Under the motto „Portuguese language, culture and educational pathways,“ a very special chapter of our school development began: 11 students from years 10 and 11, accompanied by their teachers Ms. Goos and Ms. Kiesgen, set off on an exciting voyage of discovery to Porto. This trip also marked a milestone: it was the first student mobility under our IGS’s new Erasmus+ accreditation.
„Intercultural competence“ – which often sounds dry in theory – became a vivid adventure for our students in Portugal. From the very first minute, they fully embraced the exchange.
The cultural „jump into the deep end“ happened on the very first day: together with class 10a from our partner school, Colégio de Ermesinde, the group went to the theater in Porto. It was a bold move that paid off: even without deep language skills, everyone managed to follow the performance of a 16th-century Portuguese literary classic – proof that art and facial expressions can bridge language barriers. During the subsequent walk through Porto’s historic alleys, the young people discovered the city’s landmarks together.
Daily life at Colégio de Ermesinde, a private Catholic school, offered fascinating contrasts: in mixed teams, the students prepared presentations on the subtle differences and surprising similarities between their school systems. But it wasn’t all theory. A trip inland to Colégio de Sao Gonçalo de Amarante opened the door to a completely different world of education. Since Portugal does not have a dual vocational training system like Germany, schools there teach practical skills directly on-site. Our group was deeply impressed by the professional equipment in the fields of design, film production, mechanics, and biotechnology. In hands-on workshops, they worked side-by-side with their Portuguese hosts on small projects, discovering entirely new ways of learning.
The key to this experience was staying with host families: instead of a hotel routine, they experienced real Portuguese family life. Our students quickly adapted to the new rhythm – even though the school day didn’t end until 5 p.m. and dinner felt almost like a midnight snack by German standards. Everyone showed culinary courage, too: by the end of the week, everyone had tried the famous „Francesinha,“ Porto’s hearty national dish, and gave it a thumbs up.
Communication worked brilliantly: the students spoke English, often supplemented by their first eagerly learned scraps of Portuguese. The „Spirit of Europe“ was palpable at all times – whether talking shop about football and FC Porto, discovering the latest music trends, or enjoying a self-organized afternoon at the beach. The week proved that Erasmus is more than just a trip. It is about forging bonds that last across borders.
After this eventful week, we are now looking forward to April, when we expect our Portuguese friends to visit us for the return leg of the exchange. We are incredibly excited to show them a piece of our own culture, present our school, and further strengthen these new friendships.
Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the National Agency. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.