By Doris Fallent, Job-Shadowing, Waterford

Do you know where Waterford is? I certainly didn’t until I spent a week there on an Erasmus+ job shadowing visit at Presentation Secondary, an all-girls secondary school in the heart of Waterford, Ireland’s oldest city.
The students learn German as a foreign language, so on my first day I was given a guided tour of the school – in German! The building itself isn’t particularly new or modern, but its walls are decorated with student artwork and posters encouraging everyone to treat their peers and teachers with respect and kindness.
As soon as I entered the school, I noticed a large hall where students in their uniforms were having their free (!) school breakfast. I was also introduced to the school janitor, who greeted me from his little office. Staff and students told me that he is something of an unofficial school psychologist, always willing to listen when someone needs support.
In the staff room I was welcomed with homemade scones and plenty of black tea. One thing I noticed was that nobody worked in the staff room. Instead, it was used as a place to relax, eat and chat with colleagues—a contrast to the often busy atmosphere in many Austrian schools.
Another aspect I found interesting was that teachers have their own classrooms, while students move from room to room for each lesson. This means teachers have all their materials at hand and don’t spend the day carrying books and equipment through the school. During my visit, I observed German, English and Irish lessons—and even picked up a few Irish words myself.

I also liked the concept of tutor time: every morning, students spend 15 minutes with their form teacher to discuss organisational matters, ask questions or raise any issues that have come up.
Presentation Secondary also has its own approach to the mobile phone debate. Students place their phones in magnetic pouches when they arrive at school. The pouches remain locked throughout the school day and can only be opened by teachers using special magnetic devices.
Waterford, founded by the Vikings over 1,100 years ago, lies in the southeast of the Emerald Isle, not far from Ireland’s rugged coastline, which I explored after school. Walking through the city, I came across reminders of its Viking past as well as numerous murals and examples of street art that give different parts of the city their own character.