The final month 01/02-29/02/2020
This was the final month of my EVS stage in Romania.
The fact that I had created so many new interactive ESL lessons, and non-formal activities that I haven't yet applied in schools and the kindergartens where I was working as a volunteer, gave me a reason to focus more on the voluntary work.
Also, knowing that I am near the end of a project that is once in a lifetime experience, gave me the aspiration to implement the already mentioned lessons and activities as much as possible.
In the end, I am very satisfied and happy with my performance and the positive feedback that I've got from the children and teachers.
The EVS
The Erasmus+ program gave me the chance to travel and visit many places in Romania, experience its unique culture, meet local life, and make unforgettable happy moments.
This one of a kind experience contributed to great social cohesion with many volunteers from all around Europe and Asia and enhanced my social, professional and intercultural competencies.
The following description of learning outcomes is a reflection related to the key competencies for life long learning recommended by the European Parlament and the Council in December 2006.
Communication in a foreign language
The English language was used in daily communication and interaction with locals and other volunteers in the living and working environment.
This resulted in:
- Gaining more fluency.
- Developing more varied and complex vocabulary.
- Ability to communicate more clearly and concisely.
- Ability to retrieve words from memory more rapidly.
- Expressing and interpreting more abstract concepts.
- Writing clearer and more coherent.
Mathematical competence and basic competence in science and technology
- Logistical thinking.
- Adapting ideas into new situations.
- Managing budget (shopping, comparing prices, calculation in foreign currency).
- Planning travel (counting distances, calculating time, prices for traveling).
- Argumentation ( logical arguments, critical thinking).
- Awareness of relations of nature and technology ( pollution, sustainable development).
Digital competence
- More effective search for information related to projects and project-related activities.
- Ability to find, use, share information.
- Digital navigation.
- Creating and managing blogs.
LEARN TO LEARN
- Creating own hypothesis, methods, and techniques, and putting them into practice.
- Adapting methods and techniques from various sources and literature.
- Interactive methods were used such as ''The natural approach'.'
- Working in a team.
Social and civic competence
- Intercultural sensitivity.
- Ability to communicate with others, understanding and respecting different points of view (non-violent communication).
- Ability to build empathy towards others.
- Ability to remain calm and solve arguments that sprang from misunderstanding and prejudice.
- Being able to express my own point of view confidently and clearly.
- Being exposed to situations that helped overcome stereotypes and prejudices.
- Respecting values of equality and privacy.
Sense of initiative and entrepreneurship
- Creative non-formal English lesson construction
- Complex planning and construction
- Experimenting with different teaching methods and techniques
- Ability to turn ideas into actions
- Responsibility and Flexibility
Cultural awareness and expression
- Discovering new cultures.
- Active involvement in cultural youth projects: Youth Roma social forum - So Keres Europa forum, Dikh He Na Bister( Roma genocide remembrance).
- Being involved in intercultural workshops, debates, role-plays, simulations and outdoor activities.
- Expressing ideas and emotions through art ( drawing, painting, guitar playing).
- Dealing with ambiguity.
Other specific skills
· ESL teaching.
Volunteer's tasks
· 'Semenic' Kindergarten in Resita (this unit has legal personality) and Kindergarten no. 8 in Resita
Involvement in non-formal activities, helping children in developing cognitive and affective abilities and during interactive classes, helping children communicate in English.
- Inclusive Education School Center ''Primavara'' in Resita
- for disabled children
- in the ADL (activities of daily living) of the children.
- Gymnasium School no.2 from Resita
- after school activities conducted in English
- Hope Center in Resita, Center for Elderly people in Resita, Traian Lalescu, Special school in Bocsa
- activities
Training activities
· On arrival and midterm evaluation EVS training.
