Mary Viera in Dublin
Fall 2023 (October 28-December 15)
I am very grateful I had the opportunity to teach abroad in Dublin, and I am very grateful for the experience I had. I understand that my experience is a unique one in that this was a semester where there was a transition of advisors. Despite the difficulties and miscommunications that went along with this, everyone helped make sure this was an enjoyable and fulfilling experience. I am very thankful for Dr. MacMillan visiting Dublin and helping ease the transition into Marino. His ties with Julie and Sylvia were reassuring during the first weeks here. I am also very appreciative of Dr. Ingle and Dr. Spitzman for visiting me here in Dublin, and for all of their advice and support. They became great mentors during my practicum.
I had several questions and doubts along the way. The previous reflections I had read from students encouraged me to trust the process; however, I would rather encourage BSU international student teachers to not be afraid to speak up. Ultimately, you will be in charge of what you take out of this experience. Of course, assisting in an international school requires a great deal of flexibility and open-mindedness; however, find someone (whether at BSU or abroad) who can help you with your questions. Traveling abroad is a big decision, but it is rewarding and will help you grow as a teacher, professional, and person. I would encourage anyone who is thinking of teaching abroad to take that challenge. Take charge of your experience and enjoy every opportunity you get along the way.
School Placement
I was luckily placed at St. Vincent De Paul Girls’ School (Grades 2-6) which is less than a 10-minute walk from Marino Teacher’s College. Marino College will purposefully place you at a school that is near to your homestay so you don’t have to travel far. I knew I was going to be teaching there before I left which was so helpful in being able to look at their website and learn a little bit about the community. The staff there were so welcoming and kind (be prepared to be offered tea every day wherever you go). I was fortunate to spend 5 weeks at the school which allowed me to explore a variety of classrooms and school events. I felt that I was able to see what the school culture was like, and the teachers were so helpful in answering all my questions. During my first week there I was given a schedule of which classrooms I would be assigned to for each period of the day. It was interesting to see how varied the teaching styles were across grade levels and the school. This was meant to be an introductory week, and pretty soon I had been in every classroom in the school. A positive of this was every student knew my name and felt they could come up to me with questions which was a great feeling. Following that, every week I was with a different grade level. I was involved in each class differently. Majority of the classes I would observe and take notes or walk around to help students with their independent work. There were a few classes (in the 2nd and 3rd classes) that allowed me to teach a few lessons. I was so grateful and excited to have this opportunity and it was great to get feedback from teachers. I appreciated being able to have diverse exposure to different classrooms, grade levels, and teaching styles.
Home Stay
I was very nervous when I was told that I would be responsible for finding my own accommodations. What I would recommend to BSU student teachers is to create a list of criteria and narrow down your search before you begin. Some accommodations only offer 5-day week stays (this is for the Marino College students as they go home on the weekends). After you narrow down your search you should immediately contact them all as soon as possible and continue following up with them. For me, my homestay was one of the best parts of my experience in Ireland. I chose to stay with a couple named Ellen and Eoghan O’Malley in Beaumont (about a 35-minute walk from Marino). They were my main support system and guidance during my time in Ireland (please feel free to email me if you’re interested in learning more about staying with them. I could talk about them forever!) On my first day, they picked me up from the airport and helped me get settled in. They helped me get a LEAP card (a necessity for public transit in Ireland) and gave me all the important information I needed to know. They also provided me with breakfast and dinner every day during my time here. This was a choice I made when picking homestays as I felt it would be one less thing to worry about (and less expensive in the long run). A few times when I got quite sick, Ellen and Eoghan brought me what I needed. I was truly spoiled, and I know not everyone may get this experience. I would encourage BSU student teachers to meet with the person you’re staying with over Zoom beforehand. Although the hope is that you’ll be out of the house most of the time anyway traveling and going to school does make a big difference knowing that at the end of the day, you can go back to a safe and comforting place.
Overall Cultural and Educational Experience
My great-grandmother is from Athlone, and there has always been a heavy Irish influence on our family traditions and food. Boston also has strong ties to Ireland, so to be quite honest there wasn’t much of a culture shock coming here. The one thing that surprised me and was hard to get adjusted to at first was the diversity of languages being spoken at one time. When I first arrived, the schools were on break and everyone was getting ready to celebrate Halloween (which originated in Ireland). The city was very busy with people from all over Europe who had come to visit, and I felt very overstimulated by all the languages being spoken. I feel a little more adjusted now after almost 7 weeks and it is one of the aspects I appreciate most about Ireland. I also love how much care Ireland takes to preserve its historical roots. It is amazing to be able to see and interact with pieces of Ireland’s past (if you’re unsure where to start with things to do consider the National Museums of Ireland– they’re completely free and so fun plus they’re close to some great restaurants).
I did not take any classes at Marino since I was on school placement solely. During my second week, Julie kindly gave an introductory presentation on the school system in Ireland. It was so informative and helpful before going into the schools. It also gave me a good basis to continue learning more about the curriculum online and talk with teachers about the education system. Primary school starts at 4 years old (called infant school) and is located on the first floor of the building I worked in. It was interesting to walk through and see the progression from the younger classrooms to the 6th class. This was also a catholic school so the girls receive their sacraments with their class in primary and learn about catholicism during their religion block. A big shock for me, and something I had to be adjusted to was the holistic curriculum. It is not an academic-focused curriculum. Rather, all subjects are given the same weight (and around Christmas time the arts take the most importance). Teachers are responsible for teaching Irish, Art, P.E, Religion, Social-Emotional, and more lessons. It was really interesting to compare the American and Irish education systems.
Overall, this has been a great experience I will never forget. I am proud of myself for taking the challenge to teach abroad, and I have learned so much about myself along the way. Traveling solo has made me a more confident person, and I am excited to take that knowledge back with me to America. Teaching here has also made me more aware of the kind of teacher I want to be. I am happy to be going home to share my experiences. Thank you to everyone in the Teaching Abroad program who helped make this happen.
