Oberpullendorf students sharpen English skills with British teachers

Students at the secondary school in Oberpullendorf are using the final days of their holidays to improve their English with teachers from Britain, ORF reported. The five day course, called English in Action, has been held for more than 30 years.

Hannah Schedl is among the participants. She said she likes English but is not one of the strongest students in the subject. She joined the course to improve her grades and to be able to speak English well when travelling in the future.

Nine teachers from Britain, known as native speakers, are leading the course. Participants receive 30 hours of English lessons during the week, with almost all communication taking place in English.

They do not speak German with the students, said teacher Elsbeth Wilks from Canterbury. The intensive format helps the children make progress, particularly by building their confidence, she said.

Former teacher Waltraud Ehrenhöfer organises the course. The 79 year old said she enjoys the language, sees the students’ progress and believes that working with young people may help her avoid Alzheimer’s disease.

The students presented what they had learned at a final event in the school’s assembly hall. Teacher Mohamed Abdi from Leicester said he was surprised by the high level of English among many of the students, especially the youngest participants. They told him their skills came from watching YouTube and playing computer games.

The school year will resume in around a week and a half. The course is intended to prepare the students, at least for their English lessons.