by Merle Must, Journalist, Estonia
A participant of Erasmus+ discussion in European Youth Event, Romanian origin Geles Claudiu is currently on his third Erasmus exchange in Italy. At first, he studied in the university, then went there as an English schoolteacher and is now working for Erasmus office.
– How would you assess your exchanges so far?
They are one of the best experiences that I’ve ever had. Exchange is a good possibility and in my opinion, as many students as possible should do it. Although it is a big part of it, Erasmus is not only about education, but also about culture, languages and meeting other people. It is the point of European Union – getting to know other cultures.
– How did you exactly learn about other cultures?
When I was in Sicily as an English teacher in gymnasium, Erasmus national agency said that I have to give at least two hours about Rumanian culture and get back other two hours of students’ culture in a certain time. So, one hour they were showing me Sicilian traditions and the other hour I was explaining about resemblances and differences between our cultures.
– What else have you discovered during your Erasmus time?
I’ve understood that being at home, you don’t know what else is there for you in the world. After doing my Erasmus and now, talking with students who have returned from the exchange, I hear “now I know exactly what I want to do, as there are other things for me to do and not necessarily here in my own country.”
– What kind of problems are Erasmus students facing?
Some have trouble finding a flat or a room to stay and they might end up living in a hostel for a few weeks or get scammed by paying money for a non-existent flat. Some students, for example those who study chemistry or physics are good at their own subject, but not in languages. When the program is taught in a foreign language and you don’t speak it so well, knowing chemistry or physics well is not still enough and you might not understand it all. The language courses ensured by Erasmus are mostly up to middle, B1 level, but this is not sufficient for Master’s in Physics.
– What could be improved in Erasmus programs?
They have already done many things, but it would help just to improve the communication between partner universities, which is seldom in a perfect level.
– What do you think about the new possibility that students can also go outside Europe?
Although Erasmus was originally meant for Europe, it is good to extend it! Actually finally it is about globalization of the cultures. It is great to give someone from America or Asia a possibility to come to Europe and take a taste of it and vice versa.
