September 2005 - Association Comenius

In professional terms, it enabled me to
participate in a range of pedagogical
practices that at that time were only
beginning to emerge in Northern Ireland,
especially in my field of interest – early
years’ literacy/reading instruction.
Although I had so much to learn despite
my previous years of classroom
experience I found it exhilarating and
challenging...the way I felt teaching
should be. I got to attend stimulating inservice
courses that were given by
motivated practitioners who were
equally as interested in my ‘Irish’
perspective as I was in theirs. This gave
me a gateway into providing
professional development courses for my
own staff and other colleagues within
my Education and Library Board area on
my return home.
I also experienced a different kind of
staff culture that I hadn’t previously
known and this was a welcome bonus to
my year abroad. I was given the
opportunity to serve on various councils
and committees with responsibility for
an array of professional and recreational
matters within the school and wider
district. Many of my colleagues
regularly arranged fun activities and
evening get-togethers after school as a
means of strengthening staff relations.
Lessons Learnt Along the
Wa y … . .
As I look back with hindsight, perhaps
one of the most valuable outcomes of
this venture has been the rich and unique
opportunity it presented me with in order
to achieve my PhD...another longstanding,
hankering ambition of mine.
In a sense, I felt that by putting the
culmination of my international
experiences together with my interest in
early years’ literacy/reading instruction
in the form of a doctorate, I had solved a
curiosity in myself that brought with it a
feeling of satisfaction and completion.
If I could offer any words of advice,
they would be simply...go for it! I had
all the same apprehensions and worries
that perspective Erasmus students have
when faced with the decision to avail of
this programme or not. Yes, I did feel
lonely and overwhelmed at times but l
also felt extremely privileged to be
chosen for such an endeavour. It is only
for a short period of time but the
possibilities for personal and
professional growth are real and
worthwhile. I have no doubt that
participating in such programmes will
leave an indelible mark on your life
forever. My parting thought to you is
that as the years roll by your life moves
to a new place and often with this shift
comes greater family and work-related
responsibilities. Therefore, to take up
this sort of opportunity in the future may
be less easy depending on your
circumstances. Whatever you choose to
do...I wish you well.
Cormenius Journal | 47