Internationality course at Haukipudas
Our applied courses include a special course in internationality. The goal of the course is to increase international relationships on a personal level. This is achieved by getting to know other country´s culture, customs, history, education, environment, arts and most importantly the people. The most important part of the course is a week long excursion to a foreign country. The country and points of emphasis of the excursion change yearly. Students prepare themselves for the excursion by writing essays and doing other independent work both in Finnish and in foreign languages based on chosen points of emphasis.
We have paid several visits to Kronstadt and St. Petersburg in Russia as well as to Sweden, Latvia, Estonia and Germany.
One examle: In Berlin 2001
In May 2001 a group of 21 students and three teachers from our school travels to Berlin, Germany, with a group of eight students and two teachers from Pyhäjoki Upper Secondary School.
The topics for the students´ papers covered issues like equality, German culture, history and Germany in the European Union. Our students took part in the Netdays2000-project and wrote their ideas of equality on www-pages. Previously, the students´ papers have only been in print, but this time a network version was thought to be more viable. On these pages, we publish the students´ studies, texts from the teachers and also links to other www-pages.
We feel that Germany will be an important country for Finns in the future too - in terms of science, business and culture. Therefore, having personal connections and experiences does not only enrich our students´ lives but will be of importance as they continue their studies and start working. For those who study German it is of course valuable practice to be able to test their skills in real life. We had good experiences with our previous excursion in Bremen and decided to head for Germany again. Berlin was chosen to be the subject of our course because of its interesting history and the variety of activities it has to offer. In addition to sightseeing, we visited museums, churches and even went to the opera. A visit to Potsdam was also on the list. Getting to know new people is also important. Thus, we will go to a local school (Evangelische Schule Frohnau) and meet with the staff and students and attend some classes. We have a get-together with a number of German youngsters and adults as well. During our one-week-stay in Berlin we will celebrate the Europe Day and learn to know the Finnish Culture Institute.
A course like this causes a lot of work and a week in a foreign country can be rather stressful and tiring. But once again, we truly hope that it is worth all the effort and we will return home refreshed with a more open mind.
All internationality courses:
- Ireland 2007
- Kronstadt 2006
- Steinheim, Germany 2005
- Kronstadt, Russia 2004
- Bryssel and Paris 2003
- Kronstadt 2002
- Berlin 2001
- Baltia 2001
- Kronstadt 2000
- Baltia 2000
- Kronstadt 1999
- Sweden 1999
- Germany 1998
- Kronstadt 199
- Sweden1997
- Kronstadt 1997
- Kronstadt1996
- Kronstadt1995
- Kronstadt1994
