Testimonials
Spain Ireland Student exchange
S.... visiting the exchange family of L..... in Seville, Spain.
" I had an amazing time in Seville, I definitely matured more as a person, the family were lovely. The first couple of days it was a bit hard to understand them, but coming up to the end I can now have a proper conversation with someone in Spanish. It really makes such a difference to be surrounded by people who speak only in Spanish. I went to the Spanish cathedral in Seville, it was amazing and a great experience, we also went to agua magic, which is a water park, it was also so much fun, Lauren's friends were all lovely and welcoming. I had a lovely three weeks in Spain and it was a great experience. "
S....'s Mum.." It was lovely to meet with you to discuss our daughter's exchange to Spain. The girls are now exchanging e mails preparing for their visits and it really helps them to work on their language. S.... is very excited and her Spanish teacher is helping her with her letter to L....... She is really motivated about her Spanish and cant wait to go to Spain"
#Spain #Ireland #student #exchange #language #Travel for #TY and #secondary #school #students #Spanish #Irish #exchange #Transition #Year
Germany Ireland Student exchange
A..... visiting the exchange family of ..... in Potsdam, Germany.
A.....I really enjoyed her stay in Germany, everything was great, the family, the weather and the food“. Thebest experience was a visit to an arts gallery in Potsdam because I love arts and paintings.
School was boring in the beginning, as I didn’t understand a lot but it got better quickly. The classes are longer than in Ireland and school finishes later. Overall I enjoyed the experience of a German school , the teachers and other pupils were friendly towards me.
I wasnt homesick and I enjoyed the food, it was quite similar to Ireland. . I loved the German " Gurken“ (gerkins). The family made me feel very comfortable and I could eat whenever I was hungry."
As a score A..... gave 10/10 points to her German family. They have been so understanding and friendly.
The places she has visited or has been taken to were:
The Berlin Wall
Tränenpalast (palace of tears) Berlin
3 trips to Berlin city
Potsdam arts gallery, castle and gardens
Abandoned hospital (Beelitz Heilstätten)
Wannsee – Max Liebermann Villa
Spreewald
Kayaking
Picknick
4 birthday parties
#Germany #Ireland #student #exchange #language #Travel for #TY and #secondary #school #students #German #Irish #exchange #Transition #Year
A..... from Ireland in Exchange H..... from Hamburg
"The German family were wonderful hosts. They were really interested in showing me what life is like in Germany, especially in Hamburg, where they live. The family were receptive and hospitable and interested inlearning about Ireland too and our culture. As an exchange student I feltreally welcome and was be a part in of everyday life. At weekends we sometimes went on trips to the Baltic Sea where the grandparents live which is a two-hour drive away, we sometimes went to the river Elbe for a picnic, close to the exchange family home. We spent time walking in the countryside and sightseeing in Hamburg. The parents loved cooking and inviting friends for dinner , then we sat with many kids at the dining table and have great fun. I spent a lot of time in the garden where having a barbecue.
In the beginning it was difficult listening to and concentrating only German, but it became a lot easier.
The food was good, especially Franzbrötchen a kind of sweet bread roll with cinnamom. School was interesting and good, other students and teachers have been friendly. It was a bit boring, especially in the beginning, when I didn’t understand a lot, my favorite subject was maths and we did 3 days class trip to Berlin (Reichstag, the Wall, Holocaust Memorial, Museum).
Everyone said my German skills improved significantly and I could have a conversation mainly held in German language. I really improved my level of understanding and a now have good level of speaking. I stayed in Germany for 4 weeks, I was really surprised by the amount of progress.
It really paid to make the effort. I look forward to returning to Germany again !"
J... from Ireland exchange with J... in Paris and La Rochelle, France
" I was both excited and anxious before I went to France on my exchange. I travelled first and my flight was to Charles de Gaulle. I had never been to CDG and was a little apprehensive but everything worked well as my exchange family were waiting for me at arrivals holding a big sign with my name on it. They had also sent a photograph of themselves and the sign on whats app before I left Ireland, so I knew exactly what to watch out for on arrival. The family were really kind and spoke slowly at first which helped me a lot.
I attended school for a week in Paris with my exchange sister. It was such a great experience to see how their school works, eventhough sometimes I didnt understand what was being said. I visited some famous sites in Paris like the Champs Elysee, The Louvre and the Eiffel tower. I was so lucky to experience all of that.
After the first week we travelled by road from Paris to La Rochelle , where the family have a holiday house. I really enjoyed the French open air markets, the stall holders offering all kinds of fruit and exotic things to eat and shouting '' Goutez, Goutez''. I loved visiting the Old City in La Rochelle and our many trips to the seaside. I missed home of course, but when I was coming home I was wishing I could stay a little longer in France.
In three weeks I could understand a lot of what people were saying to me, and was a lot less shy about expressing myself in French. I could ask for what I wanted in a shop or restaurant. The exchange family really welcomed me. I look forward to visiting France again next summer, hopefully for a longer exchange. I really recommend an Immersion holiday to learn a language. When you are surrounded by the language you learn quickly. "
#France #Ireland #student #exchange #language #Travel for #TY and #secondary #school #students #French #Franco #Irish #exchange #Transition #Year
S.... visiting the exchange family of L..... in Seville, Spain.
