English Afternoon at the Tauernhof
Once per year we spend an afternoon at an English-speaking centre where a group of international students (mainly Americans and Canadians) prepare a program for us (sketches, games, stories, sharing time,...). It is a real-life situation where the students are immersed in the English language and culture.
Feedback by students:
I only want to mention one negative thing – that we only go to the Tauernhof once a year. It was very interesting and funny to communicate with other people who are from all over the world. I also think with things like that you start to see that languages are very important for everybody. One important thing is also that I started to think about my life, God and the world. Armin Walcher
Last Friday we went for three hours to the Tauernhof. At first we had to introduce ourselves. We had so much fun that we were not scared to talk with them. I was impressed by the persons from America, Canada, England or other countries who come to Austria and work hard all day. I don’t have any bad experience during this whole afternoon at Tauernhof. Andreas Steiner
For our English knowledge it is also very important to speak with English-speaking people and if they are so funny and nice like the Tauernhof people, it's easier to speak with them. It would be very good if they came more often or if we visited them more often. That was a nice afternoon and we had a lot of fun. Stephanie Oppeneiger
I think it was a lot of fun with the people from Tauernhof. They are always very nice to us. It is good that we have the chance to speak with people whose native language is English. And it is also good, that we meet these people outside of school, because the atmosphere is more relaxed. We played a lot of games and this was great fun, because they were ‘getting-to-know-each-other’ games. The only game I didn’t like so much was volleyball, because it was sooooo cold outside. The only thing I don’t like about the Tauernhof visit is that we always have to write a summary. Carolin Lang
I think the three hours at Tauernhof were very funny and it was very good for our English. Matthew and Bridge were very nice and they told us very much about their time at Tauernhof, their life and interests. It was really cool because they have the same age as we do. I also liked the songs very much, because they are very good singers. They played the guitar and the drums very well. It was great fun, because they also showed us how to play American Football and they were very natural, what I found very nice. They also spoke a very clear English, so we didn’t have any problems to understand them. The games were very funny and also very good for speaking English. I also liked that the people are very nice and always friendly. I think they knew our interests and what we like. I found it very nice of them to give us some snacks and that they were so open to us. Not only the few boys and girls who spent the three hours with us are very nice, no... everyone who studies at Tauernhof is very friendly and nice. I like that very much. I think it’s not self-evident that they invite us, because they are not for fun at Tauernhof. They are also students and they also have to study. There was nearly nothing I didn’t like. Maybe the only thing was that we had school till half past twelve, then a three-hour break and at three o’clock we went to Tauernhof. So there wasn’t any time for training. But that’s also no problem once a year. And that our teacher didn’t play the games with us. I think it’s very important for our English to speak with real Americans, because there you can learn a lot more than during English lessons in school. Maybe it would be very good if they could come more often to us in our school. Peter Landl
It was really funny and it was one of the best days in my life. Benjamin Steiner
I am really thankful for this nice afternoon with these wonderful people. Benjamin Karl
Suddenly some of the people ran out the door and shouted ‘snowball fight’. That was my chance to fight with my teacher, but she didn’t go outside with me. L Despite that I had a lot of fun, because there were a lot of nice girls bombarding us with snowballs. That was big fun, because I like to annoy girls and that was my chance.(…) That was one of the best schooldays we ever had. Only Sunday is better. Stefan Lassnig
It is always fun at Tauernhof. Manfred Hörting
It is always a pleasure for me to meet the guys from Tauernhof. It is the best practice for speaking English. Bernadette Doppelhofer
First of all I want to say that I really like the people at Tauernhof. I can’t remember how often I have been to the Tauernhof up to now, but I remember that there were never unfriendly or unhappy people. It is always a pleasure to go to the Tauernhof. I am always so surprised by the girls and boys there, because when you go in you can really feel their happiness and their freedom and that they are so open to everybody. It is crazy. When you go in as a tired, unhappy and stressed person, you always come out like a new person and you always feel good. I have to admit that when I have lots to learn or am tired, I don’t want to go to the Tauernhof, but afterwards I think why don’t we go more often to the Tauernhof? This is the best practise for our English and we can also meet really friendly people and we can have lots of fun with them. I really like their sketches, because every sketch has a background. They are really interesting and you can also learn from them. Not only for school, but I think you can learn very much for your life. What I can’t forget is how the two boys sang and played the guitar and drums. It was really wonderful, but too short. I really enjoyed these hours at the Tauernhof and I hope that we will go again soon. Judith Pink