It was an educational and exciting day, both for the Spaniards and for us!

Lia Paulmichl, 4ABSG

One of the most important results was the improvement of our language skills. Speaking Spanish every day helped us learn lots of new words, especially those used in daily life, and made us more confident in both speaking and understanding the language.

Another important aspect was experiencing a different culture. We tried new foods, learned about traditions, and saw what daily life in Spain is really like. Spending time with host families and local students gave us a better understanding of their routines, habits, and perspectives, and also showed us both similarities and differences between our lifestyles.

We also explored various places and experienced the local nature in Galicia. We made new friendships, and sharing these experiences brought us even closer together. We even learned more about music and traditional instruments, which made the exchange even more interesting.

Overall, this exchange was not only about improving our Spanish, but also about personal growth. We became more open-minded, independent, and confident in new situations. It gave us unforgettable memories and experiences that we will carry with us for a long time.

Adiós, it was a blast!

The exchange between Spain and Italy (Galicia and South Tyrol) were two weeks of living with an assigned partner and doing activities, organized by each school. These activities included visits to two cities of the region; Vigo and Santiago de Compostela in Galicia and Glurns and Bozen in South Tyrol. Additionaly there were also physical outdoor advetures like a snowshoe hike. During free time, the exchange students had the oppurtunity to get to know their exchange partner and their family better, often through simple talking or doing daily things like playing cards for an example.

Outside of the programme, the spanish students were able to see the city of Verona, while the Tyroleans could see the city of Porto.

Even tho I myself only have been able to experience one week of the exchange I am happy I could be a part of it and I think it has been a interesting time for both of the groups.

Spain

After arriving on the islands, we were amazed by the clear water, sandy beaches, and the natural surroundings. To learn more about this special place, we were divided into two groups and took part in a guided tour. Our guides explained interesting facts about the unique ecosystem, the wildlife, and the importance of protecting the environment in this national park.

Overall, the visit to the Cíes Islands was an unforgettable experience. We not only learned a lot, but also had the chance to spend time together as a class in such a beautiful and peaceful place.

In the afternoon, we walked from Mals to Glurns. When we arrived, we were given an interesting guided tour through the small town, where we learned a lot about its history. In the evening, we had some free time to spend individually with our exchange students.

During this day, we were able to get to know each other even better.

The rest of the time was free, everyone could decide on their own, how they wanted to spend their evening. This was a possibility for everybody to get to know each other better. The spanish students also had time, to rest and settle into their foster homes.

I decided to meet with some other friends that were part of the project. We showed the girls a village and grabbed something to drink.

After, we went home, to get some sleep for the next day.

It was very surprising because everything was different. I knew a new culture and met new people I'll always remember!

The project also fostered the development of communication skills in Spanish and English, as well as a greater awareness of the importance of cultural diversity in Europe and a sense of belonging to a plural European community. Furthermore, the pupils had the opportunity to engage with German and Galician, gaining a better understanding of these languages and their significance within their respective cultural and social contexts.

Activities such as ‘Language Mappings’, the musical exchange and the creation of a small multilingual dictionary enabled the pupils to engage with the different languages and cultures of the project in a practical and creative way. The intercultural culinary workshop and the cultural presentations, in which the students shared traditions, music and customs from Galicia and South Tyrol, were also particularly enriching.

Maria Marcinczak