SchoolExchange helps to practise the English language
15.02.2007

Who could believe in 1989 that short sentence dropped by mister Harry Raemaekers  “let’s make friends” to a teacher of Keila Keskkool Mrs Reet Merilain, would have a long future?!

During these 18 years some ~400 families in Keila and Nieuwegein,Holland, have been hosts for children from other country.
It has become absolutely normal to start a schoolyear with a question, “Are you in a Dutch group this year?”

The main aim of the SchoolExchange is to practise the English language in communication, but it isn’t an end in itself.
Our world view gets wider. We visit not only cultural places, entertainments and schools, we go to Parlament in Den Haag and Riigikogu in Tallinn. We talk a lot about history and politics. We can be proud to surprise Dutch students with our  schoolmuseum.

We live in families, so we can ask and we are asked about everything. We don’t watch only. We compare and make conclusions. We can see different appearance and different attitude. We start learning how to manage in the world.
We have to be prepared to welcome guests not only like a host, but ready to answer several questions from different areas.

Dutch group arrrived 31 January 2007. Altogether we drove to Kuutsemäe to enjoy wintersports.  Short walk in snowy Tartu gave joy to everyone. Friday was a day in Tallinn. Weekend was for families. Monday was full of Russian culture as it was spent in Keila Ühisgümnaasium. After Russian day we had a nice trip to Estonian Open Air Museum. Tuesday was a surprising day with ordinary lessons: geography, Estonian language, museum, art and music. At night – the last disco.
Wednesday – day to say NÄGEMISENI(=see you then).
We were asked an audience with our Mayor. A lot of nice words were said. The main thing was – we are eager to continue.  

Our group leaves for Holland on 28 March 2007.

Urve Paltser,
teacher of English language