Spanish Exchange
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We had a very successful cultural exchange with Sant Gervasi secondary school in Mollet near Barcelona. A group of Year 8 and 9 students flew with Miss Kelso, Mrs Armstrong and Miss Brunniche to Barcelona on 17th June and returned on 29th June. In the weeks leading up to the exchange we spoke regularly to our partners on MSN.
Once in Spain the students did not escape school work! The pupils attended lessons in the Spanish school, accessed work from their teachers at home via the school’s VLE, did an art project, did Spanish lessons based on GCSE topics and took part in practical language sessions. The students found it helpful in developing their language skills and many returned feeling more confident in Spanish.
The first week we toured Barcelona on foot, bus, train and boat! We visited the Nou Camp Stadium – very impressive, had a fun-filled day at Port Aventura theme park and went to Monserrat in the mountains. We spent the weekend with our host families celebrating San Juan fiesta.
The second week we went to the Picasso and Dali Museums, the Miro Foundation and the world famous Gaudi masterpiece “La Sagrada Familia”. The art was interesting and sometimes a bit crazy! We also spent time at the beach in Figueres and enjoyed the local pool in Mollet, just a short walk from our partner school.
On the last Thursday night we had a farewell party in the school grounds with our partners and their parents and then flew home to a wet and cold South Shields on Friday.
We didn't stay away from our partners for too long as they arrived 2 days later. During their stay they spent time in various lessons including taking part in the Activities Week events.
They ate fish ‘n’ chips in Tynemouth and visited the Sea Life Centre, spent a lovely day at Beamish together with partners, did a walking tour of Newcastle and the Quayside, visited the Centre for Life, had a fabulous but wet day in Edinburgh where they visited the castle, saw a Scottish wedding, with kilts and piper!, visited the National Gallery of Scottish Art, shopped on the famous Princes Street and even bought kilts to wear on the journey home! They also had training sessions from David Wilson of Newcastle Falcons and had a tour of the Stadium of Light.
Their 2 week visit came to a close on Friday night with a farewell party at the Customs House. They flew home on Sunday to Barcelona after 4 fantastic weeks spent together experiencing each others cultures.
We have to thank many people for taking part in the exchange, but most importantly the pupils who have made the exchange such a great success. We are already organising the next exchange with Sant Gervasi and look forward to a long and exciting friendship with them.
On the left are some photos of Sant Gervasi Secondary School in Mollet near Barcelona where the students spent a week as part of the cultural exchange.
