Exchange reports
NEW! Social Project between five countries: read the first report here.
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To exchange students:
Copy the ESN Exchange Report questionnaire as a Word document and answer all the questions in (delete the lines - the lines are there only to suggest an appropriate length for your answers). Feel free to add your own comments and photographs! Send the report to your home school coordinator and the webmaster riikka.kaipainen@gmail.com, who will publish it on this website.
Highlights of students' reports
"For all of us the Istanbul exchange was an unforgettable experience, and if we get another chance to have a visit like this, we would like to grab the opportunity."
Group exchange (Germany to Turkey)
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"The people in Finland are not silent or reserved as I had expected before. If you get to know them you notice immediately how friendly they are."
Anna & Leonie, Germany (exchange in Finland)
Read Anna & Leonie's full report
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"This experience has been one of the best of my life, because, thanks to this experience, I have improved my English and I have also learnt how different life can be and that it is very important to know other countries, cultures, habits and other ways to live. It hasn't been only a material experience, but an experience that has left an inward mark inside me.
I suggest this kind of travel to all the guys that love travelling and to the other people too, because it's a useful experience if you want to get better and become more responsible, especially if you consider that you are alone. I have to say thank you again to my host family that has made my stay so wonderful."
Serena, Italy (exchange in Finland)
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"The experience changed me A LOT!! For example, I learned that I should not take all things so seriously and I should really enjoy the life more. I am now much more optimistic and lively person, I think. Or at least I try to be :D! I would recommend this to people who are open-minded and want to learn about different cultures and to experience something unforgettable. I would definitly do this again, and I will :)!!"
Eerika, Finland (exchange in Portugal)
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"I think I learned much English and now I can speak it more fluently. I learnt plenty about Holland and their culture and I think that it was very good experience. Now after my exchange I have also good friends from Holland."
Minttu, Finland (exhcange in the Netherlands)
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"I think the exchange chanced me to be little more indepented person. I also saw bit different culture and that´s always eye opening and good thing. I also like speaking English more than before and I´m not scared to use it. I think that ESN is good for people who want to see different culture and foreign country´s real normal life. Not life from the hotel. ESN is also good if you are ready to take someone to your home. And if you are not REALLY scared to leave home alone, ESN is fine."
Elena, Finland (exchange in the Netherlands)
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"...there's one thing that I'll never forget about the Netherlands: people's eyes, so special, in particular some of them are really magic, they can steal your soul forever..."
Alberto, Italy (exhcange in the Netherlands)
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"This experience has changed me a lot, because I met new people, a new culture and new customs and, of course, I improved my English all the time that I was there. I learned how to talk with different people, because Finnish people are not extroverted, and sometimes it was very difficult for me to talk to them.
I met a wonderful girl, that is my best friend Eerika now, and I'm very happy to have met her, because she is a very nice person, and her family was fantastic with me - I was very welcomed in her house."
Ana Catarina, Portugal (exchange in Finland)
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"...I have just positive feelings about my exchange. It was so nice to meet new people and visit a country where I have never been. I can recommend ESN to everybody who wants to visit a foreign country. And, of course the most important fact is that you can use your English during the whole week or weeks, which is so effective for practice and helps to speak fluently."
Schulteisz Mátyás, Hungary (exchange in the Netherlands)
Read Schulteisz Mátyás's full report
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"This experience was very useful for me. I think the aim of this experience is not only to improve your English but also to know a new culture; in fact after it I think you have got an “open mind”. I learned to live without the help of my parents. In this week I could see many Hungarian habits, some better than the Italian ones (to listen for example) and some others strange for me. (...) I recommend an ESN exchange to all those who love travelling or want to improve their English or simply for those who want to experience living in another country to grow up or to make new friends. All students can take part in this project, because you have only travel expenses. Next year I hope I’ll do an exchange in another country to visit new parts of Europe and to do something that I consider different or really new to me."
Davide, Italy (exchange in Hungary)
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"7 Days were way too short… But it was a very nice experience and I really recommend this! Only the saying goodbye part wasn’t so nice…"
Anouchka, The Netherlands (exchange in Finland)
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"Now I can speak Spanish a little bit faster. My Spanish has improved. Moreover, I made new friends.
I recommend this exchange to the students who would like to develop their skills in the host countries’ languages or just want to practise English or want to see another country and city. The exchange was absolutely great. I wouldn't do anything differently next time."
László Tóth, Hungary (exchange in Spain)
Read László Tóth's full report
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"The result of this experience is totally positive, because I really liked this experience and I felt very well with the people I met, the host family was so generous with me and I felt as if I was Hourvash’s sister and her parents’ daughter"
Roxana, Italy (exhcange in Germany)
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"My trip to Finland was a great experience!"
Fiona, Germany (exchange in Finland)
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"I am very happy that I did this exchange and I would recommend to simply everybody to do as many exchanges as possible while it is possible because later on you will never again have the chance to see other countries and cultures for such little money. It is a very rich experience as you get to know a variety of people, tradition and lifestyle and it really broadens your horizon."
Franziska, Germany (exchange in Hungary)
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"The short but multifaceted exchange was really successful and we had great time."
Elina, Finland (exchange in the Netherlands)
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"I had a wonderful time in Finland. My host family was so nice and they treated me like a real family member."
Celine, Germany (exchange in Finland)
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"My trip to Finland in august was one of the greatest events in my life. [...] All in all this exchange was a good experience. I learned a lot about Finland and its culture and I improved my English very well. I will definitely go there again."
Anne, Germany (exchange in Finland)
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"I really had a nice stay in Finland. The family did so many nice things with and for me. I really felt like a part of the family! They made me feel comfortable and gave me an unforgettable week. I'm really happy I met those people. I really recommend a trip like this!"
Elina, the Netherlands (exchange in Finland)
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Rocha, Portugal (group exchange in Italy)
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Mafalda, Portugal (group exchange in Italy)
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Maria, Portugal (group exchange in Italy)
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Patrìcia, Portugal (group exchange in Italy)
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Pedro, Portugal (group exchange in Italy)
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Piia, Finland (exchange in Holland)
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A Finnish teacher spent a week in a Portuguese school as an ESN Exchange teacher. Here's an English summary of his report:
"As the Portuguese school Escola Secundária D.JOÃO II invited me for a teacher exchange period during the spring term, I organized a week off duty from my own school, Kangasalan lukio. There were no massive costs either for me or my school; I stayed in a host family and there was no need to hire a substitute teacher to cover my absence. The purpose of my exchange was to observe lessons and learn about the Portuguese educational system and perhaps bring some fresh ideas to my school. I also wanted to encourage teachers and students to try the ESN exchange program and to tell the Portuguese about Finland, my region and the Finnish educational system. The Portuguese ESN coordinator Maria José Simas had planned a schedule for my week. It included observing lessons, having professional conversations and meetings and giving demonstrations such as a demonstration of a Finnish sport, floorball. The floorball session was a huge success, and the Portuguese seemed interested in adopting this sport in their curriculum.
The experience was extremely positive and rewarding. Looking from a new perspective, I learned a great many things about my work, about my culture and, of course, about the Portuguese way of life. Despite the many differences between the Finnish and the Portuguese educational systems, their foundations are alike. The Portuguese teachers are very committed and professional. The Portuguese are a friendly people and they made me feel welcome. I can sincerely recommend ESN teacher exchange to everyone. One piece of advice for those who consider this kind of experience: to make the most of the trip, study the basics of the culture and its history before you go, and learn some essential expressions in the target language."
Ismo's report and pictures (in Finnish)