International exchange brings Argentinian students to Melksham

A visit from students from Argentina gave Melksham Oak Community School pupils a chance to make international connections, practise their language skills and learn about a different culture. 

A total of 40 students from Barker College in Lomas de Zamora, Buenos Aires, visited the school recently and took part in games, sports and lessons. They also supported Year 10 and Year 12 students in developing their Spanish-speaking skills.

Associate Headteacher Abbie Clark said, “It was wonderful to see such enthusiasm for cultural exchange and both our students and visitors greatly benefited from the experience. We look forward to building on this valuable international partnership in the future.”

The trip is one that Barker College arranges every two years. During their visit to the UK, the students also travelled to Dublin, Belfast and Scotland.

One of the Argentinian students, Juan Cruz La Vomvarda, said, “The most interesting thing I find about England is the culture which is so different in a good way to ours. I find that quite enriching. I love the architecture, the buildings and how the people speak. I love the accent. I struggled the most with the Scottish accent but I found it lovely.”

Head of Barker College, Carlos Gonzalez, said, “It is a personal experience for the students to go away from their usual environment and be in contact with people from other cultures and in this case, to get to know the English school system, which is different from ours in a way, being a bilingual school.”

“Our school was founded in 1897. We were set up by the English community which settled in Lomas to set up the railway and they wanted to create a school for their children. We teach our national curriculum with the English curriculum, and we do the Cambridge exams.”