As part of their broader international teaching experience, four BA and MA TEFL student teachers from the University of South Bohemia (USB) will travel to the University of Birmingham (UK) this summer for a teaching assistantship placement at the Birmingham International Academy (BIA). This placement builds on USB’s ongoing efforts to internationalise teacher education and aligns with the goals of the TEFE A+ initiative — a European project focused on developing and supporting International Teaching Practice (ITP) for future language educators. In preparation, the students had an opportunity to meet and learn directly from BIA colleagues during a teaching visit to České Budějovice last week.
Hayley Maxwell, Director of English for Academic Purposes at BIA, and Richard Gidwaney, Presessional English Programme Manager, delivered a three-part seminar series hosted by the Faculty of Arts. Their visit supported collaboration between USB and the University of Birmingham and provided invaluable insight into BIA’s approach to academic and intercultural education.
“The sessions were inspiring and gave us a clearer picture of what to expect in the summer. It was exciting to learn how BIA supports students from around the world, both linguistically and culturally,” the student teachers shared.
The seminars explored key topics such as:
- Intercultural Communicative Competence in multinational classrooms,
- The structure and impact of BIA’s Continuous Professional Development Programme, and
- strategies for preparing international students for study in the UK, both academically and socially.
Beyond the formal sessions, the students took the opportunity to offer Hayley and Richard a local welcome. A walk through the historic centre of České Budějovice followed by coffee at a local café created space for informal conversations about teaching, culture, and shared goals for the summer placement.
“Meeting Hayley and Richard in person helped us feel more connected and confident about our upcoming teaching experience in Birmingham. We’re really looking forward to working with their team.” (Andrea, Nela, Tereza and Adam, photo attached)
The upcoming placement, hosted by the Birmingham International Academy, is part of the broader effort of the Faculty of Arts to integrate International Teaching Practice (ITP) into teacher education. The experience will not only allow the student teachers to engage with new educational contexts, but also contribute to the ongoing partnership between the two institutions — helping to shape more globally prepared educators.
