Vive la Difference! Teaching in France

Posted: 30 March 2009

All school placements are interesting ventures, providing crucial insights into how schools operate and how pupils learn, as well as giving vital opportunities to hone teaching skills.

However, in an exciting new initiative, which is being supported by the French Education Ministry, the Scottish Government and GTCS, students have the opportunity to participate in an exchange programme, whereby they can undertake a placement abroad. Dundee is one of two Scottish Universities to be participating in this vibrant pilot in order to determine the value of such exchanges.

A group of students from the Paris IUFM (Teacher Education Institution) undertook a four-week placement in Dundee City primary schools last month and now students from the PGDE(P) Programme within Dundee University have embarked on a three-week placement in Paris. Here, they will become familiar with the Maternelle (Nursery) provision of France, which is highly esteemed internationally. No doubt they will also find time to enjoy some of the cultural delights of Paris and thus polish their French skills both in and out of the classroom!

The French students were delighted with their Scottish experience, acquiring valuable insights into our education system as well as increasing their language skills and enjoying several cultural highlights. This included sight-seeing around Scotland and joining in a Burns Supper, hosted by the pupils of Eastern Primary School.

We look forward to hearing of our students' experiences as they further "l'Entente Cordiale" between our countries!