Are you thinking about doing an Erasmus + project abroad? If the answer is "yes" – great but nothing is more important than good preparation. In this article we explain how best to prepare your pupils for an Erasmus+ placement. In our opinion, school preparation for an Erasmus+ placement is basically divided into three main areas:
Language Training
In order to get a traineeship place at all, a Europass-CV must be drawn up in English (note, the minimum level is B1). It is best if this is addressed by English teachers in their English classes. Students should submit their drafts to the English teachers so that any corrections can be made if necessary. It is also beneficial in class to draft a speculative application in English and to simulate a job interview in English too. As well as English lessons, it is a good idea for pupils to take part in career and study orientation. In doing so, they can also prepare application documents for apprenticeships and conduct job interviews with personnel managers. Another benefit is that vocabulary lists cam be drawn up in preparation for the work placements, making it easier for the pupils to get used to their work on-site, especially at their future workplaces.
Task-Based Training
Pupils should get to know their internship company in the respective sector. So, they should create a profile of the company in advance perhaps by obtaining information from the Internet. This is to ensure that participants think in advance about what might be expected of them and which expressions and vocabulary they should have at hand to express themselves well. This is why the vocabulary list mentioned in point 1 should also be drawn up.
Intercultural Training
The world of work in one country is culturally shaped, and what is appropriate in one country is far from appropriate in another. In order to avoid mistakes, it is good to have preparatory meetings with external experts who either come from the target destinations where the Erasmus+ trainees are going or have lived there for a long time. The intention here is to have teachers participate in these events so also they benefit for their own future teaching. Depending on the results of these preparatory meetings, the vocabulary lists should be supplemented and revised once again.
If you want to learn more about how to apply for an Erasmus + project and what is required for developing an Erasmus + mobility project, read our guide for Erasmus+ Funding Applicants or our Handbook for Erasmus+ Project Management and Execution. Or contact one of our TravelEdventures Experts.
In the UK a new program has been developed in order to enable students funding for their internship abroad, it is called Turing Scheme and offers equal conditions like the well-known Erasmus+ program. If you want to find out more about the differences of the new Turing program, read our blog Erasmus+ vs. Turing.
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