A COLLEGE is leading the way in embracing the spirit of European Year of Languages with a triple country link-up in the space of a month.

Last week, ten students from Prior Pursglove's "link", or sister school, in Strasbourg, sat in on lessons at the Guisborough college, and also experienced the region at selected placements in east Cleveland. They stayed with families of Prior Pursglove students, and visited places of interest in the area.

Now the college is hosting an exchange visit from six Spanish students from the historic walled town of Avila, near Madrid. Students from Prior Pursglove stayed with the families of students who attend the Alonso de Madrigal College earlier this year.

Until Wednesday, March 30, students from the college, together with students from St Mary's College, Middlesbrough, and Teesside Tertiary College, will spend a week near Dunkirk, in France, as part of an exchange with the Lycee du Noordover.

The English students will stay with French families, attend college with the French students, and visit Lille, Bruges and Paris.

A return visit by the French students will take place from March 28 to April 4.

Next Saturday, students will be joining groups from Stockton Sixth Form College and St Mary's College for a trip to Redcar and Cleveland Twinning Association.

Alison Dodds, manager of modern languages said: "There is a huge amount of interest and enthusiasm in the college for meeting our European neighbours, and learning much more about the way they live. The college twinned last year with a school in Ischia, Italy, and we are also raising funds to bring a group from a college in Minsk, Belarus, to east Cleveland in August."