The Erasmus+ Placement was very beneficial for me in many ways. To get to go to another country for 12 days work experience that involved football and fitness was a fantastic opportunity for me to improve my skills on the pitch and in the gym. The experience of this Erasmus+ placement makes me want to continue in the line of sports either as a athlete or as coach. I believe I have improved my skills on the pitch and in the gym. The drills we completed on the pitch were similar to home and the standard was also very high.
I didn't once feel like I was missing home, as I settled very well into life in Glasgow, as it is very similar to home. After all, Scotland and Ireland have very strong links and especially Glasgow, as many Irish emigrants settled there so many Scottish people come from Irish decent. It was also good to experience other cultures.
I am hoping to continue in the sports sector next year so I think this placement will be beneficial for me to pursue that in IT Carlow, Waterford IT or in other colleges. This placement also made us bond better as a group as we really got on so well together from the very start and this continued to the very end of this placement. I was happy that everyday there was something different and in my opinion the best part of the placement was visiting Celtic FC's training ground in Lennoxtown, Rangers FC training ground in Murray Park, and Partick Thistle training ground at Hampden Park. It was fantastic to be able to see how first team players train and the sessions they do are similar to what we do at home, but the quality and the tempo of the players is second to none. My favourite part of the placement was being invited to watch the Celtic first team train two days before a match and being given a tour of their training ground which has top class facilities and also the tour of Celtic Park itself was phenomenal as we all have seen what it is like on old firm derby days or European nights. To be able to train at a 7,000 seater plus stadium at Broadwood was also another bonus as not everyday you get to train in a stadium so it was great experience to do so. I am extremely grateful for being selected to go on this placement and I recommend it to anyone to do it.
I didn't once feel like I was missing home, as I settled very well into life in Glasgow, as it is very similar to home. After all, Scotland and Ireland have very strong links and especially Glasgow, as many Irish emigrants settled there so many Scottish people come from Irish decent. It was also good to experience other cultures.
I am hoping to continue in the sports sector next year so I think this placement will be beneficial for me to pursue that in IT Carlow, Waterford IT or in other colleges. This placement also made us bond better as a group as we really got on so well together from the very start and this continued to the very end of this placement. I was happy that everyday there was something different and in my opinion the best part of the placement was visiting Celtic FC's training ground in Lennoxtown, Rangers FC training ground in Murray Park, and Partick Thistle training ground at Hampden Park. It was fantastic to be able to see how first team players train and the sessions they do are similar to what we do at home, but the quality and the tempo of the players is second to none. My favourite part of the placement was being invited to watch the Celtic first team train two days before a match and being given a tour of their training ground which has top class facilities and also the tour of Celtic Park itself was phenomenal as we all have seen what it is like on old firm derby days or European nights. To be able to train at a 7,000 seater plus stadium at Broadwood was also another bonus as not everyday you get to train in a stadium so it was great experience to do so. I am extremely grateful for being selected to go on this placement and I recommend it to anyone to do it.
I really enjoyed my stay in glasgow as part of my Erasmus placement. The experience of seeing the different state of the art facilities, to meeting new college students in glasgow, to visiting the famous football club 'Celtic FC', really opened my eyes to travel and culture and how different Ireland's soccer is to Scotland's soccer.
While spending time in Glasgow I learnt many skills. I really improved my soccer skills on the field and I also became really aware of how important my position is off the ball, as well as on the ball. I also met so many inspirational people while being abroad which i am truly grateful for. Meeting inspirational people from coaches to managers to teachers really helped me to work to my potential in my chosen sport. It has helped me to decide whether I want to work with some of these people in the future or become one of the people in the future.
I am really grateful to have had this experience as I can use it to my advantage in terms of employment. I really gained a bond with some of my classmates also, building new friendships with those that I did not have before, as i did not get the chance to know them as well as others. Since I have come back from my Erasmus+ placement I have gained a lot of confidence both in my class and on the pitch in my skills. I feel also, as a coach i am more confident to seek out new areas for me to improve my skills going forward and have also developed my ability to see what an individual is good at, and what they may need to improve in their soccer. I am really grateful to GTI and Leargas for my time in Glasgow and I would recommend it to any sports student in the future to apply for it.
