Comenius Project R.O.L.E at the Business Academy in Považská Bystrica

 From 7 to 11 May 2012 the Business Academy in Považská Bystrica welcomed teachers and students from four European countries (Denmark, The Netherlands, Germany and Great Britain) at a meeting of the project R.O.L.E. (Regarding Our Lives in Europe).The central part of the project were the students` presentations. Representatives of each country, including Slovakia, had prepared 2-3 presentations, in which they informed each other about their school subjects, teaching methods, school and extracurricular activities, ways to spend leisure time, means of communication among young people, where young people work after school, as well as where and how they spend their holidays. Each 20-minute presentation contained a short video. Our school was represented by 2 presentations prepared by students from 2.A - R. Bednáriková, K. Matochová, L. Mazánová and from III. A – P. Očkajová, S. Svítková a V. Valúchová.

It wasn´t only the working activities that were on the programme. By making trips to a number of magnificent places in Slovakia the foreign participants had a unique opportunity to explore our country. The teachers as well as the students were amazed in particular by the natural beauty of Vrátna Valley with its Jánošíkové diery, Demänovská cave, a unique village of Vlkolínec, rafting down the river Váh. and the historical centre of Žilina. The magic of these trips was certainly magnified by the nice sunny weather.

To the question what the foreign visitors liked the most, came an unanimous answer – the beauty of Slovak women and of Slovak nature. Everyone deeply appreciated our hospitality and good nature and believe it or not, some of them did not even feel like leaving at the end.

And what did Slovak students gain from this week? Well, first of all, a possibility to communicate in English, to get to know other European cultures and last but not least, new friends and unforgettable experiences.

The project will continue in the next academic year with a meeting of teachers in Ashington in the UK and in Bremen, Germany, where the teachers will be joined by the students with their presentations.