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What I wish I knew about special education as a freshman

2023-03-06T06:42:27.484Z


Prospective special education teachers learn to look after children and young people individually. A student tells how the course is structured - and why you make the most important experiences outside of the university.


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Special educators work in mainstream and special needs schools, in dormitories or workshops (symbol image)

Photo: monkeybusinessimages / iStockphoto / Getty Images

Special educators look after children and young people who cannot be adequately supported in regular classes.

They work at mainstream and so-called special schools, but also in extracurricular social institutions, dormitories or workshops.

Katrin Bock, 27, has just completed her master's degree in special education at the University of Hamburg.

Here she tells how the subject has changed her everyday life, where she has reached her limits and why she is not worried about finding a job.

The decision to study special education

»In order to study special education, one should be reflective and, above all, like people and be interested in them.

Most special education students come to the university with previous experience.

Many of my fellow students had already completed a voluntary social year or internships in the field.

I myself did an FSJ after graduating from high school

at a special school in my home country.

For me that was a key experience: to see what the children and young people can do, how they developed in this protected space.

Unfortunately, many people rarely have contact with people with disabilities in everyday life.

During my studies, I liked the fact that you learn a lot about human development.

The subject is very broad.

The different types of disabilities alone are very individual.

You also learn a lot about yourself. That sounds so big, but in a way I found myself through my studies.

In addition, I got a different perspective on the topic of inclusion, I often ask myself in everyday life: How do we deal with it?

How do we not only talk

about

people, but

with

people?”

Content and structure of the course

»Special education courses are usually divided into three parts: one or two chosen subjects, an educational part and a special education part.

So you actually study three different subjects – managing that is sometimes a bit of a challenge.

Overall, the course is very homework-heavy.

However, I have chosen work studies and technology as my subject, which includes cooking and working in the wood workshop and with textiles, among other things.

Accordingly, I had more practical exams than others.

You can also choose classic German, math or biology.

Some of the courses are then attended by people who are studying the subject in question, i.e. students of German or mathematics.

An exciting exchange to get out of the pedagogical bubble.

I took the most with me from the practical parts of my studies.

In hindsight, I should have used it more.

One tends to gain previous experience or part-time jobs

to be counted.

But it is precisely in special education that we learn that each person is individual and everything is contextual.

What counts in the end are the experiences and the people you get to know.

Sometimes you reach your limits.

Special education can be challenging and stressful.

It's everyday that things don't work the way you want them to.

It helped me to network early on and to share experiences with other students.

The structure and funding priorities of the course are different in every federal state and at every university.

In Hamburg, everyone starts with the funding priority ›Learning‹, i.e. supporting students with learning difficulties.

Then you choose a second focus.

This specialization is intended to lay the foundation for your future career.

In my experience, however, special needs teachers are in such high demand that you are still flexible afterwards.

Of course you have more know-how in your area.

But the choice of focus is less restrictive than I initially thought.«

Career prospects after graduation

»Special educators can be employed at all types of schools.

During my studies, I mainly sat in on school classes in the district and in regional education centers because of my subject.

Special educators are increasingly going to extracurricular institutions.

Some of my fellow students have done internships in prison or in social institutions.

Anyone who wants to work as a teacher after completing their master's degree usually has to complete a traineeship, which is now called preparatory service.

Special educators are currently in high demand.

I also checked late that we are paid quite well, similar to high school teachers.

However, money plays a relatively subordinate role in the job – just like a possible civil servant position, that's rather 'nice to have'.

However, special educators in schools are sometimes responsible for so many children at the same time that they cannot respond individually to the people.

After graduation, this tempts many to go into the extracurricular area.

At least that's how it is in my environment.

I'm at the university now and teaching prospective special education teachers.«

Source: spiegel

All news articles on 2023-03-06

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