While spending time in Glasgow I learnt many skills. I really improved my soccer skills on the field and I also became really aware of how important my position is off the ball, as well as on the ball. I also met so many inspirational people while being abroad which i am truly grateful for. Meeting inspirational people from coaches to managers to teachers really helped me to work to my potential in my chosen sport. It has helped me to decide whether I want to work with some of these people in the future or become one of the people in the future.
I am really grateful to have had this experience as I can use it to my advantage in terms of employment. I really gained a bond with some of my classmates also, building new friendships with those that I did not have before, as i did not get the chance to know them as well as others. Since I have come back from my Erasmus+ placement I have gained a lot of confidence both in my class and on the pitch in my skills. I feel also, as a coach i am more confident to seek out new areas for me to improve my skills going forward and have also developed my ability to see what an individual is good at, and what they may need to improve in their soccer. I am really grateful to GTI and Leargas for my time in Glasgow and I would recommend it to any sports student in the future to apply for it.
I am glad to have been chosen for the Erasmus+ work experience program in Glasgow. It was a memorable experience from the start to finish. Since leaving secondary school it was the first time I have gone abroad without family and Erasmus+ made it so easy and enjoyable. From being picked up at the airport and brought to the hotel, to having the chance to be shown how top quality sides train and to see the difference in playing styles between Irish and Scottish teams, it has given me the confidence to undertake similar experiences in the future. I found the trip to Glasgow very beneficial as I am working in America in the summer and feel as though it gave me good experience of working abroad.
I also found it helped in terms of my professional skills, in particular my confidence has improved, I have made many new friends and it has given me a better understanding in what I would like to do when I'm older, as I was still quiet unsure before the placement. The coaches that trained us and gave us practical sessions on the pitch and in the gym were very good and seemed very knowledgeable in what they were teaching us and gave us a good insight into practical things like, how to create space and correct positioning on the pitch or having proper form and motivation in the gym. Overall I think it was a great experience and would love to do it again and would highly recommend it to anyone.
I also found it helped in terms of my professional skills, in particular my confidence has improved, I have made many new friends and it has given me a better understanding in what I would like to do when I'm older, as I was still quiet unsure before the placement. The coaches that trained us and gave us practical sessions on the pitch and in the gym were very good and seemed very knowledgeable in what they were teaching us and gave us a good insight into practical things like, how to create space and correct positioning on the pitch or having proper form and motivation in the gym. Overall I think it was a great experience and would love to do it again and would highly recommend it to anyone.
My trip to Glasgow was extremely beneficial from a personal point of view, for many reasons. Working abroad is something I have thought about for the future and it was great to get the chance to experience it. I always had doubts of whether travelling and leaving home would be for me, but after experiencing it I would definitely be able to make the decision to work abroad. I would encourage anyone thinking of working abroad to try it first as it gives you a different perspective. Throughout the two weeks I learned many new skills and also that unless you work hard you will not get what you want in life. This trip has really inspired me to work towards a career in the sports industry and I really didn't want the 12 days to end. The whole trip was conducted in a professional manner and i would love to be part of something like it again. The skills that i learned were mainly gym and pitch focused but also the fundamentals of making a successful career for yourself, being professional, being punctual, working hard and putting in the work in the books and not just in the practical work. It was brilliant to experience the Scottish culture but in hindsight there are many similarities between the Irish and Scottish culture. I got on very well with our scottish hosts and they made us feel right at home, barring the fact they knew that the probability of us supporting Celtic was greater than supporting Rangers! Another area that I learned about was the history of sectarianism that has surrounded the area of glasgow for decades. There are many stereotypes that put Glasgow down as a sectarian hotbed but after visiting I can say there are signs of it but nothing along the scale that people make it out to be.
