Jiayu Wang tells all about her exchange to Olomouc in the Czech Republic, where she visited schools and gave lessons and attended courses, also finding time to visit the city’s cultural offerings. The trip was made possible by funding from the St John’s Student Opportunities Fund.
During my exchange study in Olomouc, Czech Republic, I had the opportunity to visit a local primary and secondary school and to give practical lessons myself. These observation activities and practicum teaching enabled me to master a variety of teaching methods, learn effective classroom management skills, as well as improve my ability to interact with students. For example, I used interactive teaching methods in the classroom to stimulate students’ interest in learning through questioning and group discussions. These valuable practical experiences have provided me with new inspirations and methods for my future teaching.
Secondly, I attended courses organised by the Department of Pedagogy and Linguistics at Olomouc University, which greatly enriched my understanding of English language teaching, literature and linguistics. One discussion that I remember specifically was one on Shakespeare’s works, where we came up with many interesting insights from different cultural backgrounds, and I benefited greatly from this cross-cultural exchange.
After class, fellow volunteers from Olomouc University led us to visit Olomouc Cathedral, which is a magnificent Gothic building built in the 12th century, with its tall towers and exquisite stained-glass windows. We also visited the Comenius Museum, a museum dedicated to the memory of the famous Czech educator Jan Amos Comenius. His educational philosophy and methods had a profound impact on the global education system. The museum displays his manuscripts, books, and teaching tools, which gave me a deeper understanding of the history and development of education, and I was particularly inspired by Comenius’s philosophy of “learning through play and hands-on practice.”
During the exchange programme, I developed deep friendships with the Czech students. We studied together, explored every corner of the city, and shared our cultural and life experiences. Once, we sat around a small cafe in the old town square of Olomouc, savouring the local food and chatting about our respective hometown stories, and the warmth and laughter of that moment is still fresh in my mind.
Overall, this exchange study experience in Olomouc not only improved my professional skills but also allowed me to understand the importance of cross-cultural communication. This valuable experience has brought me profound growth and endless memories. I am very grateful to the college for the scholarship support to help me complete my exchange programme abroad. It was an inspiring experience, and I feel that our college is supportive and encouraging to the students, it is a warm and supportive college that supports self-growth and development practically.
Photo Credit: Jiayu Wang
John's Chronicle 