Shannon M., Bachelor of Education (Secondary)
University of Leeds, England (Semester 1, 2016)
I had an incredible time in Leeds.
Living in Devonshire Hall was one of the best experiences. Considering I had not lived out of home before, this was the best place to do it knowing I had incredible support through the Leeds accommodation office as well as with the international students I was sharing my flat with. They were from all around the world, had different culture, opinions and ideas to me but we all seemed to share similar interests – to have a good time, study and travel when possible.
I participated in The University of Leeds Gryphons Baseball Club, the Leeds community slow pitch softball ‘Dales’ Club and I represented Leeds in an international slow pitch softball tournament in Czech Republic with “The Terriers”. This allowed me to meet a different group of people to what I was experiencing in halls and at university and allowed me to get to know the Leeds community and the people within.
The way of teaching and delivering information was exceptionally different at the University of Leeds which I believe was an important experience for me as a future teacher. I was able to receive education by different modes of communication, became aware of different teaching pedagogues in use, saw new ways of teachers facilitating knowledge through activities and was even introduced to different ways of providing feedback.
As I’m a student majoring in English teaching I believe studying in-depth English literature modules in England was extremely beneficial towards my future career. As I minor in History I regularly visited historical sites across Europe including Anne Frank House in Amsterdam, Auschwitz and Birkenau concentration camps in Poland, visited Jewish Synagogues in the Czech Republic, visited Jewish memorials around Europe and participated in Old Jewish Quarter walking tours in Germany. I believe experiences in these places has provided a new light and direction for my future lessons if I were employed to teach history. In the future I will be able to provide my students the facts as well as personal thoughts and experiences while traveling on study abroad as a QUT student.
I was accidentally homeless for a night in Ireland with 7 others, had my Iphone 6s and credit cards stolen from me in Germany, lived in questionable 30 bed hostel dorm rooms in Poland, explored numerous castles in England and Wales and even cruised across the Mediterranean (and more). I believe all of these experiences good and …not so good assisted in shaping the person I am now and will continue to shape me for the rest of my life.
My exchange spanned 73705 km / 45800 miles and helped me catch an insatiable desire to travel. All the places I visited are featured throughout this post.
