Jan Lewandowski

We’re getting to that stage in the year where schools are beginning to organise Language Days.You can’t have a Language Day without appropriate food and drink. I’ve mentioned before that Aldi often have foreign specialities, I’ve certainly bought Greek, Spanish and Italian in the past and I’m sure they offer other goodies.

From today, LIDL have French specialities on offer; you may have to get there quickly as the offer usually only lasts for a week and they don’t always have big stocks. Here are some of the products that I found there: croque monsieur, jambon de Bayonne, pommes noisette, tarte flambée, palets Bretons and several more. They are actually made in France so I guess they are authentic and some things are either frozen or have a long shelf life …….. well worth a look!

I see Aldi are selling packets of mix for Crema Catalana from this Sunday. £1.29 a packet serves 4. Might work out a little expensive for the whole class but good for teacher treats. Delicioso!

Seriously though ,when I’m running workshops around the country the issue about giving foreign foods etc. to children is something that leads to a lot of discussion. Policies seem to vary from one LA to another. One teacher I met was not allowed to give her class anything at all; in another LA they are allowed to make exceptions so that children can experience`foreign food’. Other schools check with their caterers beforehand. If in doubt, probably the best policy is the latter.

As eating and drinking are inextricable from the whole inter-cultural experience it would be good to have a definitive policy that one can quote before planning any treat.

Anybody know of a standard policy? What happens in your LA?