Speaking to students majoring in Secondary School Teacher Training in Physical Education, Eliana Good, Katherine O’Neil a Ashlynn Burrows introduced themselves through a theoretical lecture.
In it, they focused on the differences between elementary and secondary schools in the United States and the Czech Republic and spoke about opportunities offered through the Fulbright scholarship programme. They also explained why they had chosen the Czech Republic to gain teaching experience. “I had a course in history where I learned about the Czech Republic for the very first time, and it basically directed me here,” Katherine explains. Eliana chose the Czech Republic based on a friend’s experience, and Ashlynn simply wished to spend some part of her life abroad.
All three teach at schools in the Pardubice Region – in Litomyšl, Vysoké Mýto and Pardubice respectively. “The system of examinations at Czech secondary schools is very stressful, with respect to testing and grading in front of the entire class. In the U.S. only the student is told what grade they got, nobody else,” Eliana noted in a debate with students on her experience with teaching at a Czech school. Among the things the lecturers found interesting is the difference between the senior year in the U.S. and the Czech Republic, and the different grading systems. They also appreciated tips on how to make lessons more interesting.
Immediately following the theoretical part were practical workshops focused on the sports the lecturers participated in during their studies: squash, basketball and ROTC exercise (Reserve Officer Training Corps). Being a former captain of a squash team, Eliana prepared a drill on quick changes of direction, reaction speed improvement and movement in limited space. Ashlynn, a former basketball team member, presented a series of drills on individual skills, namely precision, dribbling and ball defence.
Katherine had prepared a 25-minute series of exercises that the students had to complete and took part in a lesson for students of the programme Special Education of Security Bodies. After the first part consisting in a lecture and a series of drills focused on fitness and cooperation, the second part was prepared by Vice-Dean for Studies and Associate Professor of the Department of Physical Education and Social Studies Zdenko Reguli. His self-defence lesson in English allowed the lecturers to take part as students.
During their day at the faculty the Fulbright scholars met with Vice-Dean for External Relations and Internationalisation Michal Kumstát, discussing their experience with teaching in the Czech Republic and the opportunities for internationalisation within their own studies in the U.S., which were almost non-existent. “They visited our students as part of the Internacionalizace doma initiative. It is a concept that emphasises activities allowing students and academic staff to gain international experience at the faculty, without the need to study or teach abroad. Based on the interaction and our students’ immediate feedback we can say that their visit was very fruitful,” Kumstát says, adding that he extended his thanks to the Fulbright Czech Republic programme and the lecturers themselves for their time and energy.