Erasmus+ Traineeship in Sopron - A Week Full of Experiences! 🎓
From 16 to 22 March, students of the Faculty of Central European Studies participated in an Erasmus+ traineeship at the Benedek Elek Faculty of Pedagogy of the University of Sopron, where they had the opportunity to participate in several exciting professional and cultural programmes.
Following the informal (and somewhat windy) sightseeing tour on Monday, on Tuesday Dr. László Varga, Dean of the Faculty, welcomed the delegation of students and teachers in the Faculty's meeting room, where he presented the study programmes and spoke about the mission of the institution, including the close relations with partner institutions beyond the borders. In the morning, they expanded their knowledge at Dr. Katalin Molnár's seminar on environmental education. In the afternoon, they learnt about the pedagogical role of the game and the project method at the LEGO workshop of Edukaland Studio, led by Réka Kissné Dr. Zsámboki, and actively participated in LEGO building. On Wednesday, the day started early, as our students observed their second-year pre-school education student colleagues' practice at the university's Aranykapu (Golden Gate) practice nursery from behind a Belgian mirror, which gave them an insight into practical training. The evaluation session that followed provided a valuable learning experience for both students and teachers. In the afternoon, they took a walk in the university's botanical garden, where they received a brief introduction to the rich flora of the garden, combining theory with practical experience. Later, they had the opportunity to learn about preschool and talent management methods at the Talentum Workshop, led by Julianna Halvax. On Thursday, the day began again in the LEGO studio, where participants learned about the educational potential of digital tools, primarily using LEGO Education sets, as well as the role of Minecraft, Roblox, and Fortnite, which are very popular among children. The programme then continued in Fertőszéplak, where the students took a look at a classroom in the local primary school. In the afternoon, they examined the developmental effects of fairy tales in the kindergarten and the school club and then analysed the experiences together with the headmistress, Andrea Kovács.
This week provided our students with a wealth of knowledge, experience, and inspiration that they can utilise in their future careers as kindergarten teachers. A huge thank you goes to their mentor teacher, Réka Kissné Dr. Zsámboki Kiss, for an incredibly vibrant and enriching programme!
Text and photos: Gabriella Nagy
