A training course for teachers  of Spanish entitled Curso para profesores de español no nativos was held in the city of Puerto de la Cruz located in the northern part of the island of Tenerife between 7^th – 11th March 2016. There were four participants in the course (two teachers from Denmark, one from Norway and myself). The course was held in a language school which is attended by different profiles of learners (groups are heterogeneous with learners from different countries; in addition to high-school and university students there are also quite many adults who want to learn or improve their Spanish). Before the start of the training course, we were invited to fill out a longer questionnaire on the topics we want to concentrate on, the activities we want to become familiar with and the chapters of the Spanish language and culture we want to pay special attention to. We also had a great opportunity to exchange good practice with each other.

One part of the course was dedicated to attending different Spanish language courses ranging from A1 to B2. After the visits, we paid attention to various topics discussed in these courses (such as ser y estar, el subjuntivo, el factor lúdico en la enseñanza del léxico, la teatralización como recurso en el aula, el contraste entre los pasados, la tecnología en la enseñanza de idiomas) and enriched them with examples of good practice, reflections and exchanges of didactic materials. In the afternoons, we took part in different activities (lectures on culture, language, history, sports, holidays on the Canary Islands, etc.) or did some sightseeing (Museum of El Teide National Park, botanical gardens …). I really appreciate the professional and friendly attitude of our teachers both during the classes and in the free time. I would like to stay in touch with them via social platforms to exchange materials for teaching Spanish. The selected topics that were discussed in the course are very useful for teachers of Spanish. It was interesting to see how particular grammar issues are practised at different levels. In the past, the Canary Islands were a link between Europe, Africa and Americas, which is reflected nowadays in the language (vocabulary, intonation, and pronunciation), architecture, culture, and society. Spanish as a world language is very diverse, therefore, it is extremely important to be able to present and spread the knowledge of the Spanish-speaking world to your students.

I informed our foreign language teachers’ group about the training course. In addition, I will also share the materials I got at the course with my colleagues. /Daša Deželak Oberč/

On Thursday 17th March 2016 pupils from Alojzij Šuštar Primary School offered strong and loud support in school for the Slovene Champion Peter Prevc and other Slovene eagels in Planica at the 2016 Fis World Cup Ski Jumping Final in Planica (Slovenia). Thus pupils contributed in their own way to fantastic atmosphere in Planica. Peter Prevc celebrated a record 14th win of the season, Robert Kranjec was excellent third, achieving with 241.5m the distance of the day. The oldest competing jumper, the Japanese Noriaki Kasai, jumped today for the 500th time in a world cup competition. Today it is the fifth consecutive Slovene victory in Planica and a great day to boost the feeling of national pride. /Lily Schweiger Kotar /

I took part in an intensive German language course held at the Language Institute Treffpunkt in Bamberg, Bavaria from 7^th-11^th March 2016. There were seven participants in our group; but we spent quite some time with the learners from other groups as well. Before the start of the course, I took the placement test.

The morning sessions were meant for classroom work, whereas the afternoons were reserved for independent work and group activities. I took part in various activities such as lectures on culture, language, and history, a guided city tour, joint lunches and dinners. I really liked the friendly attitude of our teacher and other employees. I took the opportunity to speak with them during lunchtime. Such small talk enabled me to improve my communication skills needed when I am a tour guide for our students on their excursions to Austria and Germany. In addition, I was also able to improve my grammar.

I informed my colleagues about this course and recommended the experience to them as well. /Matej Petrevčič/

The meeting took place from 4th-11th March 2016 when 14 DCG students accompanied by two teachers visited Sint-Calasanzinstituut in Nijlen, Belgium. As a part of Erasmus+ project on Natural Science for Social Impact, we visited the Museum of Natural History and Planetarium in Brusselles, Isotopolis, where managing nuclear waste was presented; Antwerpen, the city of diamonds; quaint Brugge and a Waste Collection Centre. At school, Belgian hosts prepared a range of very interesting research workshops, where we assumed the role of criminologists and forensic detectives, as we solved a mystery murder using natural science knowledge. /Ana Bavec/

The (Re)mixed Choir of The Diocesan Classical Gymnasium visited The Bischöfliches Gymnasium Graz from 10th -11th March 2016. For years we have had fruitful exchanges with gymnasium in Graz especially in the field of language, whereas this has been our first music visit.
After a friendly welcome, we had a tour of the school, saw the sights of Graz and performed together at an evening concert. An important part of the visit was also spending time with Austrian students and hosting families. Programmes of both school are quite similar and so is their architecture.
The (Re)Mixed choir singers were very pleased with the tour and hopefully there will be further opportunities for future cooperation.

