Energy in the Consumers'Hands, Comenius-Multilateral Project 2005-2008
Newsletter no 11
May/2008
Experiences of the Student Exchange in Cordeaux School in Louth from 12th – 16th May
In Life Long Learning Comenius Programme ‘Energy in the Consumers’ Hands’ Project, representatives from 3 partner schools visited Cordeaux School; 5 students and 2 teachers from Poland, 5 students and 2 teachers from Romania and 3 teachers and 5 students from Hungary.
The programme was organised by Richard Coles and Carole Romaine, teachers at Cordeaux, who really made a programme with great variety. There is balance in work, excursions and fun.
On Monday we visited the school after the Headteacher, Mr Kubicki, had welcomed the group. During the tour the teachers of the school talked about their work with enthusiasm and we could see their motivation. The students were very respectful, helpful and interested.
We realised that the school is very well equipped. The corridors and classrooms are decorated with the work of the students which make the building colourful and homely.
In the afternoon we went sightseeing in Louth, which is a beautiful town with the magnificent church, where we were introduced by Canon Stephen Holdaway.
On Tuesday, Mr Mark Roberts, Deputy Headteacher, presented the British Educational system to the teachers. We could compare it to ours in a friendly conversation and concluded that we would copy many things from it, eg: the module system, exam system and the small group work. Afterwards we had the opportunity to observe lessons. We were pleased to do that as we could gain a lot of experience. We learnt a lot of good ideas and methods from our English colleagues. They make their students work during the 60 minute lessons. The lessons are never boring, the students are never bored as they always have things to do (group work, pair work, individual work). The students are very creative in problem solving. During the lessons the teachers have time for personal care, they have good relationships with their students. There is a good atmosphere in the lessons but discipline at the same time.
It is good that you employ teachers assistants who help the students with their work and don’t take the time of the teacher from his/her professional work. We could also see that the teachers can manage problems easily and immediately.
What was very interesting for us is that you have a special Learning Support Unit for the students with learning or behaviour problems. During this week we learned a lot professionally. We are grateful to Frances Green, Katie Vickers, Martyn West and all the other colleagues who let us observe their lessons.
On Wednesday we had a cultural day when we went to Lincoln. The cathedral was magnificent and luckily we had a great guide, who told us about the history of the cathedral. The Castle with the Magna Carter and the Debtors’ Prison were also very special for us to see. We could learn a lot about the history of England and this region.
Thursday was a very active day as we were invited to build a racing car, Jaguar F1, which was a great challenge for us. We do not have technical lessons in Hungary, so we are not used to building anything. But finally the cars worked and Máté Gergely’s team won the car race. The afternoon was another challenge especially for the students with Kate. We were baking English short biscuits. I think they were delicious.
The day was closed with a pub dinner offered by the school.
On Friday morning we had to say good bye to our hosts in Louth and left for London.
In London we could see the bustling Covent Garden, the Piccadilly Circus, the Houses of Parliament, the changing of the guards. We had the opportunity to fly with the London Eye, visit the Madame Tussaud’s, see the Tower of London and walk along Oxford street. Even the weather was nice during the whole week.
For our students this trip was a great opportunity to practise their English, this motivated them to improve their knowledge and make it perfect. They also observed lessons and explored the countryside with us. The topic of the project is energy which is a great problem of mankind at the moment. The Hungarian students tried to find common solutions of the energy saving and waste management together with their Polish, Romanian and English peers and presented their work to each other during the meeting.
This week was a great example of how students and teachers of different nationalities work together in a common topic.
We are grateful to the organisers of the program Carole Romaine and Richard Coles, all the teachers involved and the hosts of the students and teachers.
I think all the students can be proud of their school, because their teachers do their best to provide them with the best education.
Thank you for the opportunity to be here.
Majorosne Csorba Olga
Project Co-ordinator of Hungary
(I have already visited 15 EU countries in educational programs and the USA)
My opinion about the project trip in England
From the 11th May to the 18th of May my four schoolmates, three teachers and me participated in a trip about the ’Energy in the consumers’ hands’ project. We went to England, firstly to Louth, to present our work this year and to learn more about the English life, education, language and people.
Cordeaux School –where we spent most of our time in Louth- is very different from our high school. Firstly, they start lessons at 9.15 and finish at 15.40 which was strange for us, because in Hungary we usually start school at 7.45 and finish at 14.00.
The relationship between students and teachers is different, too. They are more friends than ’colleagues’ and they are very polite and respectful to each other. We don’t have so close realtionships here with our teachers as the British students do.
The lessons there last an hour. Here we have 45-minutes-lessons, but despite this fact not all the lessons are boring there. They have a real modern technology in every classroom. In our school we have had this technology only in a few classrooms yet. They can demonstrate everything with the help of the Internet and computers.
I like the thing that in Cordeaux School the students can choose what they want to learn when they reach the age for it. I think it’s when they become 14. There are three subjects which they have to learn (they are scientific subjects, because it’s an engineering school) but the others they can shoose. Compared to our school it’s not the same. We usually do this in upper education but not in high schools. But it still doesn’t mean that we don’t learn the same. We realised that we understood nearly everything they studied so there aren’t many differences between what we learn.
What we have in our school and they don’t are those subjects that we can learn in the technical part of our school: nursing and tourism.
I think we learned a lot from this trip, our opinion of English people became more positive than it was and of course we had fun with the people from the school in Louth, Lincoln, Skegness, Cleethorpes and London. Our stays with families were wonderful, the classes we visited were good and the students and teachers were very kind.
We were very sad when we had to come home because we had a great time there and we’re all looking forward to going back and visit the people who we really like there.
Beáta Viszánik- Hungarian student
Dear Carole and Richard
We got home safe and sound last night at 11.30. Today we went to work tired but enthusiastic because we were full of great experience. We had a wonderful time in your school and your company. Thank you for the ferfect and comfortable accommodation, your care and that you devoted your time to us.
Plese tell your headmaster Mr Kubicki that we appreciate how generous the school management was with us. We are grateful to be lucky to observe some lesson and have a closer look at your educational work, which impressed us. We got a lot of professional experience we can take advantage of in our work.
I hope the inspection went well, as you have a perfect staff and great management.
Thank you again
Best regards
Olga and the Hungarian team
photos: MAJOROSNÉ CSORBA OLGA and RICHARD COLES
Dear Richard and Carol,
I would like to thank you for your hospitality you have given to us in our trip to Louth and then London. After a long and a tiring trip we arrived hale and hearty to “Cordeaux” school in Louth, Lincolnshire. I saw very much and interesting things in your city and we saw your extraordinary college. I had a lot of fun when we visited St. James Cathedral, Lincoln Cathedral and lots of other interesting places. We enjoyed very much the travel to London, and the historical places we have visited. I liked very much Big Ben, the eye of London, the Buckingham Palace and Oxford Street. I hope you will visit our country because it is a very nice place and you will have a lot of fun.
With respect ,
Oliviu Sarb, Romania
THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING...,
WE WERE WARMLY RECEIVED AND TREATED...
WE FELT WELL IN ENGLAND AND LONDON....
IT WAS VERY BEAUTIFUL...AND NOW WE MISS...
WE WARMLY THANK YOU
BEST WISHES....
ANDREEA, EMIL AND CYONGY, Beius, Romania
Mamma Mia!(student exchange to Italy)
Dear Emiliana and Annarita,
Thank you very much for your great hospitality. The students were very happy all together. You spent lots of your time to show your lovely town and we love it. I have pictures that they show how much we enjoyed. I attached two pictures of them.
Hope to visit you again!
love & kisses
( Everybody should taste some ice cream in Sora )
THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING...,
