Comenius in Finland 26th-31st October 2008

The second year of the EYES-Comenius project was launched in Imatra, Finland at the end of October. It was perhaps not the best time of the year but the good spirit compensated for the grey weather.

Altogether there were 28 teachers and students from Estonia, Germany, Italy and Turkey. The students were accommodated in Finnish families and teachers at the hotel Cumulus. The students got to know the Finnish way of life by taking part in the daily activities in the families. They took part in some classes at school, too. Teachers also visited a couple of classes and got information on the Finnish school system.

The students worked together with the Finnish Comenius group to create the beginning of the play which is going to be completed by May and be presented in Vastse-Kuuste. Mrs Annette Berger was in charge of the students’ work and Mr Marcus Krettek was responsible for the work of the teachers. Towards the end of the week the students had completed the first act of the play and it was acted on stage. On top of that, the students had also other drama classes, made improvisations and sketches. The teachers were working for the next meetings in Scandicci, Italy and Vastse-Kuuste, Estonia. A lot of preliminary work had been done as well. Students had studied literature and poetry, made translations as well as paintings and gathered information on the partner countries.

In the Comenius-spirit the Finnish students had organized Nature trip on shore of lake Saimaa and written a little booklet ‘Survivor’s guide’ for the guests. They all passed the tests prepared for them.

To get to know Imatra slightly better, the partners were taken on a sight-seeing tour around Imatra. The paper mills had invited the whole group to be informed of the paper-making process. A couple of museums were also visited. The mayor of Imatra invited the teachers and students to the council house and told them about the administration and social services in Imatra and Finland.

On the last evening we learned something about the cuisine in the partner countries. Each country prepared some typical dish in the school kitchen for the others to taste. It proved out to be a nice way of learning by doing things together. The students had also prepared a lot of program for the farewell party.

At the end of the week, early on Friday morning, it was time to say good-bye and start planning to meet again!

(Airi Valtonen, Imatra, Finland)

 

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