BMET student goes for Erasmus+ work experience to Germany and gets job offer from Berlin-based company Yoyo Camps

​Rosaria Mulenga studied a BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma in Health and Social Care with Birmingham Metropolitan College. Planning ahead for Uni, in the spring of 2018 Rosie decided to apply for Gecko’s Erasmus+ work experience programme to help with her personal statement, as well as for the opportunity to live and work in a different country.
Rosie was successful with her application and was selected to go on a 60-day Erasmus+ programme to Berlin. 

Gecko and their German partners looked after the travel and accommodation logistics, and resourced a placement in line with her vocational qualification, as well as her future career plans; Rosie was placed with Yoyo Camps, where she was tasked with teaching English to children and playing games with them. At the end of the programme, they made her a job offer, but she decided to go to Uni instead, with the plan of returning to Germany after graduation.
 
What new knowledge and skills have you acquired during your placement?
During this work placement I have found different ways of communicating with people due to the language barrier. I have also learnt different ways of socialising due to the cultural change and improving my teaching and handling methods with kids. I feel that I have learnt how to deal with kids better and how to react to them.

 What kind of differences have you noticed with the work practices?
The work environment is very relaxed as long as employees are doing what is required of them. Everyone gets along very well with each other and they are able to identify when to work and when to party. They take work very seriously as well as always keeping on time of their plans. A dress code is not an essential part of the business as long as it is appropriate, suitable and comfortable.

General impression, feelings, judgement about your experience abroad.
Overall, the experience was very good. I have met many wonderful people and have gotten to know the German culture very well. My plans have changed into wanting to move there after I finish university in order to complete my masters and start work as an English teacher.

Which skills do you feel have improved significantly and how?
My skills of working with children have improved. I have learnt how to work with kids despite having a language barrier. This I can use in my career.

Please describe the good and bad elements of the mobility experience
The good thing was that I was able to travel around the country more because of the work that I was doing. I met very interesting people who I have now made friends with and I learnt more about the culture. The bad was that even though I travelled a lot, I was not able to explore the country because of the work I was doing. I was too tired on the weekend and needed the rest for the next week.

Has this experience helped you in improving your job prospects?
I can use this as a reference in the future. Yoyo Camps thought I was hardworking and quick to learn, so they offered me a job at the end of the programme. However, as I was offered a place on the English and Creative Writing with the University of Salford, I decided to decline the offer but I plan to keep in touch with them.