Expanding global ties
Photo courtesy of Ariadni Kouzeli June 02, 2017
Greek student shares her experiences at UD
In the fall of 2016, the University of Delaware’s Department of Human Development and Family Studies (HDFS) initiated a partnership with several schools in Greece aimed at strengthening cross-cultural knowledge of early childhood development.
Since that time, UD, the University of Patras and the American Community School in Athens (ACS) have collaborated on a number of initiatives: UD faculty attended an Intercultural Forum at Patras, two UD students spent the spring student teaching in Athens and HDFS hosted a public forum on Greece’s refugee crisis.
During the Intercultural Forum, Bahira Trask, HDFS chair, met Ariadni Kouzeli, a sophomore in the Department of Educational Science and Early Childhood Education at the University of Patras, and invited her to attend UD as a visiting scholar.
Beginning March 13, Kouzeli spent three weeks in Delaware, where she visited a number of local schools, including William F. Cooke Jr. Elementary School, Newark Center for Creative Learning, Odyssey Chapter School and Thomson Edison Elementary School.
She also worked with children with special needs and in the after-school programs at UD’s Laboratory Preschool and the Early Learning Center, participating in Play and Grow for Infants and Toddlers, yoga, dance, art and English/Spanish courses.
“Every day after school I had post-session conversations with a master teacher and a college student during which we shared our thoughts and observations in order to improve ourselves as teachers, handle difficult situations in class and help every child to accomplish their personal goals,” said Kouzeli.
She said she enjoyed sharing her culture with students — reading and translating a Greek children’s book by Eugenios Trivizas, a famous Greek author. She also taught them basic Greek expressions like hello, how are you, fine, thank you, good bye.
Comparing American and Greek educational systems, Kouzeli said that teachers in the U.S. allow for both cognitive and social development. “Students collaborate in multicultural classes, learning how to accept diversity and face people from every ethic, social or religious background as an equal.
“On the contrary, the Greek educational system lays emphasis on individual learning. The focus is on assignments and tests, which does not allow students to express their creativity,” Kouzeli said. “Therefore, our students cannot spend time socializing with other pupils or exchanging views about their projects or hobbies.”
She also noted that due to Greece’s economic recession, they cannot fund the cost of advanced technological systems such as interactive boards and tablets with educational games for children. “The incorporation of children with special needs in class is very difficult in our country because we are devoid of the proper infrastructure and special training.”
Kouzeli praised the pedagogical approaches and continuous, comprehensive assessments practiced in UD’s classrooms, saying she appreciated “the level of collaboration and teamwork among teaching staff, which involves handling delicate situations as a group and mutual respect among teachers.”
Although brief, Kouzeli said she found her visit to UD highly informative, giving her theoretical knowledge as well as practical insights into education.
“Through my work and attendance in follow-up workshops on designing children’s activities with master teachers and college students at Laboratory School, I have a better understanding of what makes an effective educator,” Kouzeli said.
Kouzeli thoroughly enjoyed her time at UD, especially sledding with the children on the snowy playground of Laboratory Preschool.
“The hospitality of undergraduate and postgraduate students, teachers and professors truly exceeded my expectations.”
Contact Us
Have a UDaily story idea?
Contact us at ocm@udel.edu
Members of the press
Contact us at 302-831-NEWS or visit the Media Relations website