As part of a professional erasmus, Louise in a STAV class was accompanied into Germany by her German teacher Ms. Karine Baudier in mobility accompanying from June 16 to 20, 2019, let's find the impressions of the latter…
How / when was the organization of your Erasmus mobility in Germany?
It was a first experience.There is a lot of rather time consuming administrative tasks. The Agrocampus Erasmus referent, Mr Christophe Hup, explained to me the different documents to complete.
Initially, it was a question of finding the internship and explaining the concept of Erasmus + mobility to companies mainly approached by telephone. All this was done between September and January 2019.
Once the internship was found I encountered a great difficulty during the exchange of documents but especially the drafting of documents. Indeed, no convention or contract was in the German language. The host company in Germany did not correctly understand them and refused to sign documents written in English or French. The translation had to be carried out by the Erasmus coordinator Mr Hup in record time and required hours of work from him.
Did you have any concerns about this mobility?
Yes. As it was the first time, I had concerns about my student's language level. I was afraid that communication could not work at all and that the internship would go badly. The first days had to go well at all costs. Personally, I feared the world of an equestrian center that I am totally ignorant about that and about contacts with animals in general.
How did your mobility go? What was the purpose?
My accompanying mobility went very well.
I literally "accompanied" my pupil the first few days.I made the link between Madame Tischler and her trainee. At the beginning I simultaneously translated a lot. I made the presentations with the staff and clients of the equestrian center. I described the tasks, compiled everything the trainee needed to make herself understood. Little by little I stepped aside and gave tips and strategies for oral comprehension to the young trainee who was more and more panicked or even inhibited. The host company was particularly isolated, so I accompanied the young trainee to the supermarket and helped her to settle in her apartment by giving landmarks (how to use the washing machine, presentation of neighbors and requests if necessary). As for me, not being introduced into the equine universe, I had to "learn" the vocabulary and the techniques of riding.
The aim, while being on site, was also to prepare the restitution work of the student in internship who will have a technical file to return during the final class. We conducted a collective reflection between the student, the internship supervisor and myself in order to see a work problem (the file will be around the health of the horse, German and French techniques being different on certain aspects. subject is already almost found). We even started to write, in German, the questions that she was going to have to discuss with the internship supervisor.
Have you had the opportunity to take cultural tours?
Yes I went to see the Museum of Fine Arts romantic period in Berlin.
For 3 days we were invited, the trainee and I, to the family table during dinner. This gave rise to significant cultural exchanges (the owners of the equestrian center experienced the fall of the Berlin Wall and came to settle in the former East Germany).
What did you personally and professionally learn with this mobility?
I have learnt to relate to people who have difficulties to express themselves in a foreign language. I have found that in reality it is only a matter of fear of making a mistake. I learned to make the 2 parties play down the situation.
Finally, would you recommend doing an Erasmus?
Yes, because it is above all a human experience!
Mister Hup, Erasmus referent SGL