" I had an amazing time in Seville, I definitely matured more as a person, the family were lovely. The first couple of days it was a bit hard to understand them, but coming up to the end I can now have a proper conversation with someone in Spanish. It really makes such a difference to be surrounded by people who speak only in Spanish. I went to the Spanish cathedral in Seville, it was amazing and a great experience, we also went to agua magic, which is a water park, it was also so much fun, Lauren's friends were all lovely and welcoming. I had a lovely three weeks in Spain and it was a great experience. "
S....'s Mum.." It was lovely to meet with you to discuss our daughter's exchange to Spain. The girls are now exchanging e mails preparing for their visits and it really helps them to work on their language. S.... is very excited and her Spanish teacher is helping her with her letter to L....... She is really motivated about her Spanish and cant wait to go to Spain"
#Spain #Ireland #student #exchange #language #Travel for #TY and #secondary #school #students #Spanish #Irish #exchange #Transition #Year
Germany Ireland Student exchange
A..... visiting the exchange family of ..... in Potsdam, Germany.
A.....I really enjoyed her stay in Germany, everything was great, the family, the weather and the food“. Thebest experience was a visit to an arts gallery in Potsdam because I love arts and paintings.
School was boring in the beginning, as I didn’t understand a lot but it got better quickly. The classes are longer than in Ireland and school finishes later. Overall I enjoyed the experience of a German school , the teachers and other pupils were friendly towards me.
I wasnt homesick and I enjoyed the food, it was quite similar to Ireland. . I loved the German " Gurken“ (gerkins). The family made me feel very comfortable and I could eat whenever I was hungry."
As a score A..... gave 10/10 points to her German family. They have been so understanding and friendly.
The places she has visited or has been taken to were:
The Berlin Wall
Tränenpalast (palace of tears) Berlin
3 trips to Berlin city
Potsdam arts gallery, castle and gardens
Abandoned hospital (Beelitz Heilstätten)
Wannsee – Max Liebermann Villa
Spreewald
Kayaking
Picknick
4 birthday parties
#Germany #Ireland #student #exchange #language #Travel for #TY and #secondary #school #students #German #Irish #exchange #Transition #Year
A..... from Ireland in Exchange H..... from Hamburg
"The German family were wonderful hosts. They were really interested in showing me what life is like in Germany, especially in Hamburg, where they live. The family were receptive and hospitable and interested inlearning about Ireland too and our culture. As an exchange student I feltreally welcome and was be a part in of everyday life. At weekends we sometimes went on trips to the Baltic Sea where the grandparents live which is a two-hour drive away, we sometimes went to the river Elbe for a picnic, close to the exchange family home. We spent time walking in the countryside and sightseeing in Hamburg. The parents loved cooking and inviting friends for dinner , then we sat with many kids at the dining table and have great fun. I spent a lot of time in the garden where having a barbecue.
In the beginning it was difficult listening to and concentrating only German, but it became a lot easier.
The food was good, especially Franzbrötchen a kind of sweet bread roll with cinnamom. School was interesting and good, other students and teachers have been friendly. It was a bit boring, especially in the beginning, when I didn’t understand a lot, my favorite subject was maths and we did 3 days class trip to Berlin (Reichstag, the Wall, Holocaust Memorial, Museum).
Everyone said my German skills improved significantly and I could have a conversation mainly held in German language. I really improved my level of understanding and a now have good level of speaking. I stayed in Germany for 4 weeks, I was really surprised by the amount of progress.
It really paid to make the effort. I look forward to returning to Germany again !"
J... from Ireland exchange with J... in Paris and La Rochelle, France
" I was both excited and anxious before I went to France on my exchange. I travelled first and my flight was to Charles de Gaulle. I had never been to CDG and was a little apprehensive but everything worked well as my exchange family were waiting for me at arrivals holding a big sign with my name on it. They had also sent a photograph of themselves and the sign on whats app before I left Ireland, so I knew exactly what to watch out for on arrival. The family were really kind and spoke slowly at first which helped me a lot.
I attended school for a week in Paris with my exchange sister. It was such a great experience to see how their school works, eventhough sometimes I didnt understand what was being said. I visited some famous sites in Paris like the Champs Elysee, The Louvre and the Eiffel tower. I was so lucky to experience all of that.
After the first week we travelled by road from Paris to La Rochelle , where the family have a holiday house. I really enjoyed the French open air markets, the stall holders offering all kinds of fruit and exotic things to eat and shouting '' Goutez, Goutez''. I loved visiting the Old City in La Rochelle and our many trips to the seaside. I missed home of course, but when I was coming home I was wishing I could stay a little longer in France.
In three weeks I could understand a lot of what people were saying to me, and was a lot less shy about expressing myself in French. I could ask for what I wanted in a shop or restaurant. The exchange family really welcomed me. I look forward to visiting France again next summer, hopefully for a longer exchange. I really recommend an Immersion holiday to learn a language. When you are surrounded by the language you learn quickly. "
#France #Ireland #student #exchange #language #Travel for #TY and #secondary #school #students #French #Franco #Irish #exchange #Transition #Year