The IES Azuer in Manzanares is currently hosting an exchange programme with students from Bordesholm, a municipality in northern Germany. This week-long initiative aims to enhance language skills and cultural understanding among students. The German students, along with two teachers, arrived in Manzanares on Monday and were welcomed by Mayor Julián Nieva and the local councillor for education, Paqui de la Cruz, the following day.
This marks the second consecutive year that IES Azuer and the Hans-Brüggemann-Schule in Bordesholm have collaborated on this educational exchange. The programme allows students to practice English as a means of communication while learning about each other's cultures and customs. Twelve secondary school students from Germany are participating in the exchange, staying with their Spanish peers who are hosting them.
During the reception at the town hall, Mayor Nieva expressed his hopes that the German students would cherish their time in Manzanares and highlighted the importance of such exchanges in promoting education, culture, and peace among future generations. “This is an opportunity to learn and broaden horizons,” remarked Eva Naranjo, an English teacher at IES Azuer.
The German teachers, Anna Kakobi and Jaqueline Klischat, noted their students' enthusiasm for experiencing Spanish culture, which they believe contributes significantly to their personal growth. They also emphasised the value of coexistence and improving both English and Spanish language skills.
The exchange participants include ten girls and two boys from Germany, who are now staying with their new friends in Manzanares. “It’s a great idea to have an exchange so we can learn about other cultures, and they can learn about ours while practicing our Spanish and their English,” said students Lía Studt and Raya Junge from the Hans-Brüggemann-Schule.
Jesús Villegas, the director of IES Azuer, praised the collaboration with the town hall and expressed gratitude for the initiative from the English department and the German school. He noted that the Spanish students will travel to Bordesholm in February as part of the exchange.
Bordesholm is located near the cities of Kiel and Hamburg in northern Germany. The internationalisation effort, which reflects a commitment to learning English from the first year of school, has positively impacted academic results, with students achieving above-average scores in the university entrance exams (PAU), according to Villegas.
During the municipal reception, the mayor also shared insights about Manzanares, including its medieval origins, agro-industrial character, commitment to renewable energy, and vibrant cultural and sporting activities. As a token of appreciation, the German students received a commemorative T-shirt celebrating Manzanares as the European Sports Town of 2026.
