Ashburton College students Samantha McArthur (left) and Bianca Tawatao are back at school after a three-week trip to Germany. Photo Jaime Pitt-MacKayTwo local high school students have been rubbing shoulders and practising German with students from all over the world.

Ashburton College students Samantha McArthur and Bianca Tawatao have returned from a three-week intensive language course held in the German city of Frankfurt.

The pair were joined by students from Australia, Nepal, Brazil, Panama, Bolivia, Colombia, Peru and New Zealand.

The course found the students spending half their time in lessons and the other half out and about participating in activities.

A trip to Mainz and Marburg was also on the itinerary.

“The highlight of the trip for me was the lessons,” said McArthur.

“They were really engaging and interesting.”

Tawatao also said, “For me the highlight was meeting all the different people.”

This was not the first trip to Germany for the pair however, as both had taken part in the school’s German tour last year.

The trips weren’t without their differences though.

“This trip was more education-based whereas the school trip was more culture-focused,” said McArthur.

These are not the only students this year from the college who will be making the 20-plus hour trip.

One student will be returning early in March after visiting on the NZIIU scholarship, while three others have returned with their host buddies after an exchange to the Pascal Gymnasium in Grevenbroich.

The college will also play host to a tour group from the Pascal Gymnasium in early April.

By Jaime Pitt-MacKay © The Ashburton Guardian - 14 February 2017