Sprache verbindet Europa

Sprache verbindet is an exchange project between students from GO! Athena Oostende in Belgium, who are learning German, and students from Gymnasium Thomaeum in Kempen, Germany, who are learning Dutch. The initiative brings together learners of both languages to communicate with native-speaking peers of the same age, allowing them to practise their language skills in authentic, meaningful contexts. At the same time, the exchange offers students the opportunity to get to know each other’s culture, school life, and daily experiences, fostering intercultural understanding and personal connections.

 

Objectives

• To strengthen students’ language skills in German and Dutch through authentic communication with native-speaking peers of the same age.

• To promote meaningful intercultural exchange by allowing students to discover each other’s countries, school systems, and daily lives.

• To develop communication skills, openness, and confidence in using a foreign language in real-life contexts.

• To raise awareness of the importance of democracy, with a particular focus on European values and active citizenship.

 

Activities

The project will include two mobility exchanges: Belgium (Ostend) and Kempen (Germany). Students will engage in regular exchanges, where they communicate in the target language, collaborate on tasks, and share aspects of their culture and daily life. 

 

Expected Outcomes

• Improved language proficiency in German for the Belgian students and in Dutch for the German students, especially in speaking and writing skills.

• Increased confidence in using a foreign language in authentic communication.

• A broader intercultural perspective and stronger connections between students from different European countries.

• A deeper understanding of the importance of (European) democracy and the role of young people as active and engaged citizens.