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The exchange of students with Gymnasium Nepomucenum in Rietberg
The exchange of students with Gymnasium Nepomucenum in Rietberg (North Rhine-Westphalia - Germany) began already in 1989 and takes place every year or two years. The cooperation was initiated by Mr Manfred Bullik - a geography and mathematics teacher. Initially, the programmes covered two weeks and now they last 11 days.
During their stay abroad both the students and teachers taking care of them stay at homes of their hosts, get to know the school, participate in lessons, various forms of after-school classes and sight-seeing tours.
The programme of each visit and return visit is under a common motto, e.g. "Environmental protection in Poland and Germany", "Poles in Germany and Germans in Poland", "Health care", "The young and elderly in the Polish and German society", "Architecture of industrial towns". This allows both groups to observe, compare, draw conclusions, see good examples within various areas of life that could be followed in school, family or environment after the return to their homeland.
The international youth exchange provides not only the possibility of visiting the country but first of all of experiencing the living conditions in the Polish and German families, learning about the system of education, school functioning, small societies such as a commune or housing estate or, in effect, of correcting own, often stereotypical opinions or prejudices concerning the neighbouring country.
An unquestioned advantage of the exchange of the Polish students is also verification of language skills in natural situations and gaining motivation to study the German language even more intensively. Although the German students do not learn the Polish language, they can practise English in conversations with parents or siblings of their Polish partners.
And what is most important, during each visit personal bonds and friendships are established and the relations are maintained via the Internet.
The exchange of students with Rietberg is financially supported by the Polish-German Youth Cooperation (Jugendwerk).
The next programme of stay of the German group in Poznań is planned for February 2008 and the return visit for September 2008.
Anna Jankowska