Help needed - do you have children aged between 8 & 12?

Some of you will know that, through a chance meeting whilst on holiday in Absinthe in Northern Spain last year, Alison and I have become involved with a primary school in Oporto, Portugal.

We met Pedro & Cláudia who've set up an English Club at the school to help their pupils learn English. Apparently, because of similar results based assessments of schools to the one we have in the UK, many schools are majoring on Spanish as a second language instead of English as it's easier for the pupils and gives better exam results, which in turn feed their through into league tables. It's accepted that English as a second language is very important but the primary schools are struggling a little to engage with the children.

The English Club at "our" school is flourishing and we've managed to get hold of hundreds of English language children's books from our friends, colleagues and acquaintances, which we've had shipped over for them.

So, where do you come in? Well, I've had a letter from Cláudia today, a copy of which I'm reproducing here:



My question is, "Can you help?" - I need some enthusiastic children who'd like a Portuguese pen-pal and can exchange letters a few times a year - who knows you might even get to visit Porto some time - it looks like a beautiful city and we're planning to go over to see Pedro & Cláudia at some point and to visit the school to see the English Club for ourselves.

Here are some photos of the Club:




The Club featured both in the National and Local Press and also on TV





If you think your child would like to be involved please PM me your details and I'll send you one of the letters which Cláudia has forwarded to me. Please include your preference as to gender - I've got letters from 6 girls and 2 boys. Here's hoping you can help...

Martin & Alison

Just put the idea to Charley and he thinks it sounds like a cool idea ! I'll PM you our details.

Thanks HH.

Bailey is aged 9, and says he would like to join in, I'll pm you.

That's great Nick. Pm sent.

The 2 boys have gone, as has one of the girls. Any more girls interested?

Grand Daughter Holly is 9 and wouldn't mind giving this a try. PM on the way
osg

Thanks, Harry.

Letters going out today to those who've kindly offered to help.

I've got 4 girls left who'd like an English penpal - any more for any more?

Only one envelope left - who can help me find Beatriz an English Penpal? She's 9, has two dogs, likes rabbits and playing on computer games...

Hi Mickey would love to become the last penfriend

That's fantastic Happyhouse. Will you pm your details and I'll get a letter to you.

Nice work everyone - well done.  You're building Brazilian VW Bay: The Next Generation  

Charley's letter from Tiago has arrived at the Hornet household. He's planning to write back this weekend.

Bailey's letter arrived yesterday, and as he was off school today due to the teacher strike, he has done his reply and posted it! I'm shocked takes him forever to do any homework.

Can I just say a massive thank you to everyone on here who has helped with this? Along with my two girls' step daughters and a work colleague we've managed to find pen pals for all of the Portugese children.

Claudia and Pedro are big fans of our vans and dream of having one, one day. Until then they're having to make do with a caravan.

Interestingly, Kombis are colloquially called "loaves" in Portugal because of their shape, so maybe they knead one! (Sorry!)

Good to see that we can all 'rise' to the occasion.   

Oh dear, I have a very upset Joshua (aged 9) who because of his slow to respond dad has missed out on a pen pal.......if there is any additional English pen pals required please please let me know so I can be forgiven!

Best regards,

Eddy.......... and joshua

I'll see what I can do for Joshua.

AbsintheKombi wrote:

I'll see what I can do for Joshua.

Thank you!

Eddy - I've been in touch with Claudia and she's promised to find a pen pal for Joshua - if you pm me your details I'll send a letter to you.

AbsintheKombi wrote:

Eddy - I've been in touch with Claudia and she's promised to find a pen pal for Joshua - if you pm me your details I'll send a letter to you.

Just read this to Joshua and he yelped with delight...pm on the way.....  

eddy wrote:

AbsintheKombi wrote:

Eddy - I've been in touch with Claudia and she's promised to find a pen pal for Joshua - if you pm me your details I'll send a letter to you.

Just read this to Joshua and he yelped with delight...pm on the way.....  

Absinthe please check if your pm inbox is full as the message doesent want to seem to leave my outbox?

I've got it. I think they may sit there until I collect them. Letter on its way to you on Monday.

AbsintheKombi wrote:

I've got it. I think they may sit there until I collect them. Letter on its way to you on Monday.

Many thanks,

Eddy

Holly tells me that her letter of reply should have reached Rita in Portugal by now
osg

PS I'm trying to learn Croatian. Any help on here?