An unforgettable time in Ireland

Jani-Magnus Hölz reports on his Erasmus exchange

Four weeks in Ireland: getting to know the country, the people and the language – that was the goal of Jani-Magnus Hölz, an industrial clerk apprentice at GEORG SCHLEGEL. From November 8 to December 6, he spent an unforgettable time on the Emerald Isle. He worked there and attended a language school. “It was a great time,” he says.

Erasmus exchange in Athlone

As part of an Erasmus exchange, Jani-Magnus Hölz traveled to Ireland together with seven other students from the Biberach vocational school. Their destination was Athlone, a small town in the middle of Ireland.

Working in a fruit and vegetable shop

During his stay, Jani worked in a fruit store. His tasks included stocking shelves, serving customers, answering questions and delivering goods. “It was fun. The people are extremely nice,” he reports. He was surprised by the casual working clothes - many wore jogging bottoms, even when interacting with customers.

Good weather and Irish clichés

Many clichés about the Irish have been confirmed: They are relaxed, friendly people who like to have a lift in the pub. The pubs are cozy and live music is often played. The weather was better than expected - in addition to rain, there were also beautiful days with temperatures of up to 25 degrees Celsius.

English lessons and cultural experiences

In addition to their work, the eight budding industrial clerks received English lessons in the evenings. The focus was on speaking and relating to everyday life. They watched English films together and talked about culture and life in Ireland.

Host family and the Cliffs of Moher

Jani stayed with an elderly couple about three kilometers from Athlone. The host parents were very friendly, but the bus connections were poor, so Jani often had to walk 40 minutes to his host parents after work. In their free time, the students explored the region, visited the famous Cliffs of Moher, met up in pubs and discovered the town.

Improving language skills

Improving his English language skills was an important motivation for Jani. His English was already good, but speaking it every day gave him even more confidence. “It was only difficult at first with the accent,” he says. Now he feels confident speaking freely and hopes that this will help him in the voluntary KMK exam.

Recommendation for future trainees

Jani is the third SCHLEGEL apprentice to take advantage of this opportunity. Ellen Lipowski and Lea Volkstorf also spent time in Ireland during their apprenticeships. Jani can only recommend the exchange: “It was a great time. I got to know lots of nice people. If I could, I would definitely do it again.”