Student Ambassadors See How The Other Half Learn

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Teenagers swap Matera for Fulham to spend time at a traditional English school

When the officials of Matera wanted to promote their small town in the Basilica region of Italy they decided the best way to do this was to send a group of students as ambassadors.

Organised by the Chiswick based British International School, 16 students came to London to learn how their English counterparts learnt and to extol the virtues of their beautiful historic town.

The teenagers, selected for their outstanding marks in their English language lessons, spent time in Fulham Cross Girls School to see how the other half learn.

“As far as I am concerned, the most important different between English and Italian schools is that the methodologies they use here in England are much more student centered rather than teacher centered as it is in Italy,” said Bongiovanni Giuseppina Maria Carmela, one of the group’s teachers who accompanied the students to London.

“That is the most striking difference,” she continued. “The other thing is that we took part in an Italian lesson and found that the students were more at ease, that they felt free to speak to interact during the lesson they work in groups in fact, they have a lot of fun. Whereas in Italy there is much more tension during the lessons the students are afraid of being tested which is of course normal.”

Looking at wonderfully picturesque images of their home town Matera, one can’t imagine that the town would need anything other than just being itself to tempt tourists. But if more was needed, than these students would be it.

Asked how they their experience in London, the students were all very positive.

“It’s very different because our town is very small and London is enormous but we like it,” said one.

After their 10 day visit, two of the students have already planned their return to gain valuable work experience in the summer.

“I found the most interesting thing was the different way of thinking of the English people. I think there are a lot of differences between English and Italian people in some ways some better and some not so good but together we make a good combination!” His fellow student agreed although added that one difference he most definitely didn’t like was the English cooking!

The other part of the exchange saw 20 English students travel to Matera to experience traditional Italian ways of teaching. Both groups had an overlap of a day during which they were able to share their experiences.

Situated on Chiswick High Road, The British International School was established to help Italian expatriates deal with the difficult decisions parents faced with the education of their children.

The school helps Italian and now French, children to integrate into the English schooling system whilst maintaining their invaluable access to becoming completely bilingual. For more information on the school please email info@britishitalianschool.com

For information on Matera please see www.initaly.com/matera

For information on Fulham Cross Girls School please see www.fulhamcross.lbhf.sch.uk

December 9, 2009