Comenius - Stockport - Krakow

Entente cordiale is high on the agenda for students at Cheadle & Marple Sixth Form College which is reaping the benefits of being the only college in the Northwest to receive approval at both national and European level for its most recent language project. Twenty one students studying French and History at the college have been working with their fellow students from Krakow, Poland to explore issues of history and tradition in the two countries as part of an EU funded Comenius Project with the added challenge of primarily in French.

Collaboration between the two colleges goes back to 2003 and this is the second project involving staff and students working together to enhance their language skills. The students visited Krakow for ten days during March and recently hosted their Polish partners during a reciprocal visit to Stockport enjoying a packed programme of workshops, classes, excursions and cultural and social activities.

Richard Arnfield, 17, from Buxworth has found that the experience has not only made him a more confident communicator but that it has also given him a better understanding of another culture,

“This project has definitely been the highlight of my educational career to date and an unforgettable experience to be involved in. Using French as a means of communication has made me a more confident communicator and I have become a more rounded individual having had the opportunity to develop an understanding of the Polish way of life. The friendships developed during this project will continue for years to come and the co operational skills that I have practised will be extremely useful to me in the medical career I aspire to follow.”

Similarly, Tim Dobson, 17 from Glossop, added,

“We experienced such a warm and friendly welcome in Krakow and I really enjoyed the opportunity to become immersed in their culture. This has created some brilliant friendships and it has been great to be able to return the hospitality shown to us in March. I fully intend to return to Poland in the future.”

Their Polish counterparts were equally enthusiastic;

Monika Tuchowska and Aleksandra Bartoszek, both 18, relished the opportunity to improve both their French and English as well as gain an insight in to British culture and tradition,

“I will return to Poland with some fantastic and unforgettable memories,”

said Monika.

“Not only has this Project helped me to improve my French and English but it has also given me the opportunity to visit so many interesting places during our stay in England. I think that the friendships we have developed will last for years to come.”

“I have a much better understanding of the everyday life of English people,”

said Aleksandra.

“Our host families have been so welcoming and I will return to Poland with many happy memories.”

This French language Project was a challenge for both the English and Polish students, bringing language learning to life which culminated in a presentation of their thoughts and reflections in the presence of the President of the Polish Federation in Manchester, the Mayoress of Stockport, local councilors and representatives from the College’s partner schools at Stockport Town Hall.

Gillian Wilkinson, Howard Garnett and Robert Mabon, Project Leaders from Cheadle & Marple Sixth Form College commended the students’ efforts,

“It was great to observe the commitment and enthusiasm not only of our own students but also those of our Polish visitors as they all immersed themselves in each other’s culture and traditions. They have enjoyed a full programme of cultural and social activities linked to the Project Theme – Les Jeunes Face a l’Histoire et la Tradition (History and Tradition as seen by Young People) and we were extremely impressed by the range and quality of the students’ work reflected in their presentation. This is language learning with a difference and much credit must go to the students involved who have shown creativity in their endeavours to communicate with each other. They were, without a doubt, excellent ambassadors for their home nations.”

La visite du groupe polonaise s’est terminé avec une reunion à la Mairie de Stockport, où les élèves britanniques et polonais ont présenté les thèmes et les sujets qu’on a abordé au cours du projet, et ont exprimé leur appréciation de l’accueil chaleureux des familles, d’abord á Cracovie et puis à Stockport.

Nous avions l’honneur de la présence de M Tadeusz Lesisz, Président de la Fédération Polonaise de Manchester, et Mme Lesisz, des représentants du Conseil Municipale et du Maire de Stockport, ainsi que notre Proviseur et Proviseur-Adjoint, Mme Christina Cassidy et M Peter McGhee. Nous étions très heureux d’accueillir aussi des invités, et nous avons beaucoup apprécié la réception offerte par la Mairesse après les présentations.