Our IBDP Class of 2022 GIve their insights into the Programme!

Eidhlin joined the school in TY. She graduated in 2022 and now tells us about her IB journey.

Published April 23rd 2021

From the beginning of the year to the present, I am glad to say that I have learnt a lot from the IB programme. I remember coming into school on the first day not knowing what to expect, but the staff and my classmates instantly made me feel reassured that everything would be fine. 

Coming from MYP (middle years programme), I was lucky as I went into fifth year with a better understanding of the IB course than my classmates. But that is not to say that I have not learnt anything new or developed any new skills. During the first few weeks of school, I remember worrying about how I did not know much, and I was very scared to fall behind. But my teachers told me that if I was at the place I needed to be in two years' time, I simply would not be in high school, and instead attending third-level education. Even in the present, I still tell myself this when I get stressed or anxious about school.

Every day we go into the classroom, we learn something new, not only academically, but we learn about each others’ cultures as well, which I enjoy very much. I like our class dynamic as we are all from different places, so conversations are always interesting, and everyone has a different aspect and charm to bring to the table. The small class numbers are very beneficial to students, as you get more detailed guidance from teachers, and you form deeper relationships with your classmates, as they become your family. 

I will admit, the course so far has not been extremely easy for me, as personally, I am not the strongest academically nor are my organization skills great, but with the support of the teachers over the past few months, I definitely think that I have improved a lot.

In my opinion, the IB course is great for students as we are encouraged to actively research instead of getting told what to know by our teachers. The fact that we have to use the internet a lot to researchand complete tasks gives us an advantage over our peers.With the world constantly evolving technologically, more and more people are gaining access to the internet, which increases the risk of fake news spreadingonline. It is thereforeimportant that wedevelop the skill of verifying our sources while we are young, to avoid any misunderstanding when we are older and in the workplace. 

Every day, I am developing my skills and challenging myself to be better than the previousone. I am looking forward to seeing what we will learn and how much my classmates and I will develop in the months to come. For anyone considering the IB programme, I would greatly encourage you to have a serious think about it, as not only will it only challenge you, but it will also benefit you in the future, as the number of skills you gain throughout this course is large and they will deem useful to you in the future.

Tom came from Dubai to Villiers to continue his IB journey. He reflects on his experience and learnings after graduating in 2022.

Published May 14th 2021

I came here to do the IBDP programme because I’ve been working towards it ever since I entered secondary school 7 years ago in Shanghai, China. I’ve also completed a year of the IB in Dubai, but unfortunately, I had to move back to Ireland and do it here. My experience of IB here in Villiers has been a beneficial one. I've had a chance to grow academically whilst also completing my IA’s and other important aspects of the programme. The IB is very advantageous but rigorous academic programme. It is a rewarding course and gives students the opportunity to broaden their horizons, especially internationally. Aspects of the IB such as TOK and CAS have really helped me and the other students to learn about, interact and help their local and international communities, whilst also benefitting the school environment. 

Some parts of the course can seem daunting and even scary at first, but I’ve learned that they’re easier to overcome than I had expected. For example, the Extended Essay was a big fear of mine; It seemed too large to even comprehend writing, but I soon learned that students find it easier to write as they research and construct the essay. Furthermore, I’m happy that the IB opens doors for students. Getting a placement in some of the top universities in the world is something that really appealed to me about the IB. 

The main reason I decided to do IB was the Spanish course offered by Pamoja. It’s a really in depth and focused course which gives a detailed insight into Spanish and Latin culture as well as helping you reach a near native level of the language. The structure of the IB is also incredibly beneficial as it allows for some free periods throughout the day, where we can catch up on missed work, complete external lessons or generally study.  

The IB teachers here are extremely helpful, and with the smaller class sizes, they can really give attention to every student. I have received a lot of help with my IA’s, my classwork and my studies from them and they’ve really helped me to aim higher in my subjects. 

IB gives a really deep understanding and international view of world cultures, beliefs and practices. We all share our knowledge of where we’ve been and where we come from, providing an open-minded and accepting atmosphere in the classroom. I think it's amazing that we’re all really close friends in the class; we’ve grown together and overcome a lot since the beginning of the year. The small class sizes really give you a chance to get to know everyone better.  

Overall, I think the IB really resonates with me, as I’ve grown up outside of Ireland and I feel at home with a class of international students, who, like me, faced the challenges of immigrating to other countries. The IB helps me to access a higher level of knowledge that is really sought after in the wider academic world, and I know how lucky I am to be undertaking such a valuable programme. 

Simon wrote about his first few weeks of IB. He completed the diploma here in 2022.

Published April 30th 2021

My first few weeks as an IB student were definitely the most challenging ones. It was a total change from what I was used to. But you certainly realise after the first month that what you are required to do is manageable and you get into the work habits and standards of the IB.

