European Union Policy

In September I in rolled in the minor European Union Policy (EUP) I thought that it would be a great experience. In retrospect in turned out to be alright. It started with an easy schedule with just a couple of hours each week, I really thought it would be a walk in the park. But like most things in life it turned out to be harder than it looked.

The curriculum that was offered to us was just not that hard, but how it was rapped up made it for me very tricky to follow. Let me explain this. Every Monday we would have a tutor group session with half a class. In that session we would read a newspaper article and try to understand it. After understanding it we would formulate learning goals for ourselves. Now the fact that we have 2 half classes the learning goals are thus different. How can there be coordination between 2 classes? Very simple, because the teacher would structure the meeting. Also we would have a rotating chairperson who was in charge. But in reality he or she would just ask us if we understand the text not more not less. In my opinion the chairperson is just a puppet, the real decisions were made by the teacher and also we would look at the teacher for guidance. I’m more in favour of the teacher heading the class en the students flow. Maybe my lack of experience with this type of schooling makes me more negative about but I do know.

The learning goals where in my eyes not very helpful because why buy books if you only formulate learning goals. Ok I have to admit that the law textbook was used during class but the economix textbook was just referred too during sessions to look things up in. I’ m more the classical way kinda guy. Buy a book, sit down read it, have discussions with the teacher about it, ask for clarification when need it, do assignments based on that book, make a test. Thats my viewpoint and it a pretty good one I might add.

What I liked was negotiation, that was nice because the subject it self made you active in wanting to participate. In my case anyway. Also lessons like debating where helpful. English however was low done my to do list because we would have a project almost every 2 weeks. English it self as a subject I could understand why we would have it, but I had rather grammar lessons then writing blogs and proving that you have learned 5 words a week.

My conclusion is that EUP is a very good minor but the tutor group session would be better if structured differently. I think the teacher should be in command of the whole lesson and he can point a different assistant each week. Also the exams need to be more focused on textbooks and lectures should be more about the textbook.