PUPILS at a village primary school are learning about life in one of the European Union's newest member countries from a Polish trainee teacher.
Marta Michalik is three weeks into an eight-month placement at Escomb Primary School, near Bishop Auckland, as part of her training to be a foreign language teacher in her own country.
The 21-year-old hopes to get some tips to take back to schools in Poland and is sharing some of her skills and culture with staff and children at Escomb.
Miss Michalik said: "The education system is different to ours, the facilities here are wonderful. The children learn to express themselves which is good for communication, and have games and activities to make every lesson fun.
"In Poland, it is more strict and formal. I would like to use some of the games I've used to teach children back home."
Headteacher Keith Taylor said: "Children usually holiday in France and Spain or go to America. They have few opportunities to learn first hand about other places."
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