Elgin Academy welcomes German exchange students for first visit in five years

ELGIN Academy pupils have been filled with excitement this week, after welcoming German exchange students to the school for the first time in five years.

The school are currently hosting a group of students, aged between 15 and 17, from Hans Leinberger Gymnasium in Landshut, Germany, as part of a long-standing cultural exchange program.

The exchange with Hans Leinberger Gymnasium was initiated back in the 1990s and has become a cherished tradition at Elgin Academy, which has been taking part in German exchanges since 1958.

Modern Studies Principal Teacher Emma Hendry who organises the exchange said: "We were supposed to go in 2020 - but had to postpone due to COVID. So 2023 is the first time since 2018. I love organising the exchange. You get to know pupils out with school parameters, you often see them rise to challenges, and they learn to adapt to situations with good humor.

"It allows young people to experience a different culture, learn aspects of a new language, and most importantly, form friendships with young people they would normally never have had the opportunity to meet."

The visiting German students, accompanied by their teachers Michaela Steffens and Wolfgang Kaiser arrived on Friday, September 15 and will stay with host families in Elgin until Friday, September 22.

In total, 34 students from both Germany and Scotland are participating in the exchange. Pupils from Elgin Academy visited Landshut in June where they had the opportunity to attend school lessons, visit the Town Hall, take a boat trip on the Danube in Regensburg, explore the Munich Zoo, visit an outdoor swimming pool, and enjoy Bavarian beer gardens.

Reflecting on their experiences, Elgin Academy student Alex Pearson, (15) said: "The whole landscape was beautiful, and it was great to see different lifestyles, they don't have uniforms and we do, so their school is different."

Ada Carmichael, also 15, added: "It was really good; I've never been over to Germany before, and it was just really good to see the different culture and different scenery."

The 15-year-old German students Valentin Mesner and Katharina Braun are looking forward to the rest of their Scottish visit, having both spent time doing activities and exploring Elgin with their host families over the weekend.

Valentin said: "I'm looking forward to meeting some new people, experiencing some new stuff, and visiting different places and enjoying the time here."

Katharina added: "It's great, rainy but great. Over the weekend we went surfing, went to Findlater Castle and I've really enjoyed it."

During their visit to Elgin, the German students will have a packed itinerary that includes a reception at Moray Council, visits to Loch Ness, Urquhart Castle, and Culloden alongside their Scottish peers, as well as tours of Brodie Castle, Johnstons Mill, and Glen Moray Distillery.

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