BACKGROUND:Since 1989, the CFA in Laval has offered various exchange programmes and the "classe européenne" (European class) In this class, participants of different European countries do a second traineeship. In the late 80ies, a regular exchange between the BS 2 Augsburg and the CFA in Laval has been established. For 16 years, the Berufsschule 2 has taken part in the European class, too.AIMS:The participants gain a wider horizon, many different experiences and new competences. Working as a stranger in a foreign country teaches flexibilty and openmindedness. Beyond that, they will learn a new language and many business-related skills, like preparing French dishes or serving at the table. Especially in the catering and hotellery branch, international experience is considered extremely important. We want to enable our students for that and to take away potential fears concerning future stays in foreign countries.PARTICIPANTS:All participants are now doing a traineeship in differents parts of the food branch. They are between 18 and 25 years old due to legal prequesitions in France, where people older than 25 are allowed in traineeships only under special circumstances. 3 participants are just learning the confectionery business, 2 are learning to become cooks and 3 are lerning to become waiters. The numbers are defined by the available places of employment in or around Laval . Most participants have finished the so-called Hauptschule or Realschule (equivalent to the French collège). The participants are chosen based on their appliance form, an interview and the advice of their respective teachers at the vocational school in Augsburg.ACTIVITIES:The training in France is based on the dual system, like in Germany. This means that the participants learn the theoretical knowledge at school - the CFA - and the practical knowledge in their proper places of employment. The content is predetermined and specified by the ministery of education and culture of France. At the end of the training, the participants are tested both theoretically and practically. The participants are at school every three weeks for one full week, the other two weeks are spent at their working places.The quality of the teaching at the working places is frequently checked by local authorities and the responsible for the European class, Mr. Ledauphin. The participants will also be able to get to know the country on their free days. Visits of oyster production sites, dairy farms and of course historic towns are planned.REALIZATION:The participants will be chosen by February and then prepared by Mr. Wagner, who will provide a language and intercultural knowledge course. For the end of June, a trip to Laval is planned in order to give the participants a first impression of their future school and working place. This trip will be paid by each participant.In August, the participants move to Laval on their own, where they will be shown their rooms and additional help will be given by Mr. Ledauphin, who will also offer a second preparatory course on language and important cultural aspects. By September, the traineeship will begin in the working places and at the CFA. The participants are obliged to send monthly reports to Mr. Wagner in Augsburg, whom they may also contact in any case of problems. Additionally, Mr. Ledauphin, who is a speaker of the German language, will be helping the participants whenever needed, for example when they have to open a bank account or need a mobile phone contract. By the end of June of the following year, the eight participants will have finished their second traineeship and are given the certificate of graduation of the French ministry of education. DESIRED RESULTS AND DEVELOPMENTS:After having taken part in this programme, the participants will have gained a second, widely acknowledged qualification, learned a further language (French) fluently and further developed their individual personality as well as hopefully gained new, intercultural friendships. Especially in the catering and hotellery businesses, the acquired openmindedness and experiences as well as a grown selfesteem must be considered very important for the further personal and occupational development of the participants. With this project, also the teaching methods and the intercultural competences of the staff at both the Berufsschule 2 Augsburg and the CFA in Laval will increase as well as the cooperation and the competences of these two schools. LONG-TERM PROSPECT:We hare hoping that the cooperationb between our schools, which has been working so well over the last decades, can be intensified. That is the reason why this project should be continued, even though the responsibles on both sides had changed. As already mentioned, it is planned to further expand this project and to give also the teachers the opportunity to visit the partner school in order to provide continuing education for the teaching staff as well.