19 Spanish students and 2 staff from Colegio del Salvador Catholic School in Zaragoza, Spain joined host students’ families from St John’s School and Sixth Form College for a week in March. This event was organised by Mr P Robertson, Subject Learning Co-ordinator of MFL, supported by a range of staff from within the school. The students stayed in homes all around the area from Bishop Auckland, Shildon, Newton Aycliffe to Crook, Stanhope and Frosterley.
St John’s set up a range of visits during the stay, including Beamish Museum, St James’ Park, Durham Cathedral and also a weekend trip to the Lake District. However, due to the British weather and consequent road closures, the Lake District trip had to be cancelled. This led to frantic re-organising to ensure that the weather did not take anything away from the experience. Mrs L Maddison Subject Learning Co-ordinator of Technology came to the rescue organising a range of activities which were enjoyed by all.
Host families arranged a variety of activities, swimming, bowling, sledging, lazerquest, etc, to ensure the students had a fulfilling and enjoyable visit to the North East. All have commented on the huge success of the exchange and how much it has helped their children to appreciate a different language and that despite some language barriers we are in all global citizens.
Students built new friendships through sharing of culture and language and the whole experience was an unforgettable one for the school community. The tearful goodbyes at the farewell party and then Newcastle airport showed the impact the experience has had on St John’s students and their new friends from Spain.
The feedback received from host parents has been incredible, thanking the school for an unforgettable experience that has enhanced not only the love of Spanish but also a new found fondness of their local community. Students and families have got on so well that many are planning to spend holidays together in Spain this summer and Spanish students were desperate to stay longer.
The Spanish teachers were blown away by the welcome by St John’s school, parents and most of all the students; they can’t wait to return the favour in Zaragoza.
Mr Robertson commented, “Both sets of students now appreciate the magic of speaking another language and where it can take them in life. They can also see the relevance of what we try to do in the classroom and the exchange will live long in their memories”.
