An intern's adventure in Denmark: Discovering unique differences
Evita Karakoulak from Greece is one of four international students interning at a private school in Sorø. She is 18 years old and has high expectations for her four years at the International Honours Degree in Teaching at University College Absalon in Vordingborg.
"Ever since I was a child, I wanted to be a teacher, and three years ago, I chose to pursue my teaching education in Denmark," says Evita, who plans to major in English as a second language. She is currently considering to minor in history and special education.
"The reason I chose Denmark is that it's a safe country with a high standard of living. Also, I'm not particularly fond of hot weather," she says, having previously lived in Athens with her family.
"I expect to stay in Denmark and find a job as a teacher once I've completed my education."
Differences
Evita has already formed a clear understanding of the difference between Greek and Danish schools: "In Greece, we focus a lot on the academic aspect, while in Denmark, there's more emphasis on the social dimension. In the initial days, it seemed a bit strange to me, but at the same time, I was surprised by how many students here spoke English fluently," says Evita.
She mentions that in Greek schools, students typically receive grades from the 3rd grade, while the first exams take place from the 7th grade.
There are also differences in the teaching styles between Greek and Danish Teacher educations. As a new student, she is already interning, whereas in Greece, internships take place towards the end of the education.
Currently, Evita and her fellow interns primarily observe the teaching. However, she has taught a 5th-grade class once. "It was a good experience," she says. "The students were both sweet and curious."
In 2024 the international interns will be responsible for a portion of the teaching five days a week for four weeks. Following this, they will be at the school one day a week until spring.
