The Languages team have recently been hosting the home leg of another successful Spanish exchange. Students from SEK International School Alborán in Almería have been enjoying a variety of trips and improving on their English during their time here.

On Thursday, they visited Cambridge and enjoyed a morning of punting where our tour guides explained some of the history of the colleges. Students then had a tour of Peterhouse College to learn what it is like to study and live at one of the world’s most famous universities. We then had some time to do some Christmas shopping and visit Hardy’s traditional sweetshop.

The following day, the Spanish students spent the morning in lessons at Catmose learning a variety of subjects and seeing what lessons are like in an English school. We all met at breaktime to have a traditional English cream tea – there was much debate about the order of the jam and the cream! In the afternoon, our Spanish partners conducted a treasure hunt around Oakham to help familiarise themselves with our town.

On Monday, we visited Nottingham’s Winter Wonderland where students had the chance to go ice-skating in the open air before exploring the traditional Christmas market. Students then had one last visit to the shops for souvenirs and gifts.

The Spanish group travelled to Leicester on Tuesday where they spent the morning at the Richard III exhibition learning about how England’s last Plantagenet king was killed at the Battle of Bosworth, as well as the recent discovery and reburial of his remains. Students were fascinated to learn the details and history surrounding this.

On Wednesday, we said goodbye to our partners. There were many tears as we waved off the coach. However, many of our students and families have already made plans to meet in Spain at Easter before we officially go over to Almería for the away leg of the exchange in May 2020.