Careers and study guidance
The careers and study guidance team, consisting of teachers of the ESM, offers pupils high quality study and careers consultation.
The list of careers and study teachers
| German section |
Mrs Terscinar and Mr Lindemann |
| English section |
Mr Johnstone |
| French section |
Mrs Rudschies and Mr Soula |
| Italian section |
Mrs Cipriano und Mrs De Marchis |
| Dutch section |
Mr Hamann |
There are two official careers programmes approved by the Board of Governors of the European Schools. These form the main component of careers and study guidance at the ESM.
Year 5 programme
October: AOK job application training
November: Subject teacher presentations. Option form distribution. Individual pupil option advice
June: Work experience
Year 6 programme
A seminar over two days takes place at the end of the school year. It includes the following topics:
Baccalaureate information
Higher Education advice
Study skills, Interview techniques
job applications
Individual consultations in year 6 and 7 concerning Higher education and career opportunities are also offered.
Parent evenings:
Careers teachers offer information to parents about subject choices. There is one session for parents of year 2/3 pupils at the end of November immediately after the subject teacher parent evening. For parents of pupils in year 5, there is a separate parent evening in mid January.
University Application Procedure, UK:
Other documents:
Information about work experience, vocational training and universities on the Internet
Germany:
www.praktikum.de
www.jobfit.de
www.berufswahl.de
www.meinestadt.de/muenchen/lehrstellen
www.stepstone.de
www.monster.de
Italien:
http://sito.cineca.it/
United Kingdom/Ireland:
The official university admissions system
European Schools guide
University open day directory
An independent review of all UK universities
Accommodation search and information
Funding
Student support
Gap Year
Newspaper guides
Guardian
Unistats
Interactive map
Interest explorer
On-line interest explorer questionnaire. Access code ; 4afcf4f9e8f1
This is in English. It will suggest types of courses that fit your interest profile. Choose highest level of qualification. Try the Stanford test on the UCAS website too.
Admissions tests
Law
Medicine, dentistry, vet.
Cambridge Assessment
Work Experience Scheme at the European School Munich
Background
Work experience was first introduced at the ESM in 1984 and after several years became an established part of the careers programme for year 5 pupils. The programme has now been adopted by many of the European schools and its importance is recognized by the Board of Governors.
Duration and participation
All pupils in year 5 must take part in the scheme, which lasts two weeks. It is now arranged after the June written examinations and includes the week of the Oral Baccalaureate examinations.
Objectives
To provide an experience in a pupil’s chosen work environment
To form attitudes as a support to career choice and to enhance personal development
To develop language (frequently LII) and communication skills outside the school
To develop observation and social skills
To stimulate the process of career choice and introspection
To support the development of personal attributes such as reliability, punctuality, initiative, willingness, flexibility and tolerance
Process
Shortly before or after the Christmas holidays pupils are given:
- A letter to parents informing them of the objectives of the week, dates, etc including a consent form
- A letter for placements explaining the scheme (in German)
- A confirmation form from the placement
Pupils are then given guidelines about finding a place. It is their responsibility and to find a work experience placement of their own choice. As part of the experience, this will involve telephoning and personal visits, which may be unsuccessful. Pupils are neither allowed to work with a relation nor to receive payment.
Pupils then inform the careers and study teachers where they will be during the two weeks, and he or she will keep a record of the address, telephone number and contact person.
Pupils who have problems with finding a place (starting late in searching, inappropriate expectations) are helped by a year 5 teacher.
Briefing
A briefing session is held in June before the pupils start the experience. A check is made that the placement details are correct. An explanation of what to look for during the experience is given and pupil’s questions can be answered.
Execution
During the two weeks, pupils follow the working hours of their work experience place and, consequently, do not attend school. It is important that they have a 'help line' for emergencies, and where practicable, a visit from their supervising teacher. The latter is not always possible particularly for large classes but visits help with building up contacts with places and enhance the public image of the school especially if the student is doing well. Pupils are encouraged to inform us if they will be working unusual hours.
Pupils are required to keep a diary of the week's activities. It is added to their careers file at the end of the experience. Employer’s reports are also collected and added to pupil’s files for reference.
Debriefing
This varies from section to section, and from teacher to teacher. Usually, pupils are debriefed as a group with, perhaps, a video of the week. Diaries are handed in for only viewing - not marking.
Placement details
A comprehensive list is impossible to be provided but pupils have been placed at:
European Patent Office, European Southern Observatory, Vidal Sassoon, Raychem chemicals, Eurocopter, Institute for Pharmacology, Strahlungs Institute, Intel, Motorola, Munich Zoo, Munich Hilton, Munich Vier Jahreszeiten, local cafes, Dehner Garden centre, Dr. Keudel (paediatrician), Bavaria film studios, Bavarian Television, Bavarian Travel agency, Douglas perfume shops, Benetton, Sport Scheck, Riem animal home, various Munich Kindergarten, various Old People's homes, Siemens, supermarkets, Peugeot garages, photo laboratories, advertising agencies, Elle/ Bunte magazines, theatres, Neumann sound engineers, legal practices, Hypovereins bank, etc.
Summary
Our view is that this process is most profitable for pupils and contributes, in many ways, to their personal development. Their self-confidence seems to improve, as does their motivation towards academic studies. Working alongside adults as 'colleagues' contributes to pupil's social development, provides opportunities to develop relationships and aids learning about decision making in an adult environment. Work is a central feature of most people's lives. It imposes order, regulates the use of time, and hopefully, provides satisfaction, interest and purpose. To understand what is meant by 'work' is to understand the structure of society and why it is organised the way it is, and how economies operate. Although two weeks is too short a time to pursue wide-ranging goals adequately, it does enable thought processes of our young people to be boosted.
Work experience downloads:
Parents' letters:
Letters to employers (employer acceptance form):
Others:
