At Colegio Santa Gema Galgani, meaningful learning experiences and real-world communication are at the heart of our bilingual programme. This term, our 3rd and 4th grade students had the exciting opportunity to take part in an international pen pal project organised by our Language Assistant, Amelia Maloney.
How the International Pen Pal Project Began
Inspired by the beautiful picture book Dear Primo: A Letter to My Cousin, the students explored the importance of communication, culture, and friendship through letter writing. After reading the story in class, Amelia collaborated with Dunloe Elementary School in Columbus to create a real pen pal exchange for our students.
As part of the project, the children have already written and received two letters each, with one final round of correspondence still to come. The excitement of sending and receiving real letters brought enormous enthusiasm to the classroom, motivating students to put extra care and effort into their writing.
Boosting English Skills and Cultural Connections
The activity provided an authentic and meaningful way for students to practise their English writing skills while also learning the structure and style of letter writing. Knowing that another child in the United States would read their work encouraged students to focus on accuracy, presentation, and clear communication.
Beyond language learning, the project also helped students experience the joy and anticipation of traditional letter exchange — something many of them had never experienced before. From eagerly checking for new letters to carefully preparing their responses, the activity created a genuine connection between students across cultures.
Our students were incredibly motivated throughout the project and showed great enthusiasm at every stage of the exchange. They were excited not only to share information about themselves and their lives in Spain, but also to learn about students living in the United States. The authentic purpose behind the activity inspired them to work especially hard on their writing, accuracy, and presentation.
We are incredibly proud of the enthusiasm, creativity, and dedication our students showed throughout this project, and we would like to thank Amelia for organising such a memorable and enriching experience. Initiatives like this continue to demonstrate how language learning can extend far beyond the classroom and become a truly authentic and motivating experience for our students.
