{"id":86,"date":"2024-06-06T18:23:24","date_gmt":"2024-06-06T18:23:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/educationinternational.pxl.be\/?page_id=86"},"modified":"2025-10-15T16:42:01","modified_gmt":"2025-10-15T16:42:01","slug":"86-2","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/educationinternational.pxl.be\/?page_id=86","title":{"rendered":"Traineeship information (videos + documents)"},"content":{"rendered":"

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TRAINEESHIP INFORMATION -VIDEOS AND DOCUMENTS<\/strong><\/h1>\n

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You applied for a traineeship in a Flemish\/Belgian school. Great!\u00a0 Surely, you have some questions. Here are at least some of the answers.<\/p>\n

Over the two decades, the number of residents with a migration background in Belgium has increased from just over two to over four million. Presently, one in every three Belgians either has a migration background themselves or through their parents (Noppe, et al., 2018; STATBEL, 2024). The most diverse municipalities are in Brussels and its outskirts, the mining region in Limburg, and larger cities such as Antwerp and Ghent (De Smet, 2024).<\/p>\n

What to expect from an internship in Belgium?<\/p>\n

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You will do a traineeship in a school for pre-primary (2,5-5y), primary (6-12y) or secondary (13-18y) education.<\/p>\n

If possible, you will do your traineeship in a \u2018fixed period\u2019 or pre-planned weeks. We try to avoid overlap with lessons at PXL. You will be present at your traineeship school at all the agreed moments.<\/p>\n

\u00a0– schooldays are from Monday to Friday, each school has specific hours but usually school starts between 8AM and 9AM and ends between 3PM and 4PM. On Wednesday, school ends around 12 \u2018o clock and children will return home or join an after-school programme;<\/p>\n

– you arrive well on time, meaning at least 20 minutes before the start of the classes;<\/p>\n

– if you are unable to go to your traineeship on a certain day due to illness, please contact your mentor (class teacher) AND the coordinator for the traineeship at PXL immediately. You will make up for the missed day at another time in agreement with your mentor and the PXL traineeship coordinator.<\/p>\n

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Pre-primary<\/p>\n

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If you do a traineeship in pre-primary<\/u> education, you should know\u2026<\/p>\n

In Belgium, pre-primary education is for children aged 2.5 to 5 years old. Focus is on playful learning. There is usually one main teacher. All activities are in Dutch.The pupils do not speak English. They do not receive lessons in English. However, many pupils understand some basic English words through the videos they watch and the songs they sing.<\/p>\n

During your traineeship, you will communicate with the pupils using some basic Dutch words, but mostly through other ways of communication using gestures and facial expressions. Usually, these young children are very curious and they will want to include you in their activities or games.<\/p>\n

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Primary<\/p>\n

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If you do a traineeship in primary<\/u> education, you should know\u2026<\/p>\n

\u00a0In Belgium, primary refers to the age group of 6- to 12-year-olds.<\/p>\n

There is usually one main teacher. Most activities are in Dutch, some are in French -especially for older children-, since French is the second language at the schools.<\/p>\n

The pupils do not receive lessons in English. The younger pupils have none or a very basic knowledge of English. The older pupils usually do understand basic English and are able to express themselves in a simple way.<\/p>\n

During your traineeship, you can communicate in English, but you will always have to support this with other ways of communication using gestures and facial expressions.<\/p>\n

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Secondary<\/p>\n

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If you do a traineeship in secondary<\/u> education, you should know\u2026<\/p>\n

\u00a0In Belgium, secondary refers to the age group of 13- to 18-year-olds. You will do your traineeship with pupils aged between 13 and 16.<\/p>\n

There is a teacher per specific course. One of these courses is English.<\/p>\n

The pupils understand and speak English quite well, although specific jargon is not always known. You can communicate in English with them.<\/p>\n

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BEFORE you start your traineeship, you will set clear objectives for yourself to attain during your traineeship. These objectives should reflect how you expect to grow during this international intercultural traineeship both as a professional and as a person. This will also be explained during the course \u201cThe Internationalist\u201d and you will design a blog post on your objectives. Please use insights from the Global Mind Monitor questionnaire and the Streetwise model to explain SMART-wise all objectives.<\/p>\n

In other words, it should be very clear how you think your traineeship will fit into your professional and intercultural learning process and in your personal growth.<\/p>\n

You discuss your objectives with your mentor and you share these objectives with the PXL traineeship coordinator. During your traineeship your objectives can be adjusted and your focus can be changed.<\/p>\n

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You will visit your school and meet your mentor before the start of your traineeship. This way, you can explore how to get to the school, make some first arrangements, discuss your objectives for the traineeship and ask your first questions. For this visit, you can rely on your PXL-buddy to accompany you.<\/p>\n

Be sure to swing by the principal\u2019s office to introduce yourself as well. This is much appreciated and a sign of respect in our (school) culture.<\/p>\n

The traineeship school will usually be located in or near Hasselt or occasionally in another nearby city. All locations are accessible by students (on foot, by bike, by bus or by train). Do not forget, you can always ask your buddy for advice. <\/span><\/p>\n

