Wolfgang-Borchert-Gesamtschule
The Wolfgang-Borchert-Gesamtschule is a medium-sized comprehensive school in Recklinghausen. It is situated on the borderline between the densely populated Ruhr area and the vast recreation area “Die Hardt”.
Wolfgang-Borchert-Gesamtschule has got more than 1000 pupils of different nationalities; mainly they originally come from Turkey or Poland. Due to the riots in Syria, there are more and more pupils from Syria attending our school. In primary schools German students learn English. The teaching of English is continued at Wolfgang-Borchert-Gesamtschule in year 5. Around every second year we apply for a foreign language assistant, who supports the teaching of English and who offers our students authentic conversations with a native English-speaking teacher. Besides, there is a bilingual module which can be chosen in year 9. In the module the pupils learn all about natural science and as the classes are held in English, they improve their language and communicative skills. In addition to that we encourage our pupils to take part in English clubs during their free time or to gather some work experience during their holidays.
As there are pupils from different families, cultural and educational backgrounds we offer the pupils the chance of working experience in year 8, 9, 10 and 11. In year 8, 9 and 10 pupils work for two or three weeks instead of attending classes. In year 11 they can do the internship during Easter holidays.
Furthermore, the Wolfgang-Borchert-Gesamtschule is a “MINT-Partnerschule”. MINT is the abbreviation for Mathematics, Computer Sciences, Natural Sciences and Engineering (Mathematik, Informatik, Naturwissenschaften und Technik). Our school is linked to the zdi-centre in Marl. The link to the centre helps students to contact companies and there is different material which can be used by our students. Another basis of the MINT cooperation is that pupils are encouraged to take part in study trips to, for example, power stations. To encourage our students to be part of the MINT-cooperation we offer them the chance to visit “Mechatronic AG” or “AG Steuerungstechnik”. In these AGs which are connected to the MINT-Cooperation, the pupils learn the basics of engineering. The aim of the MINT-cooperation is to prepare our students for their future jobs in technology or engineering companies. In comparison to the other schools being part of this project, our school has got the most experiences with MINT and wants to share these with other teachers and students to improve the other students´ future job possibilities.
To be successful in their future life, our students can learn Dutch or French as their second languages. The pupils have got the possibility to choose French in year 6 or Dutch as a second language in year 11.
At Wolfgang-Borchert-Gesamtschule there are colleagues aged from 26 to 63. Most of the English colleagues have got international experiences, taken either during their own school career or during their time at university. Especially the colleagues who are interested in taking part in the project have spent some time abroad and are therefore especially interested in working with foreign colleagues and pupils and are aware of the fact that international experiences, for teachers and pupils, are very important. Due to the fact that most of our pupils come from families with a low monthly income, they do not have the chance to travel or to spend time abroad. Due to this fact there are no classtrips for years 8,9 and 10 (13-16 years old) which prevents our pupils from gaining international experience and that is why this project is very important for our pupils´ international possibilities.
There are manifold cultural activities which have become an integral part of our school life. There are activities like the “White Horse Theatre”, a group of actors and actresses who come to our school to perform different plays for year 7 (12 years old) and year 11 to 13 (17-19 years old). Furthermore there is the possibility for pupils to attend a “Sportklasse”. They require better marks than the pupils of other classes and they have 4 classes of sports instead of 2. Besides, there is an optional sports profile for the advanced pupils from years 11 to 13 (17-19 years old).
Wolfgang-Borchert-Gesamtschule has got more than 1000 pupils of different nationalities; mainly they originally come from Turkey or Poland. Due to the riots in Syria, there are more and more pupils from Syria attending our school. In primary schools German students learn English. The teaching of English is continued at Wolfgang-Borchert-Gesamtschule in year 5. Around every second year we apply for a foreign language assistant, who supports the teaching of English and who offers our students authentic conversations with a native English-speaking teacher. Besides, there is a bilingual module which can be chosen in year 9. In the module the pupils learn all about natural science and as the classes are held in English, they improve their language and communicative skills. In addition to that we encourage our pupils to take part in English clubs during their free time or to gather some work experience during their holidays.
As there are pupils from different families, cultural and educational backgrounds we offer the pupils the chance of working experience in year 8, 9, 10 and 11. In year 8, 9 and 10 pupils work for two or three weeks instead of attending classes. In year 11 they can do the internship during Easter holidays.
Furthermore, the Wolfgang-Borchert-Gesamtschule is a “MINT-Partnerschule”. MINT is the abbreviation for Mathematics, Computer Sciences, Natural Sciences and Engineering (Mathematik, Informatik, Naturwissenschaften und Technik). Our school is linked to the zdi-centre in Marl. The link to the centre helps students to contact companies and there is different material which can be used by our students. Another basis of the MINT cooperation is that pupils are encouraged to take part in study trips to, for example, power stations. To encourage our students to be part of the MINT-cooperation we offer them the chance to visit “Mechatronic AG” or “AG Steuerungstechnik”. In these AGs which are connected to the MINT-Cooperation, the pupils learn the basics of engineering. The aim of the MINT-cooperation is to prepare our students for their future jobs in technology or engineering companies. In comparison to the other schools being part of this project, our school has got the most experiences with MINT and wants to share these with other teachers and students to improve the other students´ future job possibilities.
To be successful in their future life, our students can learn Dutch or French as their second languages. The pupils have got the possibility to choose French in year 6 or Dutch as a second language in year 11.
At Wolfgang-Borchert-Gesamtschule there are colleagues aged from 26 to 63. Most of the English colleagues have got international experiences, taken either during their own school career or during their time at university. Especially the colleagues who are interested in taking part in the project have spent some time abroad and are therefore especially interested in working with foreign colleagues and pupils and are aware of the fact that international experiences, for teachers and pupils, are very important. Due to the fact that most of our pupils come from families with a low monthly income, they do not have the chance to travel or to spend time abroad. Due to this fact there are no classtrips for years 8,9 and 10 (13-16 years old) which prevents our pupils from gaining international experience and that is why this project is very important for our pupils´ international possibilities.
There are manifold cultural activities which have become an integral part of our school life. There are activities like the “White Horse Theatre”, a group of actors and actresses who come to our school to perform different plays for year 7 (12 years old) and year 11 to 13 (17-19 years old). Furthermore there is the possibility for pupils to attend a “Sportklasse”. They require better marks than the pupils of other classes and they have 4 classes of sports instead of 2. Besides, there is an optional sports profile for the advanced pupils from years 11 to 13 (17-19 years old).
