Students from ZSOiZ went to the German city of Chemnitz for a month as part of the systemic project “Foreign Internships and Placements for People Studying and Training Vocationally,” carried out by the Foundation for the Development of the Education System in Warsaw and co-financed by the European Union through the European Social Fund under the Human Capital Operational Programme. They returned to Bolesławiec at the end of March.
“In our case, Chemnitz is already a proven destination,” says Barbara Smoleńska, the project coordinator and supervisor of one of the groups. This year, both future economics technicians and, for the first time, students training to become tourism service technicians went to Saxony.
“All classes were held in German,” Barbara Smoleńska emphasises. “Our students were very pleased with the trip, and the German supervisors assessed the work of both groups very positively.”
“I have accompanied students on placements in Chemnitz for the fourth time,” says teacher Beata Żuromska. “They have always returned from there satisfied. This time was no different.”
The future economics technicians prepared catalogues, filled out invoices and payrolls, placed orders and wrote business plans—all in Goethe’s language. “Among other things, we learned to use German computer programmes,” says Karol. “We also learned how to set up our own company,” adds Patryk. Meanwhile, students from the Tourism Service Technical School had the opportunity to test themselves as guides around Saxony.
The young people from Bolesławiec County also had plenty to do in their free time. They played bowling and billiards and surfed the Internet. They also had the opportunity to explore Saxony.
Moreover, during their stay with our western neighbours, the students from the Zespół Szkół Ogólnokształcących i Zawodowych improved their language skills. Since Turks, English people and Chinese people were also among the trainees, the residents of Bolesławiec practised not only German but also English. “We spoke both with native Germans and with people from different parts of the world,” says Anna. “We were surprised ourselves that we could communicate so well with foreigners,” adds Patryk.
The ZSOiZ students will soon receive Europass Mobility certificates. “These young people will certainly be a valuable asset to potential employers,” says Beata Żuromska. “And they will certainly be able to say that the school did everything it could to prepare them well for their chosen profession.”
(information: ii)