This school year, our students have had the wonderful opportunity to participate in the eTwinning project Write, Read, Reply: The PenPal Podcast together with students from Özel İstek Atanur Oğuz Okulları in Turkey.

Throughout the project, students exchanged letters in English with their pen pals, sharing information about their daily lives, hobbies, traditions, schools, and cultures. This meaningful exchange allowed them to practise their writing skills in a real-life context while getting to know students from another country.

The project also encouraged students to communicate beyond the classroom. Through their letters, they discovered similarities and differences between their cultures, developed their confidence in using English, and, most importantly, created new friendships. Many students looked forward to receiving and replying to their pen pals’ letters, making the experience both exciting and memorable.

As part of the project, students also reflected on their exchanges and shared some of their experiences through our school podcast, giving them the opportunity to practise their speaking skills and express what they had learned.

Participating in eTwinning projects offers many benefits. It helps students improve their language skills, develop intercultural awareness, strengthen digital competences, and learn how to communicate and collaborate with peers from different countries. These experiences encourage curiosity, empathy, and open-mindedness while making learning more authentic and engaging.

We are very proud of our students for their enthusiasm and commitment throughout the project. It has been a rewarding experience for everyone involved, and we have thoroughly enjoyed every letter, every conversation, and every new friendship that has been created along the way.

A big thank you to our partner school, Özel İstek Atanur Oğuz Okulları, for sharing this journey with us. We hope this is only the beginning of many future international collaborations!