Adam Lacko

My name is Adam Lacko, I’m a student in class Kvinta C, and I would like to tell you about my study stay in Germany as part of the Erasmus+ programme. I travelled to our neighbours in Bavaria on May 1st and stayed there until July 12th. I lived with a host family near the town of Waldmünchen and attended the 10th grade of the Joseph-von-Fraunhofer-Gymnasium located in Cham.

When I found out I had been selected for this opportunity, I had mixed feelings. Naturally, I was excited and couldn’t wait for this unique experience. On the other hand, I had a lot of questions and didn’t know what to expect. So I decided to lower my expectations and go abroad with a blank canvas—determined to paint my own authentic picture of Germany and the benefits of a study stay.
The first brushstrokes on that imaginary canvas were inspired by the local surroundings. I lived with the host mom, dad, and sister in the Lengau area, far from the hustle and bustle of cities, yet nestled right among the fairytale-like Bavarian forests and meadows. It was a charming panorama I could admire directly from my bedroom window.

I was equally amazed by the school itself, boasting a modern look and facilities. My host sister and I would travel early each morning by bus and train and return the same way. But it wasn’t just the school building that surprised me—also the friendly attitude of the teachers, which greatly eased my adaptation to learning in a foreign language. I was also lucky with my classmates. Although one has to take the initiative to make friends, I still managed to build several friendships.

There were many differences in the lessons, but the most significant ones were the widespread use of tablets and technology and the format of written assignments. Every day—except for Thursdays with ten lessons—we had six lessons and finished about 30 minutes earlier than in the Czech Republic due to shorter breaks.

I also had the chance to join extracurricular activities at the school, which helped me get to know a wider group of people. I took part in choir lessons and a basketball club led by my history teacher. At home, I spent my time similarly to how I do in the Czech Republic—training, playing an instrument, doing schoolwork, and regularly studying German.

On weekends, we often went on trips with the family, or I went on outings with classmates, like visiting festivals or taking a tour of Cham with a friend from class. The nearly two and a half months flew by incredibly fast, and looking back, I’m endlessly grateful for every single day. The biggest benefit was the huge improvement in my German, especially in terms of conversational skills. It’s simply indescribable to see how a language you barely used outside the classroom before departure suddenly helps you make friends and solve everyday problems.

This also comes with immense motivation to truly master the foreign language—a motivation that only comes from living in the country. I also gained valuable confidence, knowing I can handle difficult situations on my own, and a sense of gratitude for the great conditions we enjoy in the Czech Republic. If that’s not clear enough from everything I’ve written—go! If you have the opportunity, take it and paint your own unique picture…