Through a child's eyes (From Somerset County Gazette)

Through a child's eyes

6:27pm Wednesday 23rd May 2007 in News/Nowosci By Polish Association

IN the second of our monthly Polish features - published here in English and Polish - we profile how Polish children are settling into life in Somerset.

The article is contributed by the Polish Community Association in Taunton Deane - to contact them, phone Monika Stennett on 07771-852505 or Przemek Surma on 07756-056533.

THEY say children often have a unique perspective on life so we asked some Polish pupils attending Taunton's schools about their impressions of moving to another country.

Their experiences suggest that children don't find the language barrier as big a problem as adults do.

In many schools there are many children who don't cope as well as others with the language barrier, however, it doesn't seem to become a problem that dominates their experience.

Ola Maciejewska, 12, who goes to The Castle School, felt isolated for about two weeks but soon started to communicate with her classmates.

Dominika Chwiejczak, 14, who goes to Bishop Fox's Community School, remembers the first days at school as a shock to the system.

She said: "I was first Polish girl at school. Nobody knew who I was. There were some misunderstandings but in course of time I made more friends as I started to communicate."

To share your experiences, fill in the Comment form below.