Meet Queenie Lee, a 2025 Psychology graduate, who interned at a Montessori nursey school in Barcelona last summer.
"This experience was a profound journey into cross-cultural educational practices, personal growth, and the application of theoretical knowledge in a real-world, authentic Montessori environment.
Arriving in Barcelona presented an immediate opportunity for cultural immersion. Navigating a new city, adapting to the Spanish work culture, and communicating in a multilingual environment—where Catalan, Spanish, and English intersected—were initial challenges that quickly became valuable learning experiences. This immersion taught me adaptability, resilience, and the importance of non-verbal communication, especially when working with young children.
Respectful Child Accompaniment: The biggest lesson I took away was the importance of approaching childhood education from a respectful and observant perspective. My goal was to accompany the children in their self-development rather than direct it. This involved carefully observing their interests, intervening only when necessary, and fostering an atmosphere of patience and immense respect for each child’s individual pace and choices.
Initiative and Proactivity: In a dynamic classroom environment, I learned the value of initiative. Beyond my assigned tasks, I proactively identified needs—whether it was preparing art materials before a session, soothing a child in need of comfort, or reorganizing a workspace.
This internship served as a catalyst for my personal growth. Living and working abroad on my own boosted my self-confidence and problem-solving skills. A key challenge was the initial language barrier with some children and parents. However, this pushed me to become more creative in my communication, relying more on tone, gesture, and demonstration, which are, ironically, at the very heart of communicative teaching. Furthermore, adapting to the collaborative and flat hierarchy within the school taught me the importance of teamwork and open communication with colleagues and supervisors.
My internship in Barcelona was an immensely rewarding and transformative experience. It gave me invaluable, hands-on insight into early childhood education in a well-regarded Montessori setting. I am deeply grateful to the team at món mon for their guidance and for the positive evaluation of my dedication and work.
This experience strengthened my passion for education and equipped me with practical skills, a respectful pedagogical approach, and a global perspective that I will carry into my future career. It was a perfect blend of professional development and personal discovery, and I would highly recommend an international experience like this to any student eager to broaden their horizons."