Category: Internationaler Austausch

I participated in the Erasmus programme and attended Friedrich-List-Berufskolleg in Solingen as a student of Sakıp Sabancı Anatolian High School between 9 November and 10 December. During this period, I developed both academically and personally. This report has been written to evaluate my experiences throughout the programme, the cities I visited, and the classes I attended.
This Erasmus programme enabled me to learn about a different education system and different cultures. Thanks to the help of both my classmates and teachers, I had no difficulty understanding the lessons I  attended here. Our friends, in particular, were very helpful during our adaptation process. They introduced us to nearby cities. We visited some cities with them and explored others on our own. This allowed me to not only focus on my academic development but also to get to know the city and its surroundings.

The cities I visited and the events I attended enhanced my cultural awareness. Coming here this term was a great opportunity for us because we had the chance to travel to different cities, interact with the local people and practise our German. Academically, I had the opportunity to practise my language skills a lot because I was constantly exposed to different languages. By taking different courses, I gained general knowledge and also contributed to my development by understanding the examination system here. Adapting to a different education system gave me the opportunity to participate in classes and interact with students from different cultures. This process contributed to strengthening my critical perspective and improving my problem-solving skills. Assignments such as group work, presentations, and essay writing developed my research skills. Germany's multicultural structure helped me learn new things every day, communicate with different people, and benefit from their experiences. Travelling alone also boosted my self-confidence.

During the school trip to Solingen, it was fascinating to see where Solingen's famous knives are produced, view the old machinery, and learn about them. The walking tour we did in Düsseldorf provided us with information about both the local people and the historical development of the region. These experiences positively influenced my world view and supported my personal development. I would like to express my gratitude to all the teachers who took care of us throughout this programme, especially the principal Gökhan Yılmaz and Christine Haselhorst.

Between 9 November and 10 December 2025, I spent a month in Solingen, Germany, as part of the Erasmus+ Student Exchange Programme. This programme provided me with many experiences in the cultural sphere. Through this programme, I realised one of my biggest dreams: to see the world and study abroad. As a result, I was excited before leaving, and this was an opportunity for me to show myself to the world. Therefore, I practised to be prepared before leaving. Also, thanks to my school's information sessions, I learned about how the programme would be and many other things. All of this helped me in my preparation process before going there.

When I arrived in Germany, I noticed the cultural differences between my country and Germany. When I started school, our friends and their families, as well as our teachers, were all very helpful to us. Whenever necessary, they gave us information about what they were doing, shared their notes, took us on trips, and we ate meals with our friends. Whenever we had a question or a problem, they all helped us. The headmaster, Gökhan Yılmaz, and the English teacher, Christine Haselhorst, were particularly helpful. They all did everything they could to ensure we didn't feel like strangers or lonely here. I am very grateful to all of them for their help.

We went on a trip with the school, where we learned about the history of the city of Solingen and Germany. Afterwards, we visited various regions, experiencing different flavours, people, and cultures.

During my time here, I improved both my English and German by talking to people, my friends, and my teachers. I also gained confidence. In short, thanks to the Erasmus+ programme I participated in and the Friedrich-List Berufskolleg school I attended, I gained a lot both academically and personally. I made friends that I will maintain for the rest of my life, and thanks to the wonderful people here, I quickly began to adapt, even though it was difficult at first. While I was here, I discovered different aspects of myself and devoted more time to myself. I am very happy that I will return to my country as a student with a high level of awareness. Once again, I would like to thank our teachers, our headmaster, our friends, and the Erasmus+ team for helping us in this programme.

by Sena Şahin
07.12.2025

Im Zeitraum vom 10. November bis zum 10. Dezember 2025 nahmen zwei Schülerinnen unserer Partnerschule in Istanbul im Rahmen des Erasmus+ -Programms am Unterricht der Klasse 11 unseres beruflichen Gymnasiums teil.

Der Austausch stellte für beide Seiten eine große Bereicherung dar: Während die Gastschülerinnen neue Unterrichtsformen, Lernmethoden und Unterrichtsfächer wie z. B. Volks- und Betriebswirtschaftslehre kennenlernten, sammelten unsere Schülerinnen und Schüler wertvolle interkulturelle Erfahrungen und erweiterten ihre Fremdsprachenkenntnisse, da die Kommunikation mit den beiden Schülerinnen auf Englisch stattfand.

Begleitend zum Unterricht fanden verschiedene Aktivitäten statt, die den Austausch vertieften und einen Einblick in die Region ermöglichten. Unter anderem wurde die Gesenkschmiede Hendrichs in Solingen besucht, in der ein praxisnaher Eindruck von traditionellem Handwerk und regionaler Industriegeschichte vermittelt wurde.

Der Erasmus+ -Aufenthalt war insgesamt sehr gelungen und trug zur Vertiefung der Partnerschaft zwischen den beiden Schulen bei. Eine Fortsetzung der Zusammenarbeit ist ausdrücklich gewünscht.