Author: Mala Henry, La Jolie Ronde
During Languages Week Scotland, ten-year-old Johanna Ekokota from Falkirk prepared for an experience of a lifetime as she got to fly to Paris as part of an exchange with French pupil Niels Rudolph.
First though it was Johanna greeting Niels, who is also ten, as he landed at Edinburgh airport for his two-week stay. He attended Laurieston Primary with Johanna and lived the life of a Scottish pupil, before Johanna joined him back in Paris.
Headteacher Beverley Keith of Laurieston Primary commented, “It was a pleasure having Niels in our school community, he enjoyed a variety of activities as well as timetabled lessons. Overseas connections are so important in today’s world, not only do pupils get educational and cultural enrichment, speaking in the chosen language day in and day out enables pupils to learn much faster, without realising it.”
Johanna's exchange saw her fly to Paris and submerge into French family and school life.
“My French teacher Mr Jamin is very nice. In France, school is different as pupils don't have to wear school uniform, plus there are no packed lunches and only one meal choice. I love ‘le goûter’ which is a French afternoon snack, plus I have tried some new foods like courgettes, avocados and ‘pommes de terre sautées’ which are fried roasted potatoes. I love the French baguettes the most though,” said Johanna.
As well as joining in with school life, Johanna also had the opportunity to soak in French culture, as they spent an afternoon at the Opéra Garnier in Paris where they had fun trying to solve an Arsène Lupin enigma.
Sandra Kasparek, Johanna’s French club teacher who helped facilitate the exchange said, “Johanna is a natural linguist with a real passion for French, so this is such an amazing opportunity for Johanna and Niels too. It’s fantastic that they both got to share their daily life, plus experience each other’s culture and practice their language skills. Unlike going on holiday, the pair get to immerse themselves in home life and appreciate not only the differences but also the similarities between their lives.”