Pupils from St Martin’s School in Caerphilly bring language learning to life in Spain
A group of 30 pupils from St Martin’s School in Caerphilly took part in an international exchange with pupils in Algeciras in Spain. The project connected the pupils through immersive cultural and linguistic experiences. It brought language learning to life and provided many of the pupils with their first opportunity to travel abroad.
Their Spanish teacher Francisco Lopez tells is about the experience and the impact it has had:
Why did you apply for the Taith funding?
We applied for Taith funding with the aim of reinvigorating interest in Spanish at our school. In recent years, we had observed a decline in uptake at GCSE and A level-an unfortunate trend seen across Wales- and we wanted to offer pupils a meaningful, immersive experience that would bring the language to life beyond the classroom. The funding provided a unique opportunity to do just that.
A key motivation for applying was to ensure that pupils from less privileged backgrounds had access to the same enriching experiences as their peers. For many of our pupils, this was their first time travelling abroad, and it was incredibly important to me personally to make this opportunity accessible and inclusive. The Taith funding helped level the playing field, giving all pupils the chance to grow in confidence, independence, and cultural awareness.
Can you tell us about your partner school and some of the activities the pupils took part in?
IES Las Palomas is a secondary school in Algeciras, Spain.
We initially organised live virtual meetings during language lessons. These sessions allowed pupils from both schools to practise their Spanish and English conversational skills in real time while learning about each other’s daily lives, education systems, and hobbies.
Pupils shared letters, videos, and photos on a digital platform introducing themselves and their school life. This interactive space allowed learners to practise their language, exchange information about their cultures, and build connections prior to meeting in person. Pupils enjoyed reading each other’s posts and responding, which helped develop their writing skills and cultural awareness in a safe, engaging environment.
The project also created opportunities to showcase Welsh culture, history, and identity. Pupils and staff in Algeciras learned about Wales, our language, and our traditions.
A major highlight was the visit of pupils from Algeciras to Wales, where they experienced life in a Welsh school and community.
Our partner school in Algeciras also created a “Welsh Corner” in their school, where they displayed information about Wales, its culture, and language.
Has your pupils’ Spanish improved since the project began?
Bringing language learning into an authentic setting has had a significant impact on pupils’ fluency and confidence in Spanish. Engaging in real conversations, both in person and virtually, has strengthened their ability to communicate naturally.
Since returning, we’ve seen a noticeable improvement in pupils’ speaking and listening skills. Many have become more confident in using Spanish spontaneously, and their pronunciation and fluency have improved significantly. There’s also been a shift in attitude- pupils are more motivated, and several have expressed interest in continuing Spanish at A level and even at university.
One of the most rewarding outcomes has been the increased enthusiasm in lessons. Pupils are more willing to take risks with the language and engage in discussions. The experience has also sparked curiosity about other cultures and languages, broadening their global outlook.
I am especially proud of the fact that the pupils are still in touch with their peers in Spain and are using Spanish to communicate and maintain their friendship.
I really enjoyed the exchange because it gave me brilliant opportunities. I enjoyed being able to go to another country and experience their language, culture, history and people. It taught me a lot about their history and their lifestyles, such as the structure of their day and their school timetable. I loved going to all the historical sites throughout the trip and I thoroughly enjoyed it. As for language, it gave me a great opportunity to enhance my ability to speak the language and communicate with others, which I enjoyed. I also had the chance to make new friends which I enjoyed and I am still in touch with a couple of people I met. I also really enjoyed having them all come over to Wales and seeing them learn about our history, culture and languages.
Kate Bailey, Pupil
What has been the impact on the school as a whole?
The project has significantly enhanced the international dimension of our school. It has strengthened our curriculum and empowered teachers through professional development opportunities. This has led to improved teaching and learning, greater pupil engagement, and higher aspirations across different learner groups.
Our partnership with the Spanish school has established a sustainable model for future international collaborations, embedding global learning into our school culture. This experience has also strengthened our capacity to deliver international projects, giving staff the confidence to engage in further partnerships and curriculum development.
Thanks to the Taith project we have also managed to secure our British Council International School Award, a long time aspiration of our school!
The trip taught me a lot about the similarities and differences of the way people in Spain live, compared to us in Wales. I learned a lot of stuff about Spain, such as the culture, people, food, and history. I valued this trip, and was happy to have made lots of new friends, some of them I still speak to online today. The trip gave me the opportunity to learn stuff about Spain that you can’t learn in classrooms, and showed me what life and education is like for a Spanish child. I enjoyed communicating with the Spanish pupils and teaching each other words of our languages, and visiting amazing places with them.
Dylan Evans, Pupil
