We are five students from the Faculty of Arts at the University of South Bohemia in České Budějovice – Andrea Hrabíková, Sára Hrabová, Sabrina M. Stelzl, Eliška Tuháčková, and Adéla Vaňková – and we had the opportunity to take part in the TEFE A+ BIP02 international project for future teachers of English, which took place this year at the University of Passau from September 16 to 20, 2024.
The TEFE A+ project, coordinated by the Institute of English Studies at the School of Arts, University of South Bohemia, connects universities from five European countries: the University of South Bohemia in České Budějovice, the University of Passau, the Public University of Navarra in Spain, Eötvös Loránd University in Hungary, and Comenius University in Bratislava, Slovakia. This programme, funded by Erasmus+, provided us with a valuable opportunity to develop our teaching skills whilst experiencing how education is delivered in an international setting.
Working in international teams was initially a challenge for us, but we soon realised the advantages. “It was fascinating to see how different approaches to solving tasks can often be a benefit and lead to new solutions through collaboration,” says Eliška. “We also had the chance to observe various teaching methods, which gave us a broader perspective on English language teaching,” notes Sabrina.
The programme taught us to view the teaching profession in a wider context. “We realised that a teacher’s role isn’t just about imparting knowledge but also about helping students open up to the world and respect its diversity,” explains Sára.
The project provided us with not only professional development but also many new connections that we will benefit from in our future careers. “TEFE A+ showed me how important it is to integrate different cultures into education,” states Andrea. “Moreover, the project allowed us to reflect on our own culture and understand it better within an international context,” adds Adéla.
For all of us, the TEFE A+ BIP02 project was not only an educational experience but also personally enriching. We are confident that what we have learned will be invaluable in our future work as teachers, helping us to foster a more open and tolerant approach towards different cultures.
