On November 7th, 2023 we had the opportunity to interview Cristina, Caterina and Susanna, three magic Erasmus students who are currently studying in Prague 1 (Alšovo nábřeží 6).
Their Secondary Technical School implies a four-year-full-time study programme. After the Secondary School Leaving Exam (Maturita), they will be qualified to apply for studies at institutions of a tertiary level of education. Next year, Cristina, Caterina and Susanna really hope to enter the Higher Technical School which provides a three-year-full-time study programme after the successful completion of which a Specialist Diploma for Dental Technicians is always conferred. At the same time, they will be able to start an obligatory internship, contracted with healthcare institutions in Prague or in other places throughout the Czech Republic.
The following text represents a relevant extract of the interview we realized during a Twenty- Minute break on November 7 th. It is followed by a short second text written by one of our Special 5B Ed. Teachers, Erika Amatulli. It is focused on the specific Methodology applied during the lessons planned and implemented when Cristina, Caterina and Susanna joined our class 5BOD during the first weeks of November.
Dmytro: Can you tell me something about you?
Cristina: So, ok, my name is Cristina. I’m nineteen years old and I’m studying at Secondary Technical School in Prague.
Dmytro: Can you tell me something about your Erasmus Experience in Milan?
Cristina: Ok..I really love the atmosphere here, in Milan, and I’m excited to learn new techniques here and new things.
Dmytro: Why did you choose our School?
Cristina: Because our School and this School cooperate, I think, for this reason we chose this School.
Dmytro (looking at Cristina, Caterina and Suzana): Are you friends? Erika: Did you know each other before?
Cristina: Yes of course, we’re friends, we are in the same class. We know each other really well.
Dmytro: Did you visit Milan?
Cristina: Yes! We did. We visited Duomo and saw all the monuments there. It’s really pretty here.
Dmytro: Which is your main impression?
Erika: Yeah, according to you, which are the positive aspects or negative aspects of Milan?
Cristina (laughing): Only positive aspects.. everybody here is so nice, so friendly, everybody tries to help us. So.. I like staying here. Erika: Thank you Cristina!
Antonio: According to you, which are the main differences between our Italian School and your School?
Cristina: Let me think… Maybe, we have more hours in labs per week. We also have a Higher School of Dental Technicians. You don’t have it here, I think.
Antonio: Are our subjects similar to your subjects? And what about the organization of the classes and laboratories?
Cristina: I think it’s quite the same in our country. I think that people here are crazier and more energetic than people in our country (laughing). Everybody is so silent there…
Erika (laughing): yeah it’s true, here people tend to be quite extroverted…outgoing..
Cristina (laughing): yeah, very extroverted..
Erika: and…yesterday you said that, every week, you spend more hours in your labs.., is it true?
Cristina: yes, we have 15 hours per week ..so.. yeah.. It’s more practical.
Antonio: Can you identify a positive aspect or a negative aspect of this Erasmus experience?
Cristina: I think it’s great to have the opportunity to explore a new city, try to speak in English all the time.
Erika (laughing): You have courage, wonderful ..!
Cristina: As I said, it’s also positive to have the opportunity to learn new techniques.
Erika: I understand.. and a negative aspect or a difficult one? Of course, the language… because you need to switch in English all the time, other negative or difficult aspects according to you?
Cristina: Using trams.. it’s very difficult for us.. they don’t show the stops, so, most of the times we don’t know where our correct stop is.
Erika (laughing): yeah, you’re right!, It’s true and awful.
Cristina: Of course, we don’t know the city very well so it’s extremely difficult for us.
Antonio: In your hometown, how does the public transport work?
Cristina: I think it’s quite similar, we have trams, metro, but it works better than here. Trams tell you and write every stop.
Antonio: Ok.. and now…the last few questions…did you have any expectations when you decided to apply for this Erasmus Experience?
Cristina: I think it’s better not to have any expectations.. in this way, everything becomes a surprise (laughing)
Dmytro: Which is your favourite subject?
Cristina: My favourite subject in Prague School is Stomatology. We have a really good teacher so I like this subject and then probably Prosthetic Technology. Of course, we have also Science of Materials, through which we learn everything about the materials we use. It’s similar to your subject.. and then I like the practical part of our lessons.. going to the lab..
Dmytro: What about your next steps? Your dreams? Do you want to become a Dental Technician?
Cristina: Yeah, of course.. I want to enter our Higher School in Prague and I want to become a Dental Technician. Antonio: Is there a test to enter this new School? Which is the structure of this test?
Cristina: Yeah, we have like…an entrance exam. It has a practical part and then there is also theory.. but I’m not sure about it.
Antonio: Also in our case, if we want to go on studying at University we have to do a very difficult test…and finally.. would you like to learn Italian?
Cristina (Laughing): Yes of course! And we have already learnt a few words in Italian!
Erika: Wonderful, Thank you Cristina!
After a few seconds, Dmytro and Antonio start to interview Caterina
Dmytro: Can you tell me something about you?
Caterina: yes, of course…My name is Katerina, Caterina in Italian, I’m eighteen years old, I’m studying at Secondary Technical School in Prague, which is in Czech Republic.
Antonio: Can you tell me something about your Erasmus Experience in Milan?
Caterina: Well..I was really excited about this Erasmus experience. I was surprised...Everything is really good here.. Antonio: According to you, which are the main differences between your School and our School?
