Four students and a teacher from Prva gimnazija Varaždin spent six days at Colegio El Divino Pastor de Malaga in the framework of Erasmus+ mobility programme whose objective was to improve Spanish and English language skills.
Accompanied by our English teacher, Ivan Lajnvaš , the four of us started the trip on March 16th and stayed in Malaga until March 21st. The goal of this six-day mobility was to improve our language skills and for some of us to learn a new language. We spent our mornings interacting with Spanish students from the El Divino Pastor school. We exchanged information about our countries and cultures while practicing our English language skills through conversation. Apart from learning about the Spanish school system, we also expanded our knowledge of the Spanish culture by visiting a lot of museums and lots of other attractions the city of Malaga has to offer. In museums we tried to communicate with the staff in Spanish in order to additionally practice Spanish language. The most important thing is that we did all of that while connecting with each other and having fun.
By attending English classes at El Divino Pastor, we have experienced a different approach to learning and quickly adapted to working alongside our Spanish peers. The classes in Málaga are more relaxed compared to those at Prva gimnazija Varaždin, but still very productive. Everyone is encouraged to participate, which made it easier for us to get involved. Beyond the classroom, the cultural experience played an equally important role. Visiting the Museo Picasso Málaga allowed us to connect what we had learned in school with real-life artworks by Pablo Picasso. We also visited the Museo Interactivo de la Música Málaga, where we explored different musical instruments and even had the opportunity to play some of them, making the experience both educational and engaging. In addition, the Museo de Málaga offered us a broader insight into the region’s history and art, helping us to better understand the cultural heritage of the city. Another fascinating landmark that we visited was the enourmous Cathedral of Malaga which is outstanding. Its architecture is absolutely breathtaking.
We stayed in a hostel that we shared with students from Poland. We shared the kitchen, living room and bathrom with them, which helped us strengthen our cooperation skills. The accommodation was good, we especially liked the colorful and peaceful neighborhood where the hostel was located.
One of the most surprising experiences was discovering that many of our peers were not familiar with where Croatia is located or that Croatian is the language spoken in our country. However, we were equally surprised and positively impressed by their curiosity and willingness to learn more about our culture and language, which made the exchange even more meaningful.
The objectives of the project have been successfully achieved, particularly in terms of strengthening our English language competences. Throughout the mobility, we had numerous opportunities to use English (and Spanish) in real-life situations, both in the classroom and in everyday communication, which significantly improved our fluency, confidence, and overall communication skills. Apart from language improvement, the experience strengthened intercultural understanding and openness towards different lifestyles and education systems
Our Erasmus+ mobility in Málaga was a unique and meaningful experience for all of us. As four students traveling together, we learned a lot from each other and created unforgettable memories. We improved our language skills, met new people and experienced a different culture in a way we could never learn from books. We gained new knowledge, enhanced our communication skills and got the chance to see how people live and learn in a different country. Through this experience we realized how valuable it is to step outside our everyday lives and try something new. We think Erasmus+ projects are a great opportunity for students across Europe to develop independence, explore different cultures and create lasting friendships. We will definitely carry this experience with us into the future and we hope it will inspire others to take part in similar projects.
Written by Jana Hosni, Dora Stepan, Tara Šipek, Ana Hlapčić, students at Prva gimnazija Varaždin, Croatia
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