Young people round the age of 10 are incredibly curious about the world around them. IMC Weekendschool feeds this curiosity with lessons from specialist teachers and takes pupils on an Expedition to the Future. One Sunday, we visit the weekend school in Amsterdam North, during lessons on ‘Advertising yourself’ and ‘What’s it like to be a children’s doctor’.

In the photo above: at the end of the ‘Advertising Yourself’ course, participants receive a poster.

Finding photos and words

There are magazines open all over the table during the lesson on ‘Advertising yourself’. The pupils cut photos, letters and individual words out and put them together in collages that say something about who they are and what’s important to them. “What do you think, what does this photo of a playground represent?”, a pupil asks the teacher. “It represents my inner child!”, he answers his own question with a mischievous grin. Searching for words starts conversations. Pupils observe, respond and recognize each other in what they see. “That word really fits you: stubborn!”

Corrected by the class

The pupils listen attentively, even when this sometimes requires effort. At the same time, they feel free to express their views. When teacher Melle talks about people who had to work in the plantations in Suriname and calls them “slaves”, one of the pupils corrects him immediately: “You should say ‘enslaved people’!” Melle responds, “You’re absolutely right.”

Putting back a dislocated shoulder

In the next classroom, trainee pediatrician Ingmar is teaching the class. “What do you have to be able to do to become a children’s doctor?”, he asks. A pupil looks troubled. “You need to be able to handle seeing blood.”
The questions just keep coming. How do you put back a dislocated shoulder? Is it scary to give someone an injection? Ingmar answers each question in turn, visibly enjoying the experience.

Examining eardrums

Then it’s time for the pupils to get to work. They look into each other’s ears, tie a sling and try to spot each other’s tonsils. “So that’s what an eardrum looks like!”, a pupil exclaims enthusiastically.
When it’s time for the last round of questions, a hand shoots up immediately. “I don’t have a question, but I want to give you a compliment”, the pupil says. “I think you explained it all really well”. Two girls come forward with a large, decorated postcard to thank Ingmar for the lesson. He compliments the children: “You all did really well, too”.

About IMC Weekendschool

IMC Weekendschool prepares young people for the most important step after school: making choices about their future based on their own talents and interests. The education concept Expedition to the Future helps young people to discover who they are, what they can do and what choices fit with this. The objective is to enable young people from all different levels of education and all social backgrounds to make well-founded choices and take their place in society. Lessons from passionate professionals help them expand their horizons, grow their self-confidence, and strengthen their connection with society.