Caterina: Well.. There are a lot of boys here, in our class, there is just one boy in a class full of girls. Also, this School seems to be more technical, while our School seems to be more medical.
Antonio: Can you explain this specific aspect? Why are you saying that?
Caterina: Because in your school there are also students who want to become auto-mechanics, while in our School we can study only medical subjects…like Chemistry or Optics.
Antonio: It’s a good thing..I think..
Caterina: Yeah
Antonio: Can you identify a positive aspect and a negative aspect of your Erasmus Experience?
Caterina: Well.. I can identify only positive aspects. Italian students are so energetic and here you have also a very cheap coffee (laughing)! In Prague we should pay at least 3 euros just for a single espresso!!
Antonio: That’s crazy!
Caterina: yeah
Antonio: And now the last two questions: which is your favourite subject at School?
Caterina: Probably Stomatology
Antonio: Yeah, it’s normal… Do you want to become a Dental Technician?
Caterina: Yes, of course.
Antonio: Do you have any expectations when you decided to apply for this Erasmus Experience?
Caterina: Yes, I wanted to meet other students, to discover a different culture and I think I succeeded! Everything is interesting here, I like it.
Antonio: Would you like to visit Milan again in the future? Or maybe other Italian Cities? Caterina: Yes, of course, maybe Rome.
Antonio: or Naples in the South (laughing)
Caterina: Yeah
Erika: Ok, Thank you Caterina.
After a few seconds, Dmytro and Antonio start to interview Susanna.
Dmytro: Can you tell me something about you?
Susanna: My name is Susanna and I’m eighteen years old, I’m studying to become a Dental Technician in Prague.
Antonio: How many people live in Prague?
Susanna: Ehm.. about 1,3 million people.
Antonio: It’s a big city..
Susanna: yes, it’s the capital city of Czech Republic. Dmytro: Can you tell me something about your Erasmus Experience in Milan? Susanna: Well.. I am really enjoying it! Milan is a beautiful city, we were able to see all the monuments and visit the most famous places in the City Centre. I really liked them. There were so many people in Duomo.
Erika: yeah, it’s always crazy.. frantic..
Antonio: Can you identify any differences between your School System and our School System?
Susanna: I don’t know if it’s a positive or a negative aspect.. but we normally study for four years, while you study for five years.
Antonio: and, every day, you spend more time at School. Erika: it’s correct, isn’it?
Susanna: Yeah, it’s correct. On Monday we study until 7. o’clock p.m.
Erika: and during the other days of the week?
Susanna: it depends…but we sometimes start our lessons at 7.00 o’ clock a.m.
Erika: wow, well, we always start at 8 o’clock and we finish, In general, at 2.30 p.m (Looking Dmytro and Antonio), they study here in the afternoon only on Tuesday, when they finish at 4.00 p.m.
Antonio: and at home, in the afternoon, when your lessons finish, do you work or study?
Susanna: We usually have to study.
Erika: It’s difficult, well, but you are so determined…
Antonio: Yeah, do you know the structure of the entrance test you will have to do after your Maturita?
Susanna: Do you want to study in Prague?
Erika: yeah, Antonio is so interested in this aspect! I don’t know why (laughing).
Antonio: yeah
Erika: in this test, there is a practical part, but there is also a lot of theory, a lot of subjects, the subjects of Maturita, and, of course, English!
Antonio: so your test is similar to our test.. Erika: and is the language used in your test your language?
Susanna: yes!
Professor Ciliberti arrives and she takes a chair
Antonio: Can you identify a positive aspect and a negative aspect of this experience?
Susanna: I think that my two friends have already said everything.
Erika: ok.. so they cover all the aspects.
Susanna: yeah
Antonio: Which is your favourite subject at school?
Susanna: I like English and Stomatology.
Antonio (talking to Professor Ciliberti): Prof..all of them answered that they love Stomatology.
Professor Ciliberti: Yes, because in their school they don’t teach Gnatology, only Stomatology and Science of Materials.
Antonio (talking to Professor Ciliberti and switching in Italian): sarebbe a dire prof?
Professor Ciliberti: In quarta noi facciamo l’apparato stomatognatico (tutta la parte anatomica e fisiologica), but Stomatology does not include Biomechanics. On the other hand, Gnatology includes Biomechanics and there is also a clinical part.
Antonio (talking to Professor Ciliberti and switching in Italian): ma quindi noi facciamo tutte e due insieme…
Susanna: and we also study other subjects…like Chemistry, Biology, Microbiology, Anatomy, Physiology and other medical subjects.
Antonio: bello, ci sta! and now.., considering your future, which are your dreams?
Susanna: I hope to study abroad, in a different country. I would like to study in the field of dentistry in the future and have a job in this field. Erika: wow..also Antonio hopes to become a dentist…maybe… Antonio: It’s true!
Erika: Well Cristina, Caterina and Susanna, thank you so much for your time and patience. On Monday, during the lesson “Science of Materials” we will show you the transcription of this Interview in order to obtain your consent and, in the lab, we will consider our second CLIL Module focused on ICT, just an introduction, after the first CLIL module focused on Dental Resins.
Cristina (smiling): perfect!! See you on Monday.
Susanna and Caterina: Thank you!! See you on Monday