Hi Everyone! My name is Sarah Pannell. I am a senior in the College of Education and Health Professions studying Childhood Education. This summer I studied with the U of A Faculty-Led: Education in Ireland - The Art of Teaching.
Prior to leaving for our trip abroad we met once a month to discuss what we would be doing, what we would be teaching, and assignments we needed to complete before we depart. During a meeting we paired up and brainstormed what lesson we would be teaching while abroad. Outside of the meeting we had to complete a lesson plan which was adjusted up until the week before we left to make sure it was exactly what we wanted. Having these meetings helped calm the nerves of studying abroad because we had endless opportunities to ask questions and get all the answers we needed and more.
After months of preparation we finally made it to Ireland and it was absolutely incredible. We went to five different schools around the country. We visited two in Limerick, two in Galway, and one in Dublin. No school we went to was the same. We saw small countryside schools that had classrooms with students from two to three different grade levels as well as schools with three different classrooms for one grade level. My partner and I taught in classes ranging from Junior Infants (Pre-K) to third class (third grade). Our lesson we taught to the students was about the American flag; how it came to be and what it represents. All of the students were so interested in learning about the flag and were even more interested in learning about us and where we come from. It was so fun to teach them and be fully immersed in the schooling experience in Ireland. At multiple schools we were taught how to play hurling which is one of the most popular sports in Ireland. At one school we learned how to play Gaelic football as well as, how to Irish dance which was my absolute favorite.
Prior to leaving for our trip abroad we met once a month to discuss what we would be doing, what we would be teaching, and assignments we needed to complete before we depart. During a meeting we paired up and brainstormed what lesson we would be teaching while abroad. Outside of the meeting we had to complete a lesson plan which was adjusted up until the week before we left to make sure it was exactly what we wanted. Having these meetings helped calm the nerves of studying abroad because we had endless opportunities to ask questions and get all the answers we needed and more.
After months of preparation we finally made it to Ireland and it was absolutely incredible. We went to five different schools around the country. We visited two in Limerick, two in Galway, and one in Dublin. No school we went to was the same. We saw small countryside schools that had classrooms with students from two to three different grade levels as well as schools with three different classrooms for one grade level. My partner and I taught in classes ranging from Junior Infants (Pre-K) to third class (third grade). Our lesson we taught to the students was about the American flag; how it came to be and what it represents. All of the students were so interested in learning about the flag and were even more interested in learning about us and where we come from. It was so fun to teach them and be fully immersed in the schooling experience in Ireland. At multiple schools we were taught how to play hurling which is one of the most popular sports in Ireland. At one school we learned how to play Gaelic football as well as, how to Irish dance which was my absolute favorite.
Irish people are the kindest people I have ever met. Everywhere we went we were always welcomed by them saying “you are very welcome here.” Anytime we went to a restaurant we were never rushed to leave or seen as an inconvenience when we showed up as a large group looking for a table. All of the workers or owners in the small shops would make conversation and ask about where we were from, why we were here, and were so caring and curious about who we were. I never felt uncomfortable around the Irish culture and community. It was such a great place to be and I hope to go back soon!
Sarah spent the summer 2019 term in Ireland with our faculty-led program, Education in Ireland - The Art of Teachingwith the help of our Office of Study Abroad Scholarship.
Don't miss your opportunity to study or intern abroad! Start your search at http://studyabroad.uark.edu/search/
