NEWS
‘ THE EXPERIENCE OF A LIFETIME ’ IS BACK ...
Here are the reflections of boys who participated in exchanges to Germany , Italy and Indonesia :
‘ The most enriching part of my exchange was perhaps not the dramatic improvement in German skills , nor the visit to a country full of natural and urban beauty , but rather it was the noticeable differences in daily life – be it the necessity of having a bicycle to get around or being able to return home from school in the middle of the day for a hot lunch .
‘ While having cold rye bread for dinner every other night may still not sit perfectly well with me , it is such differences in lifestyle and customs that made a lasting impression on me and allowed me to gain a richer understanding of the wonderful country of Germany .’
GEOFF LIU – YEAR 11
‘ During my 11 weeks in Göttingen , Germany , I had the opportunity to immerse myself in a new culture , meet new people and gain valuable insights into a different way of life . It broadened my horizons and challenged me in ways I never previously imagined .
‘ I will always remember spending Christmas Day with my host brother ’ s extended family of over 34 people in his grandparents ’ rural property . Eating non-stop from 11 am to 10 pm , learning the exceedingly complicated card game Doppelkopf , and trying to communicate with the older family members in the dialect Plattdeutsch , is a memory I truly cherish .’
CHRISTOPHER O ’ CONNELL – YEAR 12
‘ The exchange has greatly aided the development of my German and was a unique , exhilarating , and at times demanding experience that I am unlikely to forget . My time in Bavaria clearly demonstrated to me that although languages are nuanced and therefore often challenging to study , their real-world applications are unmatched – both in terms of reward and abundance – by any other skill .’
ALEXANDER CLAYDON – YEAR 12
‘ Most importantly , I found myself understanding a lot of the language and improving my speaking skills while I was there . Being immersed in a language is the best way to learn . I have made many strong connections with people in Italy , friendships that I hope to keep for the rest of my life .’
HUGH ALMOND – YEAR 11
‘ My Italian exchange was the best experience of my life . I met some great people that I will be friends with for the rest of my life , and I now have a second family who live across the world from me . I learned more about the culture , the food and the language of the Italians and loved every bit of the experience . I would highly recommend going on exchange if you learn a language , even if you ’ re a bit nervous : take the risk , because you will get a very high reward . The experience of a lifetime .’
MAX THOMPSON – YEAR 11
‘ Going on exchange to Krida was a very profound experience for me . It really opened my eyes to the language and culture I have been learning about since I came to Scotch in Year 7 . Going into the trip I was really excited to go to Indonesia and really put the language to use . I learned a lot about life in Indonesia and how it differs from Australia .
‘ I absolutely loved getting to know the group of students who took us around , and really made the trip so memorable and valuable . It has given me a valuable insight into Indonesia and given me so much motivation to learn more of the language and
TOP LEFT : SCOTCH STUDENT ON THE BROCKEN MOUNTAIN , NORTHERN GERMANY . TOP MIDDLE : TWO SCOTCH BOYS WITH THEIR PARTNERS AT A GERMAN
CHRISTMAS MARKET . TOP RIGHT : GERMAN EXCHANGE STUDENTS AT SCOTCH . BELOW : SIX SCOTCH EXCHANGE STUDENTS IN INDONESIA .
‘ I had an amazing time on my exchange to Verona , Italy . I was welcomed warmly into my host family and my classmates were all incredibly nice . This experience allowed me to see the way school is run , finishing at 2pm every day . I was also fortunate to experience Italian Christmas and New Year traditions that we don ’ t see in Australia .
42 Great Scot Issue 168 – May 2023