Learning Teaching Training Activity  in Portugal - Short term exchange for group  of students

Portugal, and more precisely our school, Agrupamento de Escolas de Airães, was the host country for the second mobility of the project “Once Upon a Time Via ICT” within the Erasmus+ Programme.

As we are renowned for, we received our project partners in a friendly and hospitable way.

During that week 24 students and 11 teachers from Lithuania, Czech Republic, Spain, Turkey, and Italy were accompanied by the teachers Rui Silva (Headmaster), Carla Freitas, Ana Ferreira, Dina 

Rodrigues and Francina Santos (project coordinator), as  well as by our 20 students who participate in this project.

We had the opportunity to live an intense week with a very diversified programme which allowed us to acquire new knowledge and gain a very rewarding experience in several domains leaving memorable marks in all those who participated.

Among the various activities, we’ll point out a dinner at our school that brought together students, teachers, staff, and parents. The possibility to participate in several sports activities and traditional Portuguese games as well as a Zumba class. We visited the hill of Saint Quitéria (the main character of our legend) and the Saint Mary church of Airães, where the local choir delighted us with a live performance. In addition, we went on the 6 bridges boat cruise; we visited the City of Guimarães and the Paço dos Duques. We had several other visits and activities such as the visit to the City of Amarante and the Amadeo Souza Cardoso Museum, the visit to Oporto where we visited the Lello Bookshop and the Port Wine cellars where we tasted one of the most famous Port wines.

This visit allowed us to let our vast architectural, cultural and ethnographic heritage be known. After a nice stroll around the river zone to do some shopping and appreciate the beauty of the area, we fulfilled some of our visitors’ dream: see the sea for the first time. It was such a joy to witness that happiness.

We were also welcomed at Felgueiras City Hall and at Junta de Freguesia de Airães, whose president has greatly supported us.

New friendships were created and old ones were made stronger. The students presented the first story of each country and did some work on them. Our students presented their colleagues with a drama play of their story.  The work week ended with the recording of the audiobooks from all the countries. There were a lot of moments, of learning experiences, of sharing work and affection which resulted in a broadening of horizons for teachers, students, and families.  All this will endure beyond this week’s visit.