Getting started - first impressions

The first 2 days of training are over. I met with my new tutors and fellow students. We got to know the content and details of our studies, which tasks to complete, which tools to use, and how to use them. I love studying. I already have completed two university degrees, have undergoing counselling studies, and now this. I love to learn new things and develop myself. This course is inspiring. Latest teaching technologies, entrepreneurship, and the like.

After the first day I thought: - Hey, this is easy! My real-life work is intense and requires constant thinking, creativity, and concentration, so it was refreshing to just sit and listen.

I could divide the students into two categories: quite, and very experienced teachers, who only lack formal qualification, and then rookies like me, who have hardly any experience here and there. I felt a bit intimidated after hearing some student's stories and comments. I seemed like they already know everything and are so comfortable with students. But I don't want to compare. This is about MY learning process of becoming a teacher. Only one of a kind. I know I have a lot of good raw material within, such as broad work experience, extensive international experience and contacts, superb professional skills, and more.

I had a few goals for the start-up days. First, to find out as much as I can about the studies. Secondly, to network as much as possible, since the next face-to-face encounter with the group will take place after 4 months - one third of the length of our studies.

I was pleased to be in an intercultural group. I enjoyed hearing people's stories and how they decided to apply for this program. I really enjoyed mixing and mingling with the foreign students especially. I was impressed at their expertise and experience in Finland. They are really top class. I can learn a lot from them and hopefully give something in return.

I was disappointed at how "Finnish" some Finns were. Several did not seem interested in getting to know new people, but their rather preferred chatting with their old acquaintances, so I could not participate in the conversation. In pair tasks some turned away instead of partnering with the nearest student. I had expected the Finns in this intercultural group, some having lived years abroad, to possess some more international social skills, but they behaved in the Finnish way, considered impolite elsewhere. I think they will open up later as we get to know each other better, even though there are not that many opportunities. Anyway, I had a great time getting to know some foreign students and look forward to being part of this versatile group. Maybe I can teach something about intercultural interaction for my fellow students, as this is my specialty?

On the second day we did a group task and this was excellent for team building and bonding. We determined the rules of our group and made a small project. In the afternoon we tried ACP, and this was extremely frustrating. The mikes and headsets didn't work, my computer froze twice, it turned out I was accidentally not included in the participants, someone else controlled my work space, and to top all off, I couldn't find my presentation when it was my turn to give the mini-presentation. Besides, people were not really listening. Can it get any more frustrating than this? This concluded the start-up days. After a brief feedback we scattered our ways.

Introduction

Dear reader,

I am a Teacher Under Construction, a teacher to be. The aim of this blog is to record my learning process with its ups and downs, as well as some more concrete goals, which will unfold in the posts to come.
I am a linguistics and intercultural communication professional, who wanted to pursue a teacher's qualification in order to expand my expertise. I study at a polytechnic teacher training program. The length of the studies is 1 year or more. So, let the journey begin!