European youngsters learn about Welsh life (From South Wales Argus)

European youngsters learn about Welsh life

3:20pm Saturday 9th March 2013 in News

YOUNGSTERS from six European countries are in Newport this week to learn about Welsh culture and the environment.

Eighteen pupils from schools in Sweden, Portugal, Lithuania, Turkey, Italy and Denmark and their teachers are spending the week at Langstone Primary School.

Staying with host families, the youngsters aged ten to 15, will visit Big Pit, Caerleon Roman History Museum, Cardiff Bay and St Fagan’s Museum of Welsh Life.

Their visit is part of the Comenius project – a shared learning scheme between schools in the six countries.

Over the past two years the schools have taken part in a number of projects, learning about the environment and sustainability.

This includes each creating herb gardens using seeds sent to each school from their other countries.

They have also carried out food tasting sessions comparing processed and non-processed foods and created organic food menus for a Master Chef-style competition.

Each school then gives feedback on how it went and what they learnt.

Youngsters at Langstone have also created a magazine documenting the project, which is then sent out and reproduced at the other schools.

Deputy head teacher Alex Smith said the project gives pupils the chance to learn about other cultures.

He said: “The main thing is to look at the similarities and differences between the cultures and to learn and understand each other’s history.”

Lithuanian teacher Loreta Vaiciuliene said she and her pupils had thoroughly enjoyed their time so far.

She said: “It’s been wonderful, we are having a good time.

“Everyone has been very welcoming.”