Teaching across borders
What is it like to teach at an international school, surrounded by different languages, cultures and educational traditions? The World Teachers Programme (WTP), a profile within the teacher training programme at ICLON Leiden University, offers students the opportunity to experience this.
The bilingual profile prepares future teachers for a career at international and bilingual secondary schools. In addition to an internship at a bilingual or international school in the Netherlands, students have the option of doing a few weeks' internship abroad.
Curaçao: preparing classes on the beach
Charlotte van Beek: ‘In 2022, I studied at ICLON to become a biology teacher and I chose to participate in the WTP. For my international internship, I went to Curaçao with a classmate (and friend). We taught at a bilingual havo/vwo school. Since the island is part of the Dutch Antilles, the school system there is identical to the one in the Netherlands. However, it was the first time I taught my lessons using a blackboard and chalk! So even though the school had the same levels and final exams, it was incredibly different in many ways. This made me realise how much luxury students in the Netherlands (mainland) experience.
During our internship, school days started early. This meant we finished around 2PM and could prepare our next lessons on the beach! We thoroughly enjoyed island life while we were there. We celebrated King’s Day in the streets of Willemstad. Much better than any King’s Day I’ve experienced in the Netherlands!
The WTP broadens your perspective on education. I truly believe it makes you a better teacher, especially in today’s society. On top of that, I wouldn’t have wanted to miss the adventure I described above. It was awesome.
I’m still enjoying a career in education. I love my job, even though it’s hard work. If you have a passion for education, enjoy helping and supporting teenagers and want to make a positive impact on the world, become a teacher! We need more (good) teachers!'
Leipzig: from internship to new home base
Malou den Dekker’s international internship took her to the Leipzig International School (LIS) in Germany for two weeks. This school, without her knowing it at the time, would become her home for the next three years.
‘I followed the Teacher Education Programme and the WTP programme at ICLON to become a Social Studies teacher and I loved it. I was looking forward to going abroad, though I initially worried that two weeks would be too short to really get a sense of a school. Upon arrival in Leipzig, however, I was quickly immersed in school life: I taught a wide range of classes (from Grade 6 Individuals & Societies to Grade 12 Geography) and was welcomed into department meetings.
One seemingly small difference with the school I had been teaching at – the fact that every lesson lasted at least 75 minutes – felt daunting at first. The benefits of this schedule quickly became clear to me, and I found it deeply rewarding to explore how much was possible in a longer lesson. I also appreciated the curriculum’s flexibility, particularly in secondary school, where there was a lot of scope to develop our own guiding questions and learning goals.
What stood out most in those two weeks was a collaborative planning meeting with the Individuals & Societies team. The department was developing a new cross-disciplinary unit on empire. I loved watching the concept-based teaching we had been taught at ICLON in Vakdidactiek come to life. There were discussions on the meaning of the concept and how students could approach it from multiple perspectives. With my broad academic background, this interdisciplinary approach suited me well.
At the time, I had no intention of leaving the Netherlands after completing WTP. But when an opening at LIS came up for the following school year, I couldn’t resist applying. I feel incredibly fortunate to have taught there for three years, during which I grew immensely as an educator. All in all, I could not recommend WTP enough, and believe the programme is an incredibly worthwhile extension of the regular teaching programme at ICLON.’
Want to know more?
Interested in the WTP or one of ICLON's teacher training programmes? Visit our website or contact us.