German pupil

[teacher]

I am an English teacher in Germany. Looking for an exchange family for a pupil of mine, 13 years of age, for the summer holidays. His English is poor, it is because English is mainly taught with texts, word lists and written grammar rules, and reading is not exactly his best skill.

But he is a chatterbox, very communicative, so I thought he might need a different approach to the language, with a lot of talking.

His hobbies are quad driving, big trucks and arboriculture. He always talks about his favourite stump cutter and stuff.

If you have a son of his age, who would like to do the exchange and visit him here in Germany, or if you would just like to welcome him in your family, please contact me:

[email protected]

[Steve Bullman]

Sorry, I do believe this to be a genuine post....but arent things like this done through official channels? It seems a bit odd sending a 13 year old child to a family you find on the internet? I certainly wouldnt send my child.

 

Just my opinion, either way I hope you find a suitable placement

[Tony Croft aka hamadryad]

I woukld recommend getting in touch with the student exchange program.

[MattyF]

Steve I don't think are European cousins are so scepticle .. In England this was not so uncommon in the 70's to send there kids out to random family's ... My mother has some horrific French experience to scar her , lol!!!

When is the holiday teacher bearing in mind term times differ to the uk??

[teacher]

This year our summer holidays will be from June 23rd till August 5th. It does not matter if your holiday times are different, my pupil could easily go to school with his exchange partner.

 

Here in Germany, it is quite common to exchange pupils to help them learn a foreign language. At the moment we have got a French pupil in our house, we found him with the help of an organisation on the internet. He is staying for three months and goes to school here. In September my son, 14, is going to stay with him for three months.

 

There are two organisations for exchanges to France, but for England, I don't think there is anything like that. However, if you know a student exchange program, please let me know.

[Tony Croft aka hamadryad]

This year our summer holidays will be from June 23rd till August 5th. It does not matter if your holiday times are different, my pupil could easily go to school with his exchange partner.

 

Here in Germany, it is quite common to exchange pupils to help them learn a foreign language. At the moment we have got a French pupil in our house, we found him with the help of an organisation on the internet. He is staying for three months and goes to school here. In September my son, 14, is going to stay with him for three months.

 

There are two organisations for exchanges to France, but for England, I don't think there is anything like that. However, if you know a student exchange program, please let me know.

 

I tried a google search " student exchange program" and it denied the words existed! thats britain for you, backwards, and paranoid:thumbdown:

[Tony Croft aka hamadryad]

ASSE-International Student Exchange Programs

[WorcsWuss]

I think that in the UK exchanges generally tend to be set up by schools and colleges with their opposite number in towns they are twinned with. For instance I went to Ludlow College and went on exchange to La Ferte Mace in Normandie which is twinned with Ludlow and hence close links are maintained.

A good place to start may be to find out if any towns near you are twinned with any English towns and approach the twinning association to see if they can help you out.

Good luck. I'm sure it's not nearly as dodgy as it sounds!

[agg221]

I believe it can still be done pretty much informally in that if somebody is interested in hosting you can arrange it between yourselves, and the schools if needed, and carry out checks to satisfy yourself that the host family are suitable. The easiest one is a Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) check.

 

It looks like a really good opportunity for somebody learning German in the UK, although that doesn't normally start until age 13 so the level may be very basic at this age.

 

The UK is increasingly full of red tape, but there are still some things in which common sense rules!

 

Alec

[teacher]

Thank you Tony Croft, I've clicked myself through the ASSE website and their German links, they offer au-pair jobs, work&travel, highschool years in USA and language courses in different countries, also the UK.

A six-week language course in the UK costs about 3000 pounds, there are lessons every morning and you live in a host family that lives on this business and does not necessarily have children of their own. And if they have the same interests as the pupil, who knows?

 

Thank you Alec, I also think it can be done informally, a CRB check is a good idea if you really want to be on the safe side.

About the age, yes I think 13 should be the minimum level, as pupils in the UK don't start German until this age. My pupil started English at the age of 11, but as I said, his English is below basic, at the beginning it would mean a lot of showing and gesturing.

However, if they get along very well and become very good friends, maybe it can become an on-and-off thing, several mutual visits for more than a year.

Or maybe a family just wants to do a good deed and give him a home for a few weeks, like some people do with Chernobyl children. After all, he loves arboriculture, which is the reason why I posted in this forum in the first place.