NINETEEN Dunbar Grammar School pupils have hit the headlines – in another country!

The Higher German pupils spent a week last month in Germany, improving their language skills.

The students spent two days in Berlin and the rest of the week in Forst, Spree-Neisse, where they did work experience in local businesses, the local authority or in the local school, Friedrich-Wilhelm-Jahn-Gymnasium.

The group stayed in students’ halls of residence in Forst, which lies on the River Lausitzer Neiße which is also the German-Polish border.

And their trip to Germany also saw them gracing the pages of the local Spree-Neiße-Kreis newspaper.

Naomi Barnes, German teacher at Dunbar Grammar School, said: “Our contact in Germany, Jana Handrischeck, her office is next to the department that deals with press releases.

“For the last couple of years, they have put us in the paper and interviewed the kids.

“Last year, it was kids in the chemist and this year it was at the school.” All the students are working towards Higher German and having time in Germany, where they are immersed in the language and the culture, gives them the opportunity to make a lot of progress in a short time.

Mrs Barnes explained the importance of the visit. She said: “They are just put into a situation where they are absolutely forced to use German.

“It is sink or swim and it makes a huge difference to their confidence.

“Also listening to German brings it on massively; they have to go into a coping mechanism.

“They can also prove to themselves that is useful and it makes it really relevant to them.

“It is also hugely satisfying to use what they have learned and prove to themselves that it is something they can do. It really brings them on and makes a huge difference to exam results.” The S5 and S6 pupils also made friends with students from the local school, who also visit East Lothian each September.

On those occasions, the youngsters stay at the Innerwick Outdoor Centre.