An international internship is an opportunity that can enrich not only your studies but your entire life. In today’s article, our student Lucie Filipová shares her personal experience from her stay in Brussels, where she worked at the Czech School Without Borders. Read about all the ways this internship benefited her—professionally, personally, and culturally!
Every student at Palacký University in Olomouc has the opportunity to participate in a study stay or internship abroad through the Erasmus+ program. As part of my master’s degree, I spent five months interning at the Czech School Without Borders in Brussels, and based on this experience, I wholeheartedly recommend that all students take advantage of such opportunities. An internship abroad offers significant benefits—not only in terms of professional development, but also personal growth. It’s also a chance to explore a new culture, visit interesting places, meet new people, and make international friendships.
The Brussels region consists of 19 districts and has a total population of about 1.2 million. Brussels gives off a very pleasant and elegant impression. You’ll find many historical landmarks here, such as the famous Grand Place square and the impressive Town Hall. There are also countless cozy cafés, chocolate shops, and boutiques. For food lovers, it's a must to try waffles and fries before leaving Belgium—these can be found on almost every corner.
Teaching at the Czech School Without Borders in Brussels takes place in the premises of the Czech Embassy, located in the Ixelles district, specifically at Avenue Adolphe Buyl 150. All staff members, including the headmistress Ing. Dagmar Straková, who founded the Czech School Without Borders in Brussels in 2010, were very kind and willing to help with anything. I felt very welcome in their team from day one.
The school follows an educational program based on the Framework Educational Program of the Czech Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports, and offers classes only on weekends. The children attending the Czech School Without Borders in Brussels are otherwise educated during the week at their regular schools in Belgium.
Every weekend, I went to the school, where I was responsible for Saturday and Sunday classes. On Saturday mornings, I taught preschool children and students in the first and second grades. On Sundays, I taught third through sixth grade. In addition to teaching, interns are also responsible for lesson preparation and assisting with school administration.
The Czech School Without Borders in Brussels provides accommodation for its interns. If they are interested, interns can also offer Czech language tutoring and earn a bit of extra income. The provided housing is located in a quiet and attractive area near Woluwe Park, offering a pleasant base for staying in Brussels. Of course, it’s also possible to arrange your own accommodation; however, due to the high rental costs in Brussels, this option can be significantly more expensive. That’s why I strongly recommend future interns to take advantage of the housing provided by the school.
Regarding differences between Czech and Belgian education systems, there are a few key points. One of them is the university admission process. In Belgium, students usually don’t have to take entrance exams. They simply enroll in one of several Belgian universities or private colleges and are accepted without additional entry requirements. The exception is for some specific fields, such as medicine or architecture, where entrance and aptitude exams are required.
I am very grateful for the opportunity to spend several months in Brussels and to be part of the teaching team at the Czech School. This experience brought me many new insights and skills—not only in the field of preschool education, which I study—but also in school pedagogy, as I had the chance to teach primary school children as well.