EURO-QUEST A GUIDE TO STUDYING IN EUROPE Education Mobility Programme - Workbook for Transition Year Students Student name: © National Centre for Guidance in Education 2018 This ‘Euro-Quest’ Education Mobility Workbook for Transition Year students has been developed by NCGE/Euroguidance Ireland to accompany the ‘Euro-Quest’ online resource. To access the online resource go to: https://www.euroguidance.ie/schools/euro-quest The purpose of Euro-Quest is to promote the educational mobility of Irish students across Europe, with the aim of encouraging you to consider choosing to - o do part or all of your future study in a European college / university o complete part or all of an apprenticeship in another European country It is in four modules and can be delivered by your Guidance Counsellor,in collaboration with your TY Coordinator, or with a team of teachers who work together using ‘Europe’ as a theme. If you have any questions as you go through this programme please ask your Guidance Counsellor / teacher. You can also choose to follow NCGE/Euroguidance Ireland on Facebook and Instagram and you can log onto the Euroguidance Ireland website for more information - www.euroguidance.ie @euroguidanceireland @euroguidance BEST OF LUCK Contents Welcome ! Using the Online resource with the workbook Module One – An Overview of Europe 1 1.1. Europe and the European Union 3 1.2. The European Flag 4 1.3. The Map of Europe 6 9 1.4. European Citizenship 13 Module Two – Why Study in Europe? 15 2.1 Why study abroad? 16 2.2 Erasmus+ Programme 17 2.3 Financial supports for studying abroad 19 2.4 Follow Claire and Seán's journeys 20 2.5 Where are they now? 21 2.6 Take your temperature 23 2.7 Europe is open to you! 27 Module Three – Living in Europe 3.1 Cultural challenges 29 3.2 Tips for studying abroad 34 3.3 Words of wisdom from experienced travellers 35 3.4 Language learning 37 3.5 Practicalities 39 Module Four – Where would you like to go? 41 4.1 Discovering your interests 43 4.2 Careers Interest Assessment 44 4.3 Reflecting on your Interest Assessment 45 4.4 Researching course options in Europe 49 4.5 Researching a European country 53 4.6 Presenting your findings 56 4.7 Further resources 61 Welcome! Welcome to Euro-Quest, an online resource designed to help you: Explore The relevance of the European Union for you Options for studying in Europe, including Erasmus+ programmes Countries of potential interest Preparation required for study abroad - preparing to live in another culture, dealing with homesickness, making new friends abroad, dealing with practical aspects of preparation (visas, insurance, emergency numbers etc.) Options for study in Europe in your chosen career area Choose Courses of interest in Europe in your chosen career field A possible destination for study abroad Whether or not you believe studying abroad is the right option for you Go! As you go on through the senior cycle, you may decide that you would like to study abroad for part or your entire course. If this is the case: - Why not go on a short study exchange with students from a partner school in Europe? - Why not do a language course abroad or volunteer abroad during the summer? - Why not choose a course in an Irish university with the option of spending time in a European university? - Why not choose to do a full degree, apprenticeship or post-graduate degree in Europe? All of the above are possible! Using the online resource with the workbook and workbook The online Euro-Quest modules are combined with this workbook, which can be printed and completed by you. The workbook exercises are designed to help you to reflect on the information in the online modules and to develop the skills you need to research your educational mobility options. Your Guidance Counsellor/teacher will help you on your way through the different modules. The four modules are designed to help you to answer the question: Is studying abroad for me? Module One – An Overview of Europe Module Two – Why Study in Europe? Module Three – Living in Europe Module Four – Where would you like to go? https://www.euroguidance.ie/schools/euro-quest We hope you enjoy participating in Euro-Quest Module One An Overview of Europe 1 Module One - An Overview of Europe and workbook In this module, you will: gain an overview of the European Union understand citizenship of the European Union understand the rights, as EU citizens, to live, work, study and travel in any EU member state gain an overview of the benefits of studying abroad including personal development, language learning, and the benefit to future career opportunities when participating in a period of time living/studying abroad complete the workbook exercises and online quizzes to test your knowledge and consolidate your learning participate in brainstorming activities and small group discussions in relation to the diversity of European culture reflect on Ireland’s own specific cultural identity/identities Did you know…..That educational mobility is becoming more frequent across Europe, where students are spending an increasing part of their study time abroad? Euroguidance Ireland, based within NCGE, helps guidance counsellors and individuals to understand the educational opportunities available to European citizens throughout Europe. 2 1.1 Europe and the European Union workbook 1. What does the word ‘European’ mean to you? Brainstorm your ideas as a class or work in small groups to answer this question. 2. As you listen to the animation History of EU Formation, list what you consider to be the five most important historical facts about the European Union. 3 1.2 The European Flag 3. View the video on the European flag and list the ideals of the European Union represented by the circle of 12 golden stars. 4. ‘In varietate concordia’ (in English – ‘united in diversity’) is the official motto of the European Union adopted in 2000. Explain in your own words what you think this motto means. Use the link below for further information if you wish: https://europa.eu/european-union/about-eu/eu-in-brief_en 4 Further optional exercises Can you find images of the European Union flag in your local community or region and explain why they are there? Hint: The European flag is often used to represent projects which are funded by the European Union. Search for projects funded by the European Union in your local community (e.g. your school, sports centre, community centre, youth club). Write an article for a newspaper or an online journal about the importance of the European flag. Research the history of flags and how the European Union flag came into existence and write a report on it. (You could present this online or do a display poster). Write a short story with some connection to the European flag. Have a class debate about some or all of these topics: o the cultural and political relevance of the European flag o the most important historical facts about the European Union o the future of the European Union o what being European means to you 5 1.3 The Map of Europe 5. List as many EU countries as you can on the next page. When you have written as many countries as you can remember, check the Euro-Quest online programme for your answers. The answers are behind each green suitcase on the online map. 6 The Map of Europe List the European countries below. 1 15 2 16 3 17 4 18 5 19 6 20 7 21 8 22 9 23 10 24 11 25 12 26 13 27 14 28 The answers are on the next page or on the online map. Don’t check too soon! 7 Further optional exercises This exercise could be extended to include the capital cities as well and a quiz on capital cities could be done orally in the class or a memory speed competition done in teams You could take this opportunity to revise your geographical or historical knowledge of Europe in your Geography or History class You could aim to identify the number of languages spoken in each country in class or for homework In Maths or Economics class, you might look at population statistics or education statistics or the labour market statistics in Europe and record them in charts or graphs and do a presentation to the class You could find out other facts about European countries, the standard facts and some unusual ones For further information, this link gives the essential facts about each country. https://europa.eu/european-union/about-eu/countries/member-countries_en 8 1.4 European Citizenship You will now explore and reflect on how being a European citizen can impact on your every day life. Read the article by Kate Ryan on Spunout.ie and answer the following questions: 6. Kate states ‘It can be hard to feel like a citizen of Europe when you live on the edge of it’. List two reasons why Kate makes this statement. 7. Do you agree or disagree with Kate’s statement ‘It can be hard to feel like a citizen of Europe when you live on the edge of it’? Explain your answer below. 9 8. What might help Kate, in her opinion, to feel more like a citizen of the European Union? Have you any suggestions for her? 10 Further optional exercises Write your own article in response to Kate’s article, making reference to the rights of European citizens, the economic and political cooperation between EU member states, and EU culture.