North Hills students connect with Norwegian peers in virtual cultural exchange

On March 19, 12 North Hills High School students took part in a virtual cultural exchange with students from Ringshaug Ungdomsskole in Norway.

The event aimed to foster cultural understanding and communication skills and was organized by North Hills Middle School eighth-grade social studies teacher Larry Dorenkamp. Dorenkamp spent the previous academic year as a Roving Scholar with the Fulbright Program in Norway, where he taught at Ringshaug Ungdomsskole, among other schools, and established connections that made the virtual meet-up possible.

Using Google Meet, students engaged in small-group discussions about school routines, sports, holidays and daily life. The North Hills students participated after school at 2:15 p.m., while the Norwegian students joined at 7:15 p.m. local time. While conversation prompts were provided, students were free to explore topics of interest.

The event was a success, with lively discussions and meaningful exchanges. Dorenkamp hopes to make it an annual tradition, strengthening the bond between the two schools and providing students with valuable international experiences.