Life skills at Luzac: personal development is also a profession
Learning to be strong and balanced in life requires more than history and Dutch. That is why Luzac College teaches the subject of life science.
DATE
27 May 2024
TEXT
Jasmine Groenendijk
IMAGE
Brian Mul
Life skills at Luzac: personal development is also a profession
Learning to be strong and balanced in life requires more than history and Dutch. That is why Luzac College teaches the subject of life science.
Woday morning, 11:30am. In a classroom of the Luzac College on Orange Street, teacher Sanna Gutjahr paces back and forth nervously. "Euh, I lost my text. Just repacking here, guys." The 12 students in her class look at her suspiciously. "Is this serious, ma'am?", one of them asks. "Well, it's part of my act," replies Gutjahr, stepping out of her role as presenter. "But this also happens in real life, forgetting your lines during a presentation. That's human. Then it's just very powerful to say that honestly." This havo-vwo 4 class is getting its second life science lesson of this school year today. In seven weeks, the students will give a mini-TED Talk on their favourite subject. As the bell rings a little later and the classroom empties, Gutjahr says: "The basic message is that nothing is wrong and that everyone has their gifts and talents."
'Everyone has talents'
Familiar atmosphere
On the ground floor, Rector Pauline Heistein-ten Zeldam pours us a cup of tea in her office with its large glass wall. All the students see her and she sees all the students. "Here everyone knows each other," she says. Luzac College is a private educator with personal attention as its main capital. "Our concern goes beyond transferring knowledge. There is more than geography, Dutch and mathematics. Personal skills, such as communication, are at least as important in life. We want to teach young people how to be strong and balanced in life." Since last year, therefore, all non-exam classes - from bridge class to 5-vwo - have been given the life science method. The first block is dedicated to communication skills. In block two, pupils become aware of their own talents and those of others. Block three revolves around personal balance: a healthy mind in a healthy body. For the senior years, there is a fourth block: 'Globewise', about the world outside the Netherlands.
'Personal skills are at least as important as knowledge'
"Life science is a very personal subject, which is why it is taught by student tutors," Heistein explains. "To get 16-year-olds to sit on a yoga mat together, you will first have to create a trusting atmosphere. That is the most important thing. Then young people dare to expose themselves a bit more. The same goes for other skills, such as presentation." That familiar environment serves another important purpose, according to Heistein. "Students who have had a dent in their self-confidence somewhere in the past, dare to show themselves more and therefore gain more self-confidence."
Inside a classroom at Luzac
Life Science
That the subject of life science boosts young people's self-confidence was evident during the Globewise block last year. Every year, a developing country takes centre stage; last year it was India. The upper secondary pupils organised a benefit evening to raise money for a school in India. Through Globewise, a foundation that promotes education in underprivileged countries, they had personal contact with the Indian pupils. Heistein starts beaming: "The students all found it very exciting in the beginning. In groups, they went past entrepreneurs here on Noordeinde to collect items for the auction. From the caterers, for example, they got packages, some restaurants gave a dinner voucher.
Bollywood dance
On the evening itself, the students were busy: they stood at the cloakroom, welcomed guests, manned a book stall and tables with food and drinks ánd they gave a performance. During the day, they had rehearsed a Bollywood dance with an Indian dance teacher. Beforehand, they all said: 'We're not going to do that, far too scary.' But on the evening itself, they did it in front of a full house. Even those 16-year-old boys. There was such a fun atmosphere. The parents started to outbid us: a Dungelmann ball sandwich went for 110 euros! In total, we raised 8,000 euros. We were mega proud of our students. This evening will stay with them for the rest of their lives."
Seeing students' self-confidence grow is what teacher Gutjahr likes best about her job. "I had a student who neither dared to express herself one-on-one in class. After a few weeks, she came to me on her own accord and we had a conversation. Moreover, for the first time in class, she raised her hand to ask for something. Those are huge steps. That's what I do it for!"
text Jasmine Groenendijk image Brian Mul
Woday morning, 11:30am. In a classroom of the Luzac College on Orange Street, teacher Sanna Gutjahr paces back and forth nervously. "Euh, I lost my text. Just repacking here, guys." The 12 students in her class look at her suspiciously. "Is this serious, ma'am?", one of them asks. "Well, it's part of my act," replies Gutjahr, stepping out of her role as presenter. "But this also happens in real life, forgetting your lines during a presentation. That's human. Then it's just very powerful to say that honestly." This havo-vwo 4 class is getting its second life science lesson of this school year today. In seven weeks, the students will give a mini-TED Talk on their favourite subject. As the bell rings a little later and the classroom empties, Gutjahr says: "The basic message is that nothing is wrong and that everyone has their gifts and talents."
'Everyone has talents'
Familiar atmosphere
On the ground floor, Rector Pauline Heistein-ten Zeldam pours us a cup of tea in her office with its large glass wall. All the students see her and she sees all the students. "Here everyone knows each other," she says. Luzac College is a private educator with personal attention as its main capital. "Our concern goes beyond transferring knowledge. There is more than geography, Dutch and mathematics. Personal skills, such as communication, are at least as important in life. We want to teach young people how to be strong and balanced in life." Since last year, therefore, all non-exam classes - from bridge class to 5-vwo - have been given the life science method. The first block is dedicated to communication skills. In block two, pupils become aware of their own talents and those of others. Block three revolves around personal balance: a healthy mind in a healthy body. For the senior years, there is a fourth block: 'Globewise', about the world outside the Netherlands.
'Personal skills are at least as important as knowledge'
"Life science is a very personal subject, which is why it is taught by student tutors," Heistein explains. "To get 16-year-olds to sit on a yoga mat together, you will first have to create a trusting atmosphere. That is the most important thing. Then young people dare to expose themselves a bit more. The same goes for other skills, such as presentation." That familiar environment serves another important purpose, according to Heistein. "Students who have had a dent in their self-confidence somewhere in the past, dare to show themselves more and therefore gain more self-confidence."
Inside a classroom at Luzac
Life Science
That the subject of life science boosts young people's self-confidence was evident during the Globewise block last year. Every year, a developing country takes centre stage; last year it was India. The upper secondary pupils organised a benefit evening to raise money for a school in India. Through Globewise, a foundation that promotes education in underprivileged countries, they had personal contact with the Indian pupils. Heistein starts beaming: "The students all found it very exciting in the beginning. In groups, they went past entrepreneurs here on Noordeinde to collect items for the auction. From the caterers, for example, they got packages, some restaurants gave a dinner voucher.
Bollywood dance
On the evening itself, the students were busy: they stood at the cloakroom, welcomed guests, manned a book stall and tables with food and drinks ánd they gave a performance. During the day, they had rehearsed a Bollywood dance with an Indian dance teacher. Beforehand, they all said: 'We're not going to do that, far too scary.' But on the evening itself, they did it in front of a full house. Even those 16-year-old boys. There was such a fun atmosphere. The parents started to outbid us: a Dungelmann ball sandwich went for 110 euros! In total, we raised 8,000 euros. We were mega proud of our students. This evening will stay with them for the rest of their lives."
Seeing students' self-confidence grow is what teacher Gutjahr likes best about her job. "I had a student who neither dared to express herself one-on-one in class. After a few weeks, she came to me on her own accord and we had a conversation. Moreover, for the first time in class, she raised her hand to ask for something. Those are huge steps. That's what I do it for!"
