De La Salle hosts French students in Comenius project

De La Salle College recently hosted 25 French students from College Jacques Prevert in a project under the European Union's Comenius programme, which promotes student exchange among European countries.

A similar group of De La Salle fourth formers had earlier visited the French college in Verson.

The project was on the theme of "The Sea", in which different aspects were explored with the inclusion of as many school subjects as possible.

By all accounts, the project - a first for De La Salle - was highly successful on all levels: the educational as well as the social and personal, as attested by students from both schools.

"There was a fantastic relationship between our two groups," said Alison Creste of Jacques Prevert. "I thought it might be a bit hard with the all-boys group from De La Salle, but it worked well."

The French students were also enthusiastic about the climate, the amount of activities available for young people, the fact that "people live at night here more than they do in France", as well as the educational experience of visiting numerous sites connected with the theme.

Among other locations, they took in the Grand Harbour, Kalkara creek, the southern coast including Fort Rinella and the Freeport, the northern beaches, the Pembroke desalination plant, the Maritime Museum and Gozo.

They were also given a taste of aquaculture and scuba diving.

The Maltese students painted an equally glowing picture about their experience in France.

"Their group was so easy to get on with. We didn't feel like tourists because we were made to feel so at home. We were given a real taste of French school life... and the food at the canteen was really good too," said James Attard Kingswell, who was interviewed with Andrew Briffa and Karl Cutajar.

"What I liked best was that it was a mixed school and they didn't wear uniforms. Also their classrooms were very modern.

"Our French improved too, and we learned something of the culture and history of France. As we lived with a family, it was easier to practise the language," they said.

The Maltese members of the group did not know each other very well before flying out, but the experience created new, strong bonds. "We feel we've grown as persons."

Mariella Vella, assistant head of De La Salle senior school, explained how the project had its origins in October 2000 when she became intrigued upon attending a meeting about the Comenius programme - but baffled as to how to find a partner.

"A prospective partner was thrown on my lap when a name and address in France were given to me, and I started emailing a teacher from Verson. Before long, I was hosting her and a colleague who popped over to Malta on a preparatory visit in January 2001."

She was soon won over by the French teacher's charm, determination and persuasion, and became deeply involved in the project, emailing the teacher and formulating a project "worthy of the Comenius grant".

But she initially predicted problems with hosting 25 students, with funding, with finding such a large number of students willing to participate... "De La Salle had never taken part in a student exchange before and I had heard how difficult it was for the Maltese families to make this step..."

"However, the teacher said she had faith in me, and I told her I was willing to have a go.

"The topic chosen (the sea) proved to be easy to handle as, apart from the languages (French, English and Maltese), other subjects came to mind: statistics in mathematics; desalination in chemistry, hydro-electricity in physics; marine life and pollution in biology; as well as the obvious historical and economic contexts of the sea in the two countries. The Normandy landings as well as Malta's role in the second world war were an obvious link, as were the fishing industry and boats."

Ms Vella said her two immediate problems were then solved when she received about 30 applications to take part in the project from fourth formers, and found various sponsors, among them the Malta Maritime Authority, the Bank of Valletta Cospicua branch, Paramount Garage and the Museums Department. Discounts were given by the Water Services Corporation, Malta Experience and De La Salle Bookshop.

Most of the students' and teachers' travelling expenses were covered by the EU.