Karolinen-Gymnasium celebrates German-French student exchange!

Karolinen-Gymnasium celebrates German-French student exchange!

On May 22, the official reception took place in the new construction of the Karolinen-Gymnasium, which celebrated the warm encounter between students from the twin city of Colombes and the city of Frankenthal. Deputy and school head Bernd Leidig welcomed the French guests on behalf of the city. The event was organized by the schools of the city administration area and aimed to promote intercultural exchange. The participants were not only given a warm reception, but also an exciting program.

The students of the Karolinen-Gymnasium experienced a digital city rally through Frankenthal using the Actionbound app. But that was just the beginning. A visit to the historic city of Heidelberg with a shipping on the Neckar and the trip to Schwetzingen Castle provided unforgettable impressions. An underground leadership in Mannheim and an excursion to Frankfurt, in which the stock exchange and the European Central Bank were visited, rounded off the varied program.

new friendships and insights into everyday life

The possibility was particularly gratifying that the host families took on activities together with the French students. This not only led to new friendships, but also to deep insights into the everyday life of the twin city. The school partnership between the Karolinen-Gymnasium and the Institut Jeanne d’Arc has been an integral part of the city twinning between Frankenthal and Colombes since 1958. The exchange makes a decisive contribution to strengthening Franco-German friendship and deepening the mutual understanding, which also promotes the intercultural skills of the participants.

Such an exchange has many advantages: it not only promotes language skills, but also expands the cultural understanding. According to the information from [Exchanges-macht-schule.org] (https://www.auschaususch-macht-schule.org/portal/hilfen/angebote-zum-deutsch-franzoesische- exchange), the Franco-German youth work (DFJW) offers exchange programs for various age groups. These range from individual exchange for students in grades 8 to 11 to programs for entire classes to offers for young adults.

A look across the borders

The DFJW has recently organized an exciting project in which the generation Europe of the 2025 vintage had the opportunity to speak to Christine Lagarde, the President of the European Central Bank. In the presence of the ambassador François Delattre, the participants were able to ask questions and express their visions. The exchange took 45 minutes and was characterized by interesting discussions about innovations and their financing. Such events are not only a great opportunity for students and young adults, but also underline the importance of Franco-German relationships, such as DFJW.ORG.

Overall, the implementation of such exchange programs shows how valuable the personal encounters are. The paths between Germany and France are diverse and in constant movement. These activities not only promote understanding among the young people, they also open doors for future collaborations and friendships across borders.