Module 1: Comparative Studies

The module about ‘Comparative Studies’ was for me one of the most interesting ones. We learned a lot about the different school systems all over Europe. It was very interesting to hear about other countries and in which way they are teaching.

First of all, there were the differences between the organizations of the school. In some of the countries, you don’t have a real difference between primary and secondary school like we have in Belgium. In Belgium you have: primary school from 6 to 12 years old and then they go to secondary school from 12 until 18 years old. In Secondary school, they have to choose a direction in which they want to ‘specialize’ in a certain way. Or they’ll study a ‘general’ direction, that one prepares you for most of the different studies in High School or University. But even then, you can choose between: languages, human studies, mathematics, science or Latin. There are also some directions which prepare you for a job. So after you finish Secondary school at the age of 18, you can immediately go to work.
In other countries, like for example in the Czech Republic and Spain, they have a school, a kind of ‘college’ from 6 to 16 years old. So there is only a ‘general’ direction which prepares you for a further education or a job.

I found it really very interesting to learn about it. And I think it’s great to have a lot of nationalities in our Erasmusgroup, so we can learn not only about the school and education system in Denmark, but also about how it works in other countries all over Europe !

I was really looking forward to the lessons about Danish literature and storytellers. But in fact I was a little disappointed concerning these lessons. I really expected some more information about them and their stories. Not just a movie about their life. Even though it was very interesting to watch ! But I would have prefer some more information about their stories and about the literature of Denmark and that we could see the movie about their life at home or later on the day, just as an option. I really would have stayed longer to watch the movies about their life. But it was quite okay. I just expected more of the lessons. But finally it was still quite good. Because I learned a lot about H.C. Anderson and his life ! I really did !