Our apprentice Tony in Ireland
On 14 October 2013, I took part in an English business course at the Galway Cultural Institute sponsored by the European Union. I travelled to Ireland with the Kaufmännische Schule Bad Mergentheim and spent three weeks with my classmates in Galway.
The aim of the course was to improve our English language skills in the area of business (marketing, company development, company foundation, risk analysis, investments) and at the same time to familiarise ourselves with a new culture. During the course, we were assessed on various aspects. Firstly, our co-operation and our reading and writing skills. We were able to demonstrate these every week by submitting an article on a specific topic on the school's learning platform. We also had to write a business letter, give a group presentation and complete a test. The school also organised company visits for us as there are many international companies in Galway such as Genesis and Insight.
We learnt about many aspects of Irish culture, such as Irish sports (Gaelic football, hurling), Irish instruments (Ullieann pipes, Celtic harp, bouzouki, tine whistle, banjo) and music (U2, The Cranberries). We were also able to get to know typical places in Ireland such as bars, restaurants, sights and the Macnas Halloween Parade, which was a particularly nice experience for me.
At the end of the trip, the school organised a small party for us where we were presented with our certificates and ate together again. After an exciting 3 weeks, we all flew back home together on 3 November.
This trip allowed me to improve my language skills, get to know Ireland's breathtaking nature and sights and gain a small insight into its ultra-modern industrial and service society. For me, this trip was a unique and unforgettable experience, which I would recommend to anyone.
