German in the UK

Foreign language assistant Isabel Gerhards set out to bring together her group of pupils in Southend with a same-age group in Hannover. It all happened without them leaving the classroom.

The aim of the project was for the pupils themselves to exchange information about their respective cultures. At Christmas, for example, they sent e-cards with texts about how they celebrate Christmas. The highlight of the project was the sending and receiving of a Valentine’s parcel. For this, the children bought small presents for their new friends. They chose gifts which were somehow typical for their country, for example a toy puppy from Britain or a Bravo magazine from Germany. Even the wrapping paper was exciting for the Southend girls – a real German newspaper!