I think this experience will benefit greatly as i am hoping to following on to sport science/performance and coaching and have not yet made up my mind on which college as of yet, but the ERASMUS+ trip definitely made up my mind on the career pathway that I want to pursue. This trip definitely brought us all together as a group and friends for many years to come. The thing that made this most exciting for me was the fact that it wasn't the same routine or schedule every day. This practice was shown by all the different football clubs we visited including Rangers Fc, Motherwell Fc, Partick Thistle and Celtic. My favourite part of the trip was visiting Lennoxtown, the training ground of Celtic FC. To get to watch a Celtic match topped off the whole experience. Broadwoods stadium is where we were based, home to the football club 'Clyde'. It was a 7000 seater stadium and to be able to train on a pitch like that was incredible and something i certainly will never forget. Without the ERASMUS+ placements I don't think i would have been able to experience any of this so for this I am very grateful.
I think this experience will benefit greatly as i am hoping to following on to sport science/performance and coaching and have not yet made up my mind on which college as of yet, but the ERASMUS+ trip definitely made up my mind on the career pathway that I want to pursue. This trip definitely brought us all together as a group and friends for many years to come. The thing that made this most exciting for me was the fact that it wasn't the same routine or schedule every day. This practice was shown by all the different football clubs we visited including Rangers Fc, Motherwell Fc, Partick Thistle and Celtic. My favourite part of the trip was visiting Lennoxtown, the training ground of Celtic FC. To get to watch a Celtic match topped off the whole experience. Broadwoods stadium is where we were based, home to the football club 'Clyde'. It was a 7000 seater stadium and to be able to train on a pitch like that was incredible and something i certainly will never forget. Without the ERASMUS+ placements I don't think i would have been able to experience any of this so for this I am very grateful.
I really enjoyed my work Erasmus+ placement in Glasgow. I enjoyed it for a number of reasons such as the difference in culture, the different types of training, and experiencing Glasgow city. I really enjoyed the small differences in culture like the phrases and language that they use in comparison to us. I also liked seeing the different types of training that they did and how much they did in their course compared to on our course and the different ways in which they worked. As a group we all enjoyed exploring Glasgow during the day and night and going to different types of restaurants. As a whole i really enjoyed the experience and I would advise anyone who has the opportunity to go over, to go and experience a new culture and work experience as everyone who went over from our group really enjoyed the experience as it was really well organised allowing us to learn a lot.
It has been a great honour to be able to represent GTI abroad on the Erasmus+ Programme. I have learnt many different skills during my time in Tenerife. The most beneficial skill I learnt was the value of communication. At first it was hard to try and connect with people of different nationalities but eventually I got to learn how to deal with it. In work I had to show many different people what types of activities we do in our job. Many of these people could not speak any English at all but I had to try my best to help. Over the 3 weeks I got much better at this skill and I think it can help me further achieve my goals in life.
Another very important skill I learnt was being independent for the duration of the time in Tenerife. I had to learn how spend my own money wisely and to make it last for over the 3 weeks. I had to cook for myself and I had to make make my own way to work every morning and make sure I was on time. In work I made sure I did everything correctly and do my best to complete the work in the way that Spanish people like to do it. I had to make sure everything in work was in order, clean and presentable for the clients who where coming in or even just passing by.
Another very important skill I learnt was being independent for the duration of the time in Tenerife. I had to learn how spend my own money wisely and to make it last for over the 3 weeks. I had to cook for myself and I had to make make my own way to work every morning and make sure I was on time. In work I made sure I did everything correctly and do my best to complete the work in the way that Spanish people like to do it. I had to make sure everything in work was in order, clean and presentable for the clients who where coming in or even just passing by.
This Erasmus work experience trip is probably the most beneficial and influential thing that I will do before I proceed on to further education. My placement was very good and suited to me perfectly. I learned many new skills in all areas associated with a gym environment. My communication and gym knowledge has improved vastly. From greeting people at reception and learning from more experienced trainees in the gym.
