On Wednesday 25 February, we celebrated our transformative Languages Exchange Program.
Twenty-five Middle School students who undertook exchanges during the December and January break gathered with their families, teachers and peers to share reflections on their experiences at our partner schools Rudolph-Brandes Gymnasium in Bad Salzuflen, Liceo Antonio Rosmini in Rovereto, Lycée Jean Monnet in Montpellier, Lycée Aristide Briand High School in Évreux, Colegio Estudio in Madrid, Tamagawa K-12 University, Meikei High School in Tokyo and Osaka International School.
Choosing to participate in an exchange over the summer holiday period represented a significant commitment to personal and academic growth. These students were immersed in unfamiliar educational settings, living with host families, attending local classes and navigating everyday life through another language. This level of immersion required adaptability, resilience and independence — capabilities that are fundamental to success in senior years.
Students spoke thoughtfully about the impact of stepping outside their comfort zones and the ways in which the experience challenged them to become more self-directed learners. From managing daily routines in a different cultural context to developing the confidence to communicate in new environments, the exchange fostered intellectual curiosity, problem-solving skills and intercultural understanding in ways that extended far beyond traditional classroom learning.
Experiences such as these set a clear pathway for our Middle School students as they prepare to enter their final two years of High School, fostering the independence, resilience and global perspective required to thrive in senior study and beyond.
