New Zealand Penpal Exchange
At Kip McGrath Derby South, we’re proud to be part of an International Education business, helping children do better in school, not only in the UK but in 16 English-speaking countries around the world. We’ve had a pen-pal exchange running with the Kip McGrath Centre in Hawera, New Zealand for 6 years.
As part of practising many aspects of their English learning, our students love to have communication with their counterparts on the other side of the world. Kip McGrath Derby South students get just as much pleasure out of writing to their pen-pal as they do in receiving a reply.
Hi Navleen.
I loved getting your letter! I have been pretty busy with rehearsals for The Lion King production. The shows is on the 20th to the 26th June. It is going to be a really great production, I can’t wait!
Yes I have lived in New Zealand my whole life. I have 1 sister and she in 15 years old.
We do celebrate Halloween in New Zealand, but I don’t personally celebrate it.
Questions for you.
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- How many friends do you have?
I have 2 friends.
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- Have you played netball in your life?
I have played netball since i was 5 years old.
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- What school do you go to?
I go to a school called Te Paepae o Aotea.
I have lived in 5 towns since I was a baby. How many town’s have you lived in?
Bye for now
Nikayla
P.S. The picture to the right is of Anthea who also comes to Kip McGrath.
Here’s a typical example of a student letter:
After writing an initial letter, each student is matched up with a pen-pal by the Centre Owners, either in Derby or in Hawera. This is the starting point for shared experiences and descriptions of those things that make life in the UK/ New Zealand unique. All communications are via the Kip McGrath Centre Directors, so no contact details are shared directly.
Our teacher, Alison co-ordinates the scheme, recording when letters are sent and received, so we can identify who’s waiting for a reply and who needs to write to their pen-pal. Alison has created and developed a wall display in the Centre to depict the scheme, including lots of facts about where Hawera is (we assume we know where Derby is?) and what goes on there.
Here are just a few images depicting what Kip pen pals are all about.
We love it as much as the students!
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