In October 2025 (for two days) the students of the five final classes of our Lower Secondary School (3A/3B/3C/3D/3E) had the chance to meet a group of young learners from Poland, belonging to the Erasmus Project.
The Polish students come from Rząśnia (a small town with about 6000 inhabitants in the centre of the country, at 200 Km southwest of Warsaw, the capital city) and are the same age of our learners (13 and 14). Through a Power Point slide show presentation, they told us about their country, their town, their traditions and festivities, their school (John Paul II School) and detailed education system.
Some slides displayed pictures of their school buildings and classrooms, including the foreign language lab (technological, advanced and really cool!).
After a short introduction led by Mr Belfiore (head of the project) and a welcome speech from our Italian teachers, students were split into groups of eight/ten, sat down at a table and started to talk to each other.
As a first step, the hosts and the guests introduced themselves, and few Italian students described our school (timetable, subjects, grade chart, rooms, labs, activities and projects).
After that, the Italian teachers gave each group an Icebreaker activity with fun and non threatening questions to help students get to know each other better and feel more included in the team, allowing them to express their personality and…make connections!
Thanks to this enriching and pleasant experience, our students could meet foreign peers from a different culture, build their own confidence, improve their first foreign language they study at school (the first vehicular language in the world) and increase their soft skills.
This mindset help us to build a kind, curious, friendly and open-minded school where differences bring us closer instead of setting us apart.
WHAT’S “ERASMUS+ PROJECT”?
It’s the European Union’s flagship program for education, training, youth and sport.
It offers funding and support for a wide range of activities: from studying abroad and volunteering to teaching, internships and professional training. Lauched in 2014 and running through 2027, Erasmus+ is more than just a student exchange program, it’s a gateway to international experiences that promote cultural exchange, personal development and professional growth.
What about our boys and girls? Read their words below!
1) The meeting we had with the Polish students was a great experience because it helped us speak English and know new people. (Giorgia C.)
2) It was very interesting to meet a group of teenagers from Poland. I especially appreciated to find out their traditions and costumes (food, habits and hobbies), and it was nice to know more about their school and their daily routine. Even though we weren’t always able to understand each other, we had a lot of fun and I hope to see them again soon. (Luca D.)
3) I really liked this experience because it allowed us to meet new people, to learn a new culture, and to practice English! (Gianmarco C.)
4) I think the meeting with the Polish students was very useful because we learnt about a foreign country and we talked about the differences between the Italian and the Polish school systems…using the English language! I also enjoyed the confidence they had with us. (Margherita A.)
5) It was a pleasant and new event for me, because I had never spoken to someone in another language before! (Noa L.)
6) The meeting with the Polish students was fun and useful because I loved talking in English to people speaking another mother tongue, Polish! (Matteo F.)
7) According to me, the meeting with the students from Poland was truly exciting and fun. They talked about their traditions, school, hobbies and favourite subjects. They were really nice…I loved this activity! (Benedetta O.)
8) At the beginning, when I introduced myself, I was shy and embarrassed, then I got confident and began talking to the guys. They were kind and fun, and I felt a little bit sad when the bell rang. 🙁 (Paolo P.)
9) I had so much fun because we chatted in English all along!!! (Riccardo S.)
10) The meeting with the foreign students was very interesting to me because it was the first time I talked to someone in another language. It was a fun experience because the girls and the boys from Poland were very friendly. (Alessandro M.)