Primary 3A’s Harbach English Adventure Week – A Week to Remember

What happens when a classroom becomes an English-speaking world for an entire week? Primary 3A experienced exactly that during their unforgettable Harbach English Adventure Week.

For five exciting days, the children were fully immersed in the English language. Every subject, every activity, and every interaction took place in English, creating the feeling of being in a school in an English-speaking country.

The week began with English in Use, where the children explored everyday routines. From getting up in the morning to going to bed, they learned how to describe their daily lives in English. Through reading, listening, speaking, and writing, they quickly gained confidence in expressing themselves.

Maths lessons also took on a new dimension. At various learning stations, the pupils worked on addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, and topics such as money, length, and weight, all in English. This strengthened both their mathematical thinking and their ability to use English in a meaningful way.

Tuesday brought a creative highlight. Native speaker and English middle school teacher Cheryl Gierlinger from South Africa visited the class and introduced the children to needlework in English. They learned terms such as needle, eye, stitch, and material while practising the running stitch. With great care and pride, the children created beautiful lavender scented bags, perfect gifts for Mother’s Day.

The same day also featured a delicious cultural experience: an English breakfast. The children learned about different ways of preparing eggs, including soft boiled eggs, hard boiled eggs, scrambled eggs, and fried eggs, served with bacon, tomatoes, and toast, as well as tea, cocoa, milk, or coffee. This was not just theory. The food was prepared in front of them, and the children were able to taste everything. The tables were carefully set, and the atmosphere made the experience truly special.

On Wednesday, the class travelled the English-speaking world without leaving the classroom. They explored countries such as the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, Australia, South Africa, and India, and discovered what school life is like in each place. They learned about timetables, subjects, and school uniforms. A particularly exciting moment was when students from Spain and Ireland shared their own school experiences.

Thursday was full of energy and discovery. Sports scientist Gareth Gierlinger, also a native speaker from South Africa, led a two-hour PE (Physical Education) lesson in English. The children enjoyed an exciting parkour set up across the entire gym and also experienced a game of tchoukball. Afterwards, they turned their attention to nature and learned about Spring Awakening and the changes it brings. They explored how animals are born or hatch and how plants sprout and trees begin to bud. The pupils then showed their knowledge by working through a spring workbook and playing spring bingo.

The week ended with a traditional teatime session. The children learned about etiquette and how to behave properly at teatime. They practised good manners by placing a serviette on their lap, eating neatly without leaving marks or crumbs on the tablecloth, and taking small bites instead of rushing their food. They also enjoyed small British egg and cheese sandwiches and delicious chocolate cake, all lovingly prepared by Cheryl Gierlinger. Teatime became a calm and enjoyable moment to share conversation and experience an important tradition in English speaking cultures.

The Harbach English Adventure Week was much more than a project. It was an immersive experience that helped the children grow in confidence and develop their language skills. Many stepped out of their comfort zones and began speaking English more freely.

A heartfelt thank you goes to everyone who made this week possible: Mrs Cehic, the principal, Mrs Omann, the class teacher of 3A, Mrs Schimpel, the secretary, and Cheryl and Gareth Gierlinger for their time, effort, and dedication.

For Primary 3A, this was not just a week of learning. It was an adventure they will always remember.

Author: Nicole Stephanie Gierlinger, English Teacher 3A.

Add-on: Flyer, timetable, pictures of pupils.