Of course, doing the IBDP also means that you have to do a lot of work and carry a whole lot of responsibilities on your back, but there are way more upsides than downsides. Many students would think that getting into a good university is the main upside, but I would say that the best thing about it is the diverse cultures and backgrounds of the people in our class!

Before coming here, I had never been in a class with people from that many different countries around the world; I probably wasn’t even in the same room with that many. We all get along so well; our class is perfect, and we all care for each other which is totally great.

Karla joined Villiers in 2019 in 4th year. First she had the aim to improve her English, then she decided to stay here for two more years and complete the IB programme.

Published April 30th 2021

For me, IB means freedom, being close to my teachers and classmates, having time to organise myself, and learn who I really am. 

When I first heard about the IB programme, it reminded me a lot of the school system at home in Germany. In contrast to the Irish system, we have relatively many long-term projects and fewer big exam weeks. Just the thought of sitting in a sports hall for a whole day and writing my exam with over 100 people made me sick. On the other hand, being in an IB class with nine people, seemed much much comfortable. How I ever understood a word that teachers said in a class of 33 students in Germany is a mystery to me today. 

So how would I describe my experience in the IB programme? I would probably say that on some days, my class feels like a small family and that the teachers are so eager to share their knowledge with us. I feel like I become more knowledgeable just by listening to Mr. Hanna say: "IB students should be knowledgeable". Of course, I'm still a long way from knowing everything.

But like all of us, I also have bad days. Sometimes, I go to class in the morning with an anxious feeling because I know that with only nine people in our class, I cannot hide behind someone else like I used to be able to do at home. This makes me afraid to ask questions, like if I don't understand an English word.  But all these fears disappeared in the long run because there is an incredible feeling of support and community within the classroom, because we are all there for each other. 

IB has taught me so much so far and I'm excited about what I'm going to learn in the next few months. I think this programme is a wonderful steppingstone to my future. You learn to organise yourself, trust yourself to be brave and to open up to other people and cultures. 

Jiayu was here since TY and he wrote a text about his experience in IB.

Published April 23rd 2021

Up until now we are five months into the first year of IB and I think that the overall experience has been quite enjoyable. Because I am from a completely different educational background, I find the learning process of IB very interesting, as it requires a lot of initiative.

Growing up, I was used to following the teacher’s instructions and learning like a robot. I think that this style of learning is effective for exam-focused courses, but in general, it didn't make me improve as a learner. There are many projects in the IB course which allow you to do research and learn from your findings. For me this is a different, but good aspect. 

The teachers always tell us that IB is not a competition with anyone else, but it is a journey of ourselves becoming better people over the two years. I think I have already learnt a lot since the start of year. For example, I have learnt how to verify my sources, how to think critically and give balanced conclusions, etc. These are all very important skills and I believe they will help me in many ways in the future.

I have heard a lot of people talking about the heavy workload of IB, and maybe it’s because of my previous education experience in China, but I think at least up to this point, the workload is still manageable. As long as you plan and use your time well, it is not as scary as most people say.

Other than academics, the CAS (creativity, activity, service) program gives you a chance to look at something other than your subjects. You can pick up some new skills or run projects in school which are different ways to develop yourself as a person.

Also, the small class size allows everyone to interact with the teacher better and also allows you to develop good relationships with each classmate. 

In conclusion, I have enjoyed my experience so far and I would encourage those who are thinking of this program to try it, challenge themselves and have fun at the same time.

Mayar is also part of the class 2022. She joined Villiers School to do the IB in 2020 and she reflects on what she thinks of the programme.

Published May 7th 2021

I decided to study in the IB because I wanted to experience an internationally recognized program that would help me get into the university of my choice. However, since I started the course, I have seen both benefits and challenges.

The IB offers many subject choices, which is a huge positive, as well as Pamoja an online learning platform, which offers courses that the school does not have staff for. Taking subjects you love in the IB is very important because you have to spend a lot of time on each subject, so having an interest makes it much easier to study. There are also the core subjects, which I think add a little bit of fun to the course. However, this year we haven’t had as many opportunities as in previous years due to the current pandemic, so it is harder to find experiences for CAS.

In my opinion, IB encourages you to learn many life lessons, like critical and creative thinking, which can be challenging. I also think that the IB leaves a lot of room for exploring real-life events in its lessons, especially in English, as we discuss many different topics relevant to current events.

The workload in IB is rigorous, and a great deal of work is expected from you. For the past few weeks in quarantine, it has been tough to accomplish that workload. Being at home, it's hard to find motivation as we are not in a proper learning environment. Nevertheless, the teachers have been very considerate and understanding of our situation.

If you are highly motivated and hardworking, I recommend taking the IB into consideration because it will benefit your future greatly.