My placement was also very good for experiencing the culture of Tenerife . Spanish is the primary language in the workplace and I had many dealings with it. I was situated in La Caleta de Adeje which is a very cultured town. For my lunch break I explored the small town and indulged in the local food and culture. This trip has greatly improved my confidence in speaking to people and helping them to achieve what they want. Secondly my independence has grown tenfold in my ability to work under my own self esteem which is a crucial skill to have in later life. Tenerife Top Training has made me lots of good friends and some life long ones. There was two French and two German other interns there who were very helpful and thought me a lot about all factors of our course. On my last day our overseer Michael told Aonghus and I that we are welcome to come back to T3 at any time which is a brilliant and life long link. Having Erasmus+ placement on my C.V gives me an edge on a lot of people when it comes to applications of any type let it be job or education. My communication has improved greatly as I mentioned above through English and Spanish which is great for my résumé. Getting the Erasmus and GTI qualification will boost my CV massively and enhance my list of qualifications. My skills have improved greatly by learning from all of the other employees and instructors in T3. Overall my trip couldn't have been more beneficial.
My placement was also very good for experiencing the culture of Tenerife . Spanish is the primary language in the workplace and I had many dealings with it. I was situated in La Caleta de Adeje which is a very cultured town. For my lunch break I explored the small town and indulged in the local food and culture. This trip has greatly improved my confidence in speaking to people and helping them to achieve what they want. Secondly my independence has grown tenfold in my ability to work under my own self esteem which is a crucial skill to have in later life. Tenerife Top Training has made me lots of good friends and some life long ones. There was two French and two German other interns there who were very helpful and thought me a lot about all factors of our course. On my last day our overseer Michael told Aonghus and I that we are welcome to come back to T3 at any time which is a brilliant and life long link. Having Erasmus+ placement on my C.V gives me an edge on a lot of people when it comes to applications of any type let it be job or education. My communication has improved greatly as I mentioned above through English and Spanish which is great for my résumé. Getting the Erasmus and GTI qualification will boost my CV massively and enhance my list of qualifications. My skills have improved greatly by learning from all of the other employees and instructors in T3. Overall my trip couldn't have been more beneficial.
While working abroad I have learnt many new skills within the sports sector. A few of these included working in customer care, understanding customer individuality, the skills needed in making various plans for different athletes and how a sports centre is run. I never realised how much goes on behind the scenes between taking bookings and the cost it takes to have an Olympic pool open for a day. Per day it costs €2,000 to keep it functioning right. On my off days I experienced the culture and all Los Americas and Costa adeje had to offer. I went to a volcanic beach in adeje as well as going to Siam Park and also explored the scenic coastline. I learnt that it's a lot harder living away from home but also a great lesson in working abroad with different cultures and techniques.
The trip to Tenerife to take part in the Erasmus+ work placement benefited me as it helped me come out of my skin a bit and made me come closer to some of my friends. It also showed me some new cultures that I have not witnessed before. It was such a great opportunity and it is something that will really stick out on my C.V that I was picked to attend this work placement abroad. It also showed me how to live on my own and how to manage my travel arrangement,as I had to worry about how to get to work and what to eat and money management. I also got to learn a few words of Spanish which will help me if I ever travel there again. Overall, it made me feel luke I have developed as a better person as it showed me the opportunities out there for people such as me and what I need to do to achieve these.
For my placement I was placed in Water Sports Tenerife, Puerto Colon. There was an introduction day on Monday 9th of May, where I was introduced to staff members. My hours were discussed and had a total of 6 hours of work 5 days a week with to two days off. I started work immediately. Miriam and Christina were my bosses and Macro was the company's manager. I was placed behind reception doing a number of jobs. Some of these included taking booking on the internet, answering emails, answering trip advisor and dealing with clients and getting the clients ready for their chosen activity. Water Sports Tenerife had a variety of activities so different rules applied to each activity. I was given a leaflet to study so that i understood what we were selling. I shadowed Christina for my first day. I learned how to communicate with clients if questions arose. She showed me how to respect the customers wishes and how to deal with any complaints if any ever came up. Communicating with clients gave me more confidence. When talking to the customers there is a set tone and voice. Helping them with any queries was very important.
