They had been preparing it for a year and today they are already here. Fourteen German students from 4th year of ESO and 1st year of Bachillerato who study Spanish as a foreign language at their institute in Berlin, arrived yesterday in Lanzarote to spend ten days attending classes and living with local families. It is the first phase of an exchange between students from the "OS an der Weide" Secondary Education Institutes, from Berlin, and "Blas Cabrera Felipe", from Arrecife. During this time they will participate with our students in a program of activities of a cultural, sports and recreational nature, in which they will come into contact with the physical and economic environment, as well as with the sociocultural and historical aspects of our Island.
Arrecife - Berlin
Next year it will be the turn of the Lanzarote German students. They are another fourteen privileged students who have been chosen from all those in their class following criteria based, fundamentally, on the level of the language they are learning. Next May 2006 they will travel to Berlin, to live with the families of the German students who are hosting them in their homes these days. They will be accompanied by two teachers from the I.E.S. "Blas cabrera Felipe" and will be there in the same conditions and for the same time as the German students have done on the Island.
The initiative has been organized and launched by the teachers of these boys and girls, who already knew each other from before. These teachers understand that, in order to learn a language, it is essential to put aside books and videos from time to time, and take action. That is, travel to the place where the language we are learning is spoken, immerse ourselves in its culture, listen to the sound of its words when they ask you for sugar or when they say I love you. That is the best way to learn a language and that is what they have offered to these thirty German and Spanish teenagers.
Immersion in the island culture
During the activities planned for these ten days, the Lanzaroteños will try to show their guests the uniqueness of this Island and the need to preserve it. Among other things, they will explain the volcanic origin of Lanzarote, its subtropical and arid climate, its designation as a Biosphere Reserve, its evolution from an economic past based on agriculture, livestock, fishing and the exploitation of salt mines, to a present of tourist orientation; the figure and importance of César Manrique, crafts, traditional music and dances, wine and water, Teguise as the former capital and Arrecife as the current one, etc.
"People are very friendly"
They have just arrived, but the first impressions of the German students are very positive. Everyone agrees in praising the climate, the beach and the character of the Lanzaroteños: "I like the Island very much, the people are very friendly and I have already met many friends." "It is very beautiful, I love the beach and the family that hosts me is very kind."
On the other hand, one of the two teachers who have come from Germany with these students assured that these initiatives are fundamental and very important when learning a new language. The teachers gave them the possibility to write their hopes and concerns before coming. "Everyone had among their wishes to really know the life of the Spanish, to meet people, to make friends; and their fundamental concern was not being able to understand everything." But she said that this is not going to be a problem, because mime is an international language and through gestures, drawings and other resources, in the end, people, if we want, we understand each other.