The traditional exchange with three Slavic Gymnasiums took place from 7th – 11th March, 2016. This year the Diocesan Classical Gymnasium Piarist Gxymnasium, Trenčín (Slovakia) hosted students from Piarist Lyceum, Krakow (Poland) and The Diocesan Classical Gymnasium from Ljubljana, Slovenia. Traditionally, students exchanged their knowledge of singing as well as of all three Slavic mother tongues, namely Slovak, Polish and Slovene. The choir travelling to Trenčín this year was St. Stanislav Youth Choir of Diocesan Classical Gymnasium with 50 singers. The choirs of all three gymnsiums performed together at a grand joint concert , when the singing event was marverouslly rouned up by the hymn of the exchange Nech ten chrám. Memebers of the language group did some research vocabulary work on the similarities and differences among all three Slavic languages in the field of sports. /Tamara Domjanič, Sara Oberstar/

On invitation from the Bischöfliches Gymnasium Graz the (Re)mixed Choir of the Diocesan Classical Gymnasium will visit the school from 10th -11th March 2016. Singing students of both schools will take part in the evening concert and the guest will be shown around the school and the city of Graz.
(Re)Mixed Choir of the DCG with almost 110 singers is the largest choir in school, in which mostly 2nd, 3rd and 4th year students sing. The choir tends to sing an appealing programme of gospel, spirituals, pop and musicals. Under the energetic leadership of the conductor Helena Fojkar Zupančič and accompanied by a band, the choir thrills everybody everywhere and we believe it will be so in Graz as well. /Lily Schweiger Kotar/

The traditional exchange with three Slavic Gymnasiums will take place from 7th – 11th March 2016. This year the Diocesan Classical Gymnasium Piarist Gxymnasium, Trenčín will host students from Piarist Lyceum, Krakow (Poland) and The Diocesan Classical Gymnasium from Ljubljana, Slovenia. Traditionally, students exchange their knowledge of singing as well as of all three Slavic mother tongues, namely Slovak, Polish and Slovene. The choirs will perform individulaly on several occasions, however, the visit will end with a joint concert of all three choirs and presentation of their language work.

The choir travelling to Trenčín is St. Stanislav Youth Choir of DCS, with 50 singers, which has received many awards and prizes at youth choral reviews in Slovenia and at international choral festivals, including golden plaques and awards for the best choir of the competition. This choir also regularly performs larger vocal-instrumental works and collaborates with professional institutions. More recently they are most proud of the International Choral Kathaumixw festival (2014) where they won the title “Choir of the World” in Powell River, Canada as well as the 1st prize for Folk & Cultural Traditions. The conductor of the choir is Damijan Močnik, composer and teacher of music at the Diocesan Classical Gymnasium. The accompanying teachers on the tour are Kaja Naglič and Pavle Šijanec.

The students of the DCG from the French Drama Club will participate for the third time in the observation of the International Francophonie Days in Celje, Slovenia. Students from ten different Slovene high schools will gather to stage a contemporary performance in French, namely Les Migrants by Sonja Ristič. Assisted by a French actress and stage director, it is the Slovene students who will set up this project, which is unique also in a broader context of topical migration issues, and demonstrates some good student teamwork. The first night will take place on 25th March 2016 in The Slovene National Theatre in Celje, Slovenia.
The students of DCG are rehearsing under the mentorship of Daša Obrč, teacher of French at The Diocesan Classical Gymnasium. /Lily Schweiger Kotar/

Students, parents and friends of St. Stanislav’s Institution had the pleasure of listening to a spring concert, which took place on Wednesday 2nd March 2016 in St. Stanislav’s Chapel. The program consisted of French-Canadian folk songs and works by Casals, Pergolesi, Galuppi, Dvorak and Rutter. The musical and artistic director of the Canadian choir Phillipe Ostiguy and Helena Fojkar Zupančič, the conductor of the Slovene choir, have managed to elicit from girls magnificently light, yet precise melodies that impressed the audience. When both choirs sang together the last two songs they presented themselves as one voice. The Borealis Voice is on a European Musical Tour, and are guests of the DCG students from 2nd March – 4th March 2016. The choir travels annually in international tours.