As the three weeks went on, I was left with customers on my own. I would be at reception to welcome them to Water Sports Tenerife. I would then check their ticket to see if there was a balance to be paid and if so I took it. Also details of the chosen activity was on the ticket. This let me know if the client needs a bracelet or not. I then showed them the lockers where they could leave any valuables in until there activity was over. The clients had an option of a wetsuit and a lifejacket was provided at all times. We helped strapping the lifejackets to ensure there were the correct size for them. They were then shown a seating area where they sat and waited for the boat. Once the boat arrived we showed them down the ramp and onto the boat where they were taken to the activity out on the sea. An activity could be between 10 minutes and an hour. Once the client returned we took back wetsuits, life jackets, etc. for washing. After the client was dressed and ready, my job was to try and sell the photos to the client. I would take the SD card that would have all the photos and show the picture on a computer screen for the customers. I would then write a recipe for the client if they wished to purchase it. I would then help with any directions if they needed it. Even if I was only there for three weeks a map was always there so i could always help. After the three weeks I feel I gained many life skills that will stand to me in my future. This opportunity of Erasmus+ to Tenerife can be put on my C.V. I was in a foreign with a different language and culture. My bosses were lovely to explain all the local traditional ways. I learned a few spanish words along the way. I developed confidence and have made life long friends. I have also gained new qualifications and improvement of your professional skills.
As the three weeks went on, I was left with customers on my own. I would be at reception to welcome them to Water Sports Tenerife. I would then check their ticket to see if there was a balance to be paid and if so I took it. Also details of the chosen activity was on the ticket. This let me know if the client needs a bracelet or not. I then showed them the lockers where they could leave any valuables in until there activity was over. The clients had an option of a wetsuit and a lifejacket was provided at all times. We helped strapping the lifejackets to ensure there were the correct size for them. They were then shown a seating area where they sat and waited for the boat. Once the boat arrived we showed them down the ramp and onto the boat where they were taken to the activity out on the sea. An activity could be between 10 minutes and an hour. Once the client returned we took back wetsuits, life jackets, etc. for washing. After the client was dressed and ready, my job was to try and sell the photos to the client. I would take the SD card that would have all the photos and show the picture on a computer screen for the customers. I would then write a recipe for the client if they wished to purchase it. I would then help with any directions if they needed it. Even if I was only there for three weeks a map was always there so i could always help. After the three weeks I feel I gained many life skills that will stand to me in my future. This opportunity of Erasmus+ to Tenerife can be put on my C.V. I was in a foreign with a different language and culture. My bosses were lovely to explain all the local traditional ways. I learned a few spanish words along the way. I developed confidence and have made life long friends. I have also gained new qualifications and improvement of your professional skills.
Michaela Forkan - Sport Performance & Coaching
My overall experience of the Erasmus+ programme was brilliant. I benefited greatly and have learnt a lot over the three weeks. I realised that I really want to live abroad in the future. I also have realised how great the opportunities are abroad and how beneficial the Erasmus programme is. I am so greatly for the experience that the Erasmus programme has pervaded us with. I learnt a lot in my three weeks such as how to budget correctly. I also improved my commination skills and how to communicate with nationalist with no English. I also learnt how to be reasonable and how to look after myself and others in the group. I have gained the experience to be more independent.
Katie Nelly - Sport Performance & Coaching
From my experience of doing this Erasmus placement I found the experience very beneficial. I feel a lot more confident and responsible as we had to provide for ourselves. I think that 3 weeks was probably a little too long for this placement as I felt that we had covered our learning aims within the first two weeks. I really enjoyed the Spanish culture and food. I feel like I have gained a lot more qualities after this experience. I would recommend this opportunity to anyone who has the choice to do it as it will benefit you in life. I am very greatful that I was offered this opportunity to experience this culture and work place. I think it will benefit me for any job prospects I wish to pursue as it ill look good on my C.V.