We were delighted to welcome 10 students from Sicily to our school for a four-day cultural exchange, where they joined our Year 5–6 classes and became part of our school community. The visit was a rich and engaging experience that highlighted the importance of language learning, cultural understanding, and international friendship.
During their stay, students took part in a shared language immersion programme. Our students experienced 50% of their lessons in Italian, while the Sicilian students participated in 50% English-language immersion, creating a balanced and meaningful exchange that benefited both groups. This approach allowed students to practise language skills in authentic classroom settings while building confidence and collaboration.
The exchange was organised by Ms Vlacovich, who planned a range of enriching activities. One highlight was an Italian-language tour of Koper, led by our students, giving them the opportunity to practise their Italian while proudly showcasing their local area. This was followed by Italian games and language workshops in our playground, making learning both active and fun.
The Sicilian students also took part in a Latin American piñata-making workshop, led by Dr Delcompare from Guatemala. This creative session was run bi-lingually, allowing students to engage across languages while exploring another cultural tradition. In addition, our guests joined English immersion after-school sports, led by Ms Clausen, further strengthening communication through teamwork and shared activities.
Cultural exchanges like this are especially important in the bilingual region of Koper, and form a valuable part of our curriculum. Being immersed in Italian not only supports language development, but also deepens cultural integration and understanding. We hope to continue exchanges like this every year, strengthening our connections with different regions of Italy.
On Thursday, the exchange concluded with a whole-school ice skating trip to Trieste, followed by a shared pizza lunch. The ice skating was a huge success for students aged 5 to 18, bringing the entire school together and creating lasting memories with our Sicilian guests.
This visit was a truly enriching experience, celebrating language, culture, and community - and we look forward to many more exchanges in the future, perhaps a Sardinian exchange next time?
