Isabella, John and Sara. April 2025 from
Onnerodsskola in Landvetter Gothenburg.
Successful Completion of International Exchange Program with Swedish Educators
We are pleased to announce the successful completion of our latest cooperative program with our Swedish colleagues. Sara and Isabella, social educators from Önnerödsskolan in Landvetter near Gothenburg, spent the past week with us, observing our teaching methods and the integration strategies we employ within our diverse and multinational student body.
Their visit provided a valuable opportunity for mutual learning. Sara and Isabella were particularly interested in how we manage integration in such a culturally rich environment, and we engaged in many productive discussions on best practices and shared experiences.
This exchange proved to be an informative and rewarding experience for all involved, strengthening international collaboration and enhancing our shared commitment to inclusive education.
Cecillia Malmgren with Key Stage 2
February/March 2025
Reflection on My Experience at The O’Brien International School.
When I came to The O’Brien International School, I had an assignment from my school in Sweden to complete an observation report. My initial idea was to conduct two lessons without any rules or structure to observe how students responded. However, I also wanted to gain a broader understanding of the school environment—how the team of teachers works together and collaborates.
Let me start by saying that I am very impressed. The team at The O’Brien International School is amazing. They communicate well, and it’s clear that every teacher is truly there for the students and genuinely cares about them. The teachers discuss how they can help each student grow, even if they aren’t currently teaching that student. You can see that these are teachers who are passionate about their work.
During my internship, I began by observing classes, but later I also started working one-on-one with some students to see where I could provide support. I was responsible for two lessons in one class where I deliberately didn’t give any written instructions on the whiteboard—only spoken ones. The students were asked to write a letter about themselves using some guiding questions. The goal was to show the students how important structure is for their work, and for me and the teachers to learn how we can better support them.
It quickly became clear that, without direct instruction and classroom structure, the students began talking more to each other. Some students didn’t write anything at all. After the lesson, I asked the students about the noise level and how it affected them. Most of them wrote that it was loud and hard to focus. Through this experience, the students began to understand why structure in the classroom is important—not just for the teachers, but for their own success.
One thing I noticed at this school, which was new to me, is that students are placed in classes based on their knowledge and skill levels, rather than just their age. This was a completely new concept for me, and I was positively surprised to see how well it worked. Students could learn from one another regardless of age. What mattered most were kindness and respect—and I believe that’s thanks to both the teachers and the students at this school.
Thank you to everyone at The O’Brien International School for this meaningful experience.
Jennifer Years 10/11 and A Levels
April/May 2023
My name is Jennifer Ireland, I am a student at UCAM, where I study in the Bachelors of Physical Activity and Sport Science. As part of my 4th year practicum, I have the opportunity to take part in an Internship in my desired field, in this case I am interested in PE teaching and Sport coaching. Therefore, I contact you to express my interest in your school, as I believe I have so much to offer. I am enthusiastic, kind, caring, and have a keen interest to learn. Throughout my course, I have studied many aspects related to PE teaching and Sport coaching, and I would love to be able to put that into practice, and learn from your experienced staff members. Before entering my university degree, I studied IGCSEs, and International Bachelorette (IB) while I lived in China as an international student, as a result I understand the international school system, and diverse have language skills. The internship would take place from April/May 2023. I would greatly appreciate any opportunity you might offer me to intern at your school.