Embracing diversity

My Erasmus+ experience in Malta

We cannot teach people anything; we can only help them discover it within themselves.
(Galileo Galilei)
Anyone who stops learning is old, whether at twenty or eighty. Anyone who keeps learning stays young. The greatest thing in life is to keep your mind young.
(Henry Ford)

These two quotes greeted Eva and me at the entrance of the Executive Training Institute (ETI) in Malta, setting the tone for the teacher training courses we were about to attend. These words also perfectly echo our aspirations for this stay in Malta – committing ourselves to staying mentally agile, embracing diverse cultural vibes, celebrating English as a unifying language…
Anticipating a jam-packed programme with formal morning classes and opportunities for social interaction and cultural tours in the afternoon, we had opted for an early arrival. Our intention was to get accustomed to the rhythm of life and to independently discover facets of the captivating islands on the weekend before the courses started.
On Saturday we checked out our immediate surroundings and the buzzing town of Saint Julian’s before we ventured to more distant places in Northwest Malta, including Golden Beach.
The next day, as temperatures soared to a sizzling 43 degrees Celsius, our adventurous spirit got a bit of a slowdown. However, the blazing heat could not stop us from exploring Gozo, an island brimming with its own cultural heritage. Among the treasures we encountered, the Cittadella in Victoria (Rabat) left the deepest mark on me. It felt like I had stepped into a completely different world and centuries back in time.
On Monday morning, our courses were set to kick off. Eva and I had picked different ones to maximise the outcome by exchanging what we have learned. My course “Embracing neurodiversity – Special education needs (SEN)” was all about creating a more inclusive environment both in and out of the classroom.
Our trainer Josie surprised us - a diverse group of teachers hailing from Hungary, Italy, France, the Czech Republic and me as the only Austrian - with an engaging ice-breaker activity involving dance and mingling. Throughout the week she guided us through a varied, nicely paced programme. As an experienced teacher and as a parent of an adoptive child with specific learning differences, she prompted us to examine our topic from both an educational and familial perspective.
Input sessions to understand the traits of the most common conditions like ADHD, autism, dyslexia and other specific learning difficulties were alternated with pair and group activities that fostered eager discussions of our pedagogical experiences, approaches, methodologies and techniques. I particularly enjoyed the cooperative learning strategies presented to us and I am excited to incorporate more of them in my own classes. We also explored how digital media can be used to facilitate the learning process.
Two highlights of the cultural afternoon programme were the guided tours through stunning Valletta and Mdina. Mario, our knowledgable guide, gave us a clear overview of the history of Malta. In his captivating stories he brought Saint Paul’s journey to Malta to life and made us follow the footsteps of the Knights Hospitaller. The chance to talk about our impressions with fellow participants in a relaxed atmosphere after the guided tour was equally enjoyable.
The week whizzed by in the blink of an eye. After a final tour of Valletta, a bit of souvenir shopping and a visit to the grand Saint John’s Co-Cathedral that houses two renowned Caravaggio paintings, we found ourselves wrestling with our suitcases – they seemed to have gained a few kilos during our stay. Thankfully, the weight of delightful memories, fresh insights, and heartfelt connections does not count into the baggage allowance! We felt truly fortunate to take these treasures back home with us.

Text and photos: Prof. Ingrid Lechner