Celina Schreiber from Hamburg University and Hella Tillmann from Leibniz University in Hannover really enjoyed their Erasmus exchange at Stockholm University. Photo: Jesús Piqueras.

For the autumn term of 2023 two teacher students from Germany joined us at Stockholm University, taking part in the Erasmus mobility programme. Celina Schreiber and Hella Tillman did not know each other before but met at the Department of Biology Education, as they are both studying to become biology teachers.

How come you decided to do your Erasmus exchange in Stockholm?

Celina: – I have always been interested in the Scandinavian countries, Sweden in particular, but I had never visited any of them before. And the fact that Stockholm University is ranked among the top 200 Universities in the world increased my interest in going here. I also wanted to improve my English and knowing that the English level in Stockholm is very high helped me to decide.

Hella: – I needed new surroundings after growing up and studying in the same city my whole life. In the Erasmus programme I could choose between many countries, but my first choice was Stockholm. I wanted to experience real winter, live in a cool city, and enjoy Swedish wildlife.

Where do you live during your time here in Stockholm?

Hella: – I'm sharing a flat at Södermalm, with some Swedish people. I searched on the internet and found a nice place. I am super happy and a lot of people, even Swedes, are jealous. It is very central and in a nice area where a lot of students go out to grab a coffee, etcetera.

Celina: – I live at Lappis, the student halls of residence near Campus. A friend who had been in Stockholm for an exchange term recommended the place. I applied online and I was lucky. Lappis is very close to the university and I have made many friends in the student residence.

Classes in English

At the beginning of each term Stockholm University organises a series of welcome activities for new international students. Celina Schreiber and Hella Tillman felt very welcomed and during these first days they met new friends, most of them other exchange students.

Celina: – Even though I have met a few Swedes in my classes, my group of friends only consists of other Erasmus students. In the beginning, it was easier to connect with international students than with Swedes, because we were all in the same situation of moving abroad and not knowing anyone. So, everyone was desperately looking for new friends.

Hella: – Yeah, this is a typical problem… For Erasmus students, it is very hard to get into groups of Swedish people, but I do know some Swedes. Also, my roommates are all Swedish.

As Celina and Hella want to be biology teachers, they mainly took courses in that area during their exchange term at Stockholm University. Having classes in English was new, but it worked out very well. They both feel that they have boosted their confidence in speaking and writing in English.

A great internship

The two German students had their internship at Rödabergsskolan, near Odenplan, as part of the course Teacher Training Placement for Exchange Students, given at the Department of Teaching and Learning.

How was it to have an internship at a Swedish school?

Hella: – It was great! For me, it was very interesting to see the Swedish school system. Compared to Germany the big differences are the digitalisation level, mandatory lunch and that the children called their teachers by first names. The children were so well-behaved and interested in the topic! I also taught and gained a lot of experience in teaching English. Everyone welcomed me so warmly.

Celina: – Yes, I agree! I taught a lesson myself and the students participated actively and with respect even though I am not a teacher yet. Regarding the teachers, everyone was super nice and gave us a very warm-hearted welcome. We were always welcome to sit in the staff room during breaks and join lunch. I really enjoyed those four weeks and could develop my confidence, my teaching skills, and my social skills even more.

What is your overall impression of this term?

Celina: – I really enjoyed my Erasmus term. I am very grateful for the contacts I could make in such a short time and I am sure I will visit some of them in the future. Also studying at Stockholm University helped me to grow personally and gain more confidence. I could not take any courses that fit into my program at my home university, but I still learned a lot during this time and had the opportunity to take some other courses that I am interested in. It also released some pressure of having the best grades and I could focus more on experiencing Sweden.

Hella: – This term will always be a nice time of my life that I will remember with a smile on my face. I am very happy with my time here in Stockholm. Studying in Sweden is not that hard and I had a lot of fun here. I will definitely be back soon to visit my roommates, and further explorations of Sweden in the summer is already in the pipeline.

Both Hella and Celina will highly recommend other students to go to Stockholm for an Erasmus exchange period. Their advice is to be open to new experiences and open to meet new people. Stepping out of your comfort zone will make you grow during your time here.