ALL STUDENTS in Year 10 at the International School of the Algarve in Lagoa returned to school last week after spending 10 days in the world of work.
Some weeks ago, the students chose an area of work they were interested in learning more about and teachers helped with placements in the local community. Students wrote their CVs and letters of application, as if they were applying for real jobs, and sent them off to await news of their interviews.
Great experience
During the 10-day placements, each student kept an online diary, which provided a means of easy communication between themselves and their teachers. All students were also visited in the place of work by a teacher. The employers were asked to complete a questionnaire about the student at the end of the placement and this is being used in follow-up work, back at school.
This work experience operation was pioneered by the International School of the Algarve some years ago and has been very successful. It is enormously beneficial for young people to get a taste of the world of work.
Restaurants, estate agents, leisure clubs, resorts, lawyers’ offices, veterinary surgeries, hair salons, hotels and newspapers were among the diverse work environments the pupils experienced.
Student Chris Middleton joined The Resident during his work placement. He said: “It was fun and I learned a lot. I now know more about the world of journalism.” While he was with us, he researched stories, interviewed people and learned how the newspaper is planned every week.
The school, students and parents are very grateful to the many companies that offered a wide range of placements this year.
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