Julie Moberg recently began teaching at the American School of Kosova. (Photo courtesy of Julie Moberg)
Julie Moberg, BGS’00, BEd’11, remembers standing at the front of the classroom wearing her down jacket, two sweaters and a tuque, waiting for class to end so she could hurry to the staffroom and huddle around a heater with the other teachers.
Many Canadians have heard tales of frigid schools and harsh conditions from their grandparents, but Moberg’s experience is a modern-day one. She spent three months earlier this year teaching Grade 9 English at Shkolla Fillore Dardania school in the city of Pristina, Kosovo as part of the Faculty of Education’s Teaching Across Borders program. She just returned to Kosovo to begin a permanent teaching position.
Moberg remembers that because of Pristina’s cold weather, the usual 40-minute classes were reduced to 30 minutes a few weeks after she arrived to begin her placement. “There were even a couple of days where classes lasted only 20 minutes before school was cancelled for the rest of the week,” she says. “The decline in student attendance and motivation to learn during these cold times was quite evident.”
Weather was not the only challenge Moberg faced during her international experience.
“The lack of resources was apparent; there were few supplies and little technology for the chemistry and computer labs.” Moberg learned to keep an extra piece of chalk in her purse as even this staple was in limited supply.
Despite these difficulties Moberg found the students and staff welcoming and recognized the positives of the situation.
“I had to adjust, adapt and become more flexible. I learned quickly to use what I had in the most effective way possible, which often required a little creativity. The experience pushed my thinking and perspective of education in directions I never expected.”
Moberg credits her interest in a career as an educator to several outstanding teachers she had growing up in Banff, a town she says exposed her to an array of diverse cultures and inspired her to learn about the world outside Alberta.
“I have had the opportunity to live and travel to many places around the world and with each experience I have gained a new understanding of the world and myself.”
During her three-month posting in Kosovo, she took the opportunity to explore neighboring countries of Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Macedonia, Croatia and Serbia. She says it gave her a better understanding of how recent political events had impacted the education system.
“As a person who has not experienced war first hand, I sometimes struggle to fully understand how complicated the history of the Balkans is and grasp the realities of the war. Travelling in Kosovo and surrounding countries and learning about people’s experiences has helped me to gain a better understanding.”
During her journeys, Moberg met a number of Albanian and international educators committed to improving Kosovo’s education system. “I have come to admire these people and be encouraged by their dedication to their profession. It is evident that education is essential to Kosovo as it continues to develop and I have a refreshed sense of the importance of education and the role it plays.”
Clearly Moberg’s own dedication impressed her colleagues in Kosovo as she was offered, and quickly accepted, a permanent teaching position. She began teaching at the American School of Kosova in September.
“Because of this experience, I feel more confident as a teacher and more prepared to take on new challenges in the classroom and in life and I am returning with a sense of excitement to work with the youth of Kosovo.”
And perhaps a few extra pieces of chalk.
