The following is a comment from the Headmaster of Park Mead Primary School, Andy Clark
"We have an established videoconference programme which started some five years ago during which the children practise their French between the two schools and have the opportunity to hear native speakers. Every other year the French children have spent a week in Cranleigh, usually staying at Cranleigh Prep school. From there they have visited London and Portsmouth and always come to our school for a day of activities which include sports, board and language games with conducted tours of the local area. The accompanying staff also have the opportunity to speak with our teachers which is always interesting as both our schools and the education administrative systems are very different."
Jane Ives, Deputy Head of Duke of Kent School, Ewhurst which liaises with College St. Joseph, Semur en Auxois commented:
"We have been corresponding for five years now with students in Pascale Chapel's classes. Students from St. Joseph's visited Duke of Kent in the May of our first year of contact as part of a school trip to London and the south and I visited Semur and the school one summer holiday; it's a beautiful part of France.
We exchange letters, cards, photos, articles and video clips each term, with students writing in both French and English about their current topics of study. We have sent small Christmas tree gifts and recommended DVDs to use in class. Our aim next year is to talk over Skype."
Comments from the other schools involved in the Twinning programme are awaited.
"We have an established videoconference programme which started some five years ago during which the children practise their French between the two schools and have the opportunity to hear native speakers. Every other year the French children have spent a week in Cranleigh, usually staying at Cranleigh Prep school. From there they have visited London and Portsmouth and always come to our school for a day of activities which include sports, board and language games with conducted tours of the local area. The accompanying staff also have the opportunity to speak with our teachers which is always interesting as both our schools and the education administrative systems are very different."
Jane Ives, Deputy Head of Duke of Kent School, Ewhurst which liaises with College St. Joseph, Semur en Auxois commented:
"We have been corresponding for five years now with students in Pascale Chapel's classes. Students from St. Joseph's visited Duke of Kent in the May of our first year of contact as part of a school trip to London and the south and I visited Semur and the school one summer holiday; it's a beautiful part of France.
We exchange letters, cards, photos, articles and video clips each term, with students writing in both French and English about their current topics of study. We have sent small Christmas tree gifts and recommended DVDs to use in class. Our aim next year is to talk over Skype."
Comments from the other schools involved in the Twinning programme are awaited.