Pia Thornberg, a post secondary teacher from Sweden made a visit to Dr. Ken Sauer School on Wednesday Morning. Ross Lavigne/CHAT News

By Jesse Gill

IN THE COMMUNITY

Swedish school teacher visits Medicine Hat to learn about education in Canada

Oct 9, 2024 | 6:49 PM

A post-secondary school teacher from Sweden has been visiting Medicine Hat over the past few days.

Pia Thornberg said she has been making stops at both the college and grade schools to find out more about education in Canada, with her favourite part so far being able to meet staff at Medicine Hat College.

“To see how they work, because we have a program that’s at the same length. But to see how they’re doing teacher education, and also learn more about the system,” Thornberg said.

“Because we usually try to make our students, we like making the connections between other countries, so they also can learn more about their own system while they’re learning of another system. So they can look at differences and similarities.”

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Thornberg has noticed there is a closer relationship with the student in Medicine Hat and more interaction, than in Sweden.

Having a schedule with a variety of different classes throughout a day is also something different she has noticed.

Noting that the system in Sweden allows the students to focus, but also misses the ability to link subjects together like the Canadian system.

In Sweden, she says they will take one course at a time and focus only on that until completion before moving onto the next course.

Thornberg also noticed that post secondary education students do more regular practicums than those in Sweden.

“I think that it’s very good for the learning for the students,” Thornberg said.

The idea for her trip to come to Medicine Hat started after she got in contact with one of the teachers at the Medicine Hat College, Jason McLester.

“We were having a digital online session with our students that began during COVID,” Thornberg said.

“We let our students meet and talk about school and educational systems, and then we had the possibility to get some funding for coming over here and, you know, learn more about the Canadian system and specific of Medicine Hat.”

On Wednesday she had stops at Dr. Ken Sauer School and Notre Dame Academy in Medicine Hat.

Thornberg has been enjoying her visit.

“I have great days.The staff is taking very good care of me and made a lovely program for me,” Thornberg said.

“What I have done so far that we have visited some schools, and I have visited teacher education as well, and joined a couple of lessons,” she added.

“They also took me out to see Elkwater.”