This plan<\/a><\/span>\u00a0<\/a>can help you in finding an appropriate way to reach your traineeship school if it is located near Hasselt.<\/span><\/p>\n

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You will have one contact person at the school. This is your mentor. But this does not mean you are bound to the mentor\u2019s class for the whole of the traineeship. Often, it is preferable you make yourself useful in several grades or classes.<\/p>\n

In other words, you do not necessarily need to be in the mentor\u2019s class during every traineeship day. If you are more useful in another grade in the school, please take this opportunity.<\/p>\n

This way, you learn even more about the school as a whole and possible different approaches in several classes. It also enables you to actively participate in the school.<\/p>\n

\u00a0You will assist your mentor and his or her colleagues in their activities and classes as much as possible. We expect a full commitment and an active role that can be operationalised by asking questions (e.g.: can I help in preparing the classroom or can I assist in supervising playground activities during lunch break?).<\/p>\n

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During your traineeship, you will start by exploring the school and its ways by observing for a couple of days. Try to learn as much as possible about the school, the class and the pupils.<\/p>\n

Be sure not just to sit in the back and watch.<\/p>\n

– Take initiative and ask questions on the school culture and class. Show your interest!<\/p>\n

– Walk around when pupils are working, watch their working attitude, analyse the group dynamics, analyse made exercises (f.e. for mathematics), learn the class management techniques used by the teachers, \u2026<\/p>\n

The rest of the traineeship, you are actively involved in the teaching as an assistant teacher or as a main teacher. You join as many activities as possible (keep in mind you can switch classes). We expect a full commitment.<\/p>\n

You will make clear agreements on the tasks you will take on at the school. But do not forget to take the initiative yourself to enrich your experience.<\/p>\n

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If you design an activity for the pupils, ask feedback on your preparation well in advance from your mentor or the PXL traineeship coordinator. Do this is a face-to-face contact.<\/p>\n

The pupils will regard you as a teacher (not as \u2018just an intern\u2019). This means you respect the class agreements yourself AND you make sure children follow them. If class management is new to you, please discuss this with your mentor.<\/p>\n

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novice<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n

If you do a traineeship at a novice level, you will teach a minimum of 2 different activities as the main teacher, meaning you take the lead. We encourage you to do more activities to attain your objectives and to strengthen your experience, but always in close consultation with your mentor.<\/p>\n

\u00a0We keep expecting a full commitment. So, keep an open communication with your mentor and be sure to keep asking if other \/ more activities are wanted. Focus on your active role as a future teacher.<\/p>\n

\u00a0intermediate or advanced<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n

If you do a traineeship on an intermediate or advanced level, you will teach a minimum of 4 different activities as the main teacher. We encourage you to do more activities to attain your objectives and to strengthen your experience, but always in close consultation with your mentor.<\/p>\n

\u00a0We keep expecting a full commitment. So, keep an open communication with your mentor and be sure to keep asking if other \/ more activities are wanted.<\/p>\n

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Tips & tricks for the traineeship<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Give a culture lesson on how your daily live is in your home country, what is very similar to Belgium and what is a bit different. Use your insights from \u2018the COIL project: Culture Exchange and Art production\u2019 used in The Internationalist. Be aware of stereotypes and cultural bias, therefore use the clip on Visual culture on Blackboard (course The Internationalist).<\/p>\n

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–\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0Most Belgian children from the age of 10 understand some English – use language strategies to communicate with young children e.g. use pictures, drawing, mimic, use materials, talk slowly, articulate well\u2026<\/p>\n

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– \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Give language initiation lessons in your native language \/ English (only if you attain a high-level English). This can be in the class group assigned to you or in other class groups in the school (from pre-primary to 3rd grade of primary school OR every grade of secondary school). Be sure to talk in your native language during the whole<\/u> lesson, choose some target words children will learn (e.g. colours or feelings or \u2026), make sure the pupils use these target words abundantly in an active way (game, exercise\u2026). Use gestures, body language, materials and pictures to help the pupils in understanding your instructions.<\/p>\n

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– \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Observe some lessons for a specific subject (math, language, science\u2026) and compare with the subject lessons in your home country. Discuss the similarities and differences with your mentor.<\/p>\n

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– \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Ask for direct feedback of your mentor on a daily basis, both on your performance as on your attitude to prevent misunderstandings. Something that is perfectly normal to you, could be offensive for a teacher and vice versa.<\/p>\n

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– Don\u2019t hesitate to consult your buddy, he or she is also a future teacher and has more teaching experience within Flemish schools and can help you out with questions regarding the school culture or school organisation.<\/p>\n

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If you need access to digital manuals or workbooks for pupils for your traineeship, this is possible. Please ask your buddy, to help you to find your way to these materials.\u00a0<\/p>\n

In the rare case the general way to access these materials would not work for you, please contact a personal member of the library on campus Vildersstraat.<\/p>\n

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We cannot stress this enough! <\/strong><\/p>\n