Appetizer

I went into town today where the Christmas market is open already. After a warm November temperatures are finally beginning to fall. Today there were around 7 degrees and light rain. I have just checked the weather forecast: When the Girona group will be here we are expecting tempeartures around 3 degrees. So bring a warm jacket, hat, scarf, gloves and your warm boots.

Here are some photos taken at the Christmas market - as an appetizer.

Less than 3 weeks and counting

Here are  a few photos from the Girona  end of the Skype meeting.

We are now getting down to the nitty gritty of the preparation. Practical querries about what clothing to bring and family routines are now being resolved. Things are looking good.

The Girona students have one final hurdle to get over before joining the Hagen students. Their end of term exams!!

Meeting once more

This blog post was written by Chris from Hagen and Arnau A. from Girona.

On the 12th November we made the third Skype session with the Spanish students. After the usual problems with the picture and sound we had the chance to deepen the contact or find our partner for the exchange. Even though that not all German students had time to Skype with the Catalan students it also was a great and funny lesson. But for all the other student who didn't had time to Skype we´ve made a Whatsapp and a Facebook group where all the student can write to each other to find their partner. At the end of the lesson all students had the chance to tell their desire partner. (Chris)

On Tuesday we made the third Skype call with the German students. We could chat during an hour with them despite the audio problems. However we have a Facebook and WhatsApp group to chat now.
Tomorrow we're meeting at break-time to talk about more specific things about the partners and how we are going to organise the pairs.(Arnau)

We are in the newspaper!

The Westfalenpost, a regional German newspaper, published an article about the exchange. Here it is:

Kaufmannsschule II is moving exchange project with Spain forward

Ministry of School appoints teacher Sandra Hansen as eTwinning ambassador for the region Arnsberg

By Christian Rasche

Hohenlimburg. “The Haggir Connection” is the catchy title of a project at Kaufmannsschule II which is currently preparing an exchange with a Spanish school.

The pupils are getting to know each other before meeting. This is done using the (video)chat tool “Skype”.

Virtual community links schools

“We are in contact with a school in Girona, Catalunya. At the moment students are looking for a project partner to work with” explains teacher Sandra Hansen who has been appointed as an eTwinning ambassador for the Arnsberg region by the Ministry of Education.

eTwinning is an internet platform that links up European schools. Thus they can carry out projects together and school partnerships can be founded. Kaufmannsschule II was just awarded with a quality label for last year’s project “Be multicultural!”

Spanish delegation arriving

“I met teacher Susan McBride on the eTwinning platform and we decided to work on the project “Work Life Balance” together” says Sandra Hansen.

First students will find out how much time they spend working for school, doing homework and revising.

Later students will develop strategies how to use their time more efficiently and economically. “It is so exiting to get into contact with pupils from other countries. We have found project partners and are looking forward to the exchange in December” say Cathleen (17) and Chantal (17) about their work so far.

Students of the Kaufmannsschule II are meeting up regularly after lessons to meet the Spanish students. They are speaking English which is not much of a problem.

The Spanish delegation is expected in Hagen from 9 to 15 December. Some students hope that the contact will develop into a real friendship.

Link to the text on the internet: click.

Meeting again

Today the students met online again to try and get to know each other. They enjoyed themselves and will try to use other media to stay in contact.