{"id":5630,"date":"2026-01-30T12:19:06","date_gmt":"2026-01-30T20:19:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/edtechuvic.ca\/edci336\/2026\/01\/30\/free-inquiry-1-duolingo-kaffe-and-fika\/"},"modified":"2026-01-30T12:19:06","modified_gmt":"2026-01-30T20:19:06","slug":"free-inquiry-1-duolingo-kaffe-and-fika","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/edtechuvic.ca\/edci336\/2026\/01\/30\/free-inquiry-1-duolingo-kaffe-and-fika\/","title":{"rendered":"Free Inquiry #1: Duolingo, kaffe, and fika"},"content":{"rendered":"

Welcome to my inquiry! V\u00e4lkommen!<\/em> My name is Macy and I\u2019m a teacher candidate at the University of Victoria. I\u2019m gearing up to my first practicum in April in Stockholm, Sweden! That\u2019s right \u2013 Sweden!<\/p>\n

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AI-generated photo of me in Sweden! Prompt given to ChatGPT: Generate photo. Put her in a blue knit sweater and a big chunky yellow scarf. Background: streets of Gamla Stan, Stockholm. Make it snowing. She is also holding a Swedish flag.\u00a0 <\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

When I started the BEd Post-Degree Professional Program, I didn\u2019t know that there was an option to go abroad for the 6-week practicum. Part <\/em>of why I applied was on a whim. I\u2019ve barely traveled at all \u2013 unless you count when I was a young child (my dad played professional basketball in Europe and I lived in England and Spain as a youngster). I\u2019ve essentially been in North America ever since, save a school trip to Venice in 2018). In fact, I haven\u2019t been on a plane since 2019 \u2013 that\u2019s one of my go to two-truths-and-a-lie statements. I feel like I haven\u2019t had the transformative experience of solo travelling that a lot of my peers have had. Although I\u2019m so grateful for my life in Victoria, I think a little exploring is long overdue.<\/p>\n

My bigger reason for choosing an international practicum placement was to broaden my horizons. I\u2019m ashamed to say that I know very little about Swedish culture. However, I have always been curious about Scandinavia and interested in its history (Vikings!!!). I\u2019m professionally fascinated by the school systems in Scandinavia. I remember meeting an elementary school friend who\u2019d recently emigrated to Vancouver from Finland. Alex constantly raved about how school back home was so much better. I\u2019ve heard this statement echoed countless times since \u2013 in news articles, in sociology textbooks during my undergrad, and by pretty much anyone who I\u2019ve told I\u2019m headed to Sweden for my practicum.<\/p>\n

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Eklidens Skola, one of the largest high schools in Stockholm, where I\u2019ll be a student teacher this April\/May!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

An Inquiry into Swedish Culture and Language<\/h2>\n

I hope to learn from my mentor teacher (and students) at Eklidens Skola in Stockholm and bring what I learn back to my colleagues here in Canada. I also hope to gain experience and understanding of what it\u2019s like to be new to a country and unfamiliar with the language. That way, I can better understand and support my future students who are newcomers and\/or learning English as an additional language.The crux of my inquiry will be exploring Swedish language and culture. I have always been interested in language acquisition, but I only speak English. I figured this inquiry project could be a chance to\u2026<\/p>\n