GLOBETROTTING: German students, Heidi Jenssen and Anna Sabelus are experiencing the Australian Way of life during a 12month exchange program at Monbulk College.By TANIA MARTIN
MONBULK College is sharing the Australian way of life with a number of German exchange students, as a part of a sisterschool relationship between the two countries.
School principal Marg Tyson said nine students are visiting from Schwerin a town located in Old East Germany.
Ms Tyson said the exchange program was part of a sisterschool relationship between Monbulk College and Sportgymnasium (a German school).
She said the exchange program was now in its fourth year and has continued to develop, with students from both schools taking the opportunity to improve their language skills, experience a different culture and make new friends.
“Most of the students are staying for 10 weeks and many friendships are forming between the Monbulk students and their guests,” Ms Tyson said.
Since arriving on Sunday, 19 June, the exchange students and their families have visited a number of Melbourne’s notable tourist attractions. Ms Tyson said students have been to Phillip Island, Healesville Sanctuary, Sovereign Hill, The Melbourne Aquarium, and a football match at the Dome.
Ms Tyson said Monbulk student David Zalitis is currently studying at Sportsgymnasium in Schwerin for the next 12 months, while his exchange partner, Anna Sabelus is studying at Monbulk for the next 12 months.
Also staying on at Monbulk for the next 12 months is German student Heidi Jenssen. Ms Tyson said the two girls would be staying on at the college after the other seven students return to Germany on Friday, 26 August. Heidi Jenssen, who has been in Australia for little over a month, said everything was new and exciting. While Anna Sabelus who arrived eight weeks ago, said she was really enjoying her time in Australia.
Monbulk student Jacqui Hocking also leaves for Germany in September where she will spend the next 12 months studying at the Sportsgymnasium school.
