone here has one, I went twice to the sauna it’s hot but very nice. Helena showed me her class and after school she taught me a game and we went to Helsinki there we went shopping. This week in Finland was very nice. Marah Wagner

6

Oulunkylän Yhteiskoulu

Oulunkylän Yhteiskoulu is a big private school in the Oulunkylän district of Helsinki. It was founded in 1924, and has both the upper level of comprehensive school (grades 7th to 9th (age 13 to 15) and the upper secondary school (age 16 to 18). The school is free as all the fees are paid by the government (about 6000 Euros for each pupil per month), and school lunch is also free. Students can choose what to have for their lunch.

There are approximately 880 students and 60 teachers in Oulunkylän Yhteiskoulu and they all work in the same buildings. There are many sofas in the school so students can rest between the lessons.

The school is about 9 km north of the centre of Helsinki and it does not take long to get to the centre by bus or train.

The school has long traditions in music and acting as well as the students’ good results in other studies.

In addition to learning students and teachers organize theme days, sports events, excursions to museums and exhibitions, festivals, trips to the theatre and they participate in local or national projects.

The school is well equipped with a gym, sports field, sauna, canteen and a nearby curling hall.

The school follows the national Finnish curriculum but concentrates on music and science. There are 18 compulsory subjects that the students must work at and eight optional subjects. There is a special music class which any student who lives in the city of Helsinki can apply to. To get into the music class, the student must pass a special test.

There is also a special class which is, ‘Mathematical-Scientific’. Students are chosen on reasons of interest and good results after completing the lower level.The classrooms are well-equipped with technology, such as computers and projectors. The classes are quite small-the number of pupils for each class can vary from 18 to 32.

The first lesson starts at 8:15 and the last lesson ends at 15:50. The students have a 5 or 10 minute break between lessons in which they can relax.

Konstanze Bergunder und Amalia Austin

7

Finnish lessons

General atmosphere

Finnish pupils have much freedom and fun in their lessons. In some lessons they can listen to music and talk to eachother. Pupils don’t seem to be stressed and they enjoy learning. They also give their opinion and help their classmates in the class.

Sometimes students don’t concentrate and aren’t interested, but teachers aren’t angry about it. When teachers are stressed, there is no happiness of learning and learning success. Then students listen to music and seem to be bored.

Not only students talk in the lessons but teachers as well. By explaining and discussing everything in detail they make the lessons more interesting and funny. So students and teachers work together in a friendly, calm and openminded way. The equipment is also very good. Computers, cameras and beamers are in every classroom. It’s easier for teachers to teach and for students to learn. If teachers use these things very well there is a high happiness of learning and learning success.

8

Teaching methods and media used in class

9

10

Differences between the schoolsystems

Finland

Projectors are better Lesson are 45 minutes Lots of double lessons Al the tables are just for one person The teachers teach a lot with the projector. They use many books Teachers don’t use the whiteboard very much.

Netherlands

In Holland we don’t use projectors very much The lessons are 50 minutes The break is always at the same time. Double lessons are only for PE Some tables are for one Some tables are for two Teachers teach sometimes with the projectors ( almost not) We don’t use books Teachers write a lot on the whiteboard

Daniel Drewes and Noor Nitsche

England We have a stricter school- better enforced rules and teachers will tolerate no nonsense!

o This helps us know what is expected and it is always clear how we should behave. The clear structure helps us to study properly.

We have a beautiful school uniform! J We have a bigger school with more pupils and teachers; because of this we have lots of

subject options Although we are worked very hard, there are lots of support options available so that’s

good for example the mentoring system We used to be tested in the May of Year 9 by the SATS tests In May/June of Year 11 you are tested in about 9-14 subjects (GCSE) that you have

chosen In May/June of Year 12 there are AS exams At the end of Year 13 there are huge final exams in 3-5 that you have chosen to pursue at

a higher level If you are exceptionally good at a subject you can take the exams early for example we

all took the SATS in year 8 and some people take their GCSE exams in Year 10. The subjects are taught diffferently:

o Technology is used a lot for example: IT rooms, laptops and interactive whiteboards

In our language lessons the teachers really try and involve us and make it really fun. This makes it better than just listening and writing things down

11

12