Visit to Norway

The F.X. Attard Boys' Secondary School, Marsa, participated in the last project meeting of the Comenius 1 project 'Show Me Your World'. The school worked on the project together with those from the other participant countries - Romania, Italy, Portugal, Norway, Finland and the Nether-lands. The project passed on the identity of each country through topics focusing on culture, traditions, climates, famous people, festivals and celebrations.

It was the turn of the Norwegian team to show us their world, so between April 25 and May 1, two teachers together with three students from our school had the opportunity to meet teachers and students from all the participant schools for the sixth project meeting, in the host school of Grinvolde Skole in Moss, Norway.

The Norwegian students hosted the Maltese students at home. This experience was very positive for the Maltese students and was important for developing cohesion among the group of foreign students, for developing their self-esteem, self-confidence, self-presentation, communication and relationship skills, for developing intercultural competence and practising the English language.

Throughout these seven days the teachers became familiar with the Norwegian educational system and with their teaching methodology. They evaluated the development of the project throughout these four years, and it was deemed a very successful one.

The highlight of the week was an International Night held on the first day. Every national group sang songs and teachers, students and parents joined in the traditional dances of the various participating countries.

Throughout the week, students and teachers learned to say a few words in Norwegian. Several outings were organised in the afternoon. They were taken to the school town of Moss, Oslo, the capital, and its main attractions - the ski jump, the sculpture park, the royal palace, the parliament and the historical museum - a walk in the woods the Norwegian way and a barbecue at the seashore of the Oslo fjord.

This year the Comenius group organised a drama event representing the countries taking part in the project, an exhibition of all the products completed throughout these three years in the school's Prize Day and a presentation of the project in the forum organised by the school for Spnng Day in Europe.

This was a very valuable experience for students and teachers to share their identities and actually become one strongly bonded multi-cultural group, where despite differences commonalities ruled. This opportunity broadened the students', teachers and parents' horizons in coming across different countries, cultures and ways of thinking. This will help us develop into individuals who can learn from others and live more positively with difference and diversity.