8:45am Thursday 4th October 2007
By Jane Lavender
PUPILS were treated to language lessons with a difference - as Bolton Wanderers stars taught them French, Spanish and German.
Dozens of schoolchildren from across the borough were taught French by Nicolas Anelka and Gerald Cid, had a Spanish lesson with Mikel Alonso and practised their German with rising star Kevin Woolze.
The event, which was held at the Reebok Stadium, gave the youngsters a chance to improve their language skills with the players.
Striker Anelka said: "It's good for children to learn another language so when they travel they can speak the language of the country they're in.
"They were all very good. They asked me mainly simple questions, but it's good to try in the first place and they have made a start."
School pupils were able to ask their favourite players about their hobbies, favourite foods, and even if Wanderers' form was likely to improve this season - all in the sportsmen's own language.
Midfielder Mikel Alonso said: "It was a great day. The young people were trying to pronounce words in the correct way and it's exactly what I have to do when I speak English. It's been really fun, but it's also very important for people to be able to speak another language.
"Some of them were very difficult questions and I was really impressed."
The youngsters learned Anelka's favourite food was beans on toast and that he would have been a professional tennis player if his football career had not taken off.
Cid's favourite player is Zinédine Zidane and if he was not a footballer he would have become an enginner.
Samia Durrani, aged 11, from Beaumont Primary School, said: "It's been really good. I spoke to Anelka and he was really patient and very friendly. I'm a big Wanderers fan and he's one of my favourite players."
Martin Downs, aged 15, from Mount St Joseph's High School, said: "I spoke to Alonso because I'm doing GCSE Spanish and it's been really useful. Listening to how comfortable he was speaking Spanish and the fact I could understand what he was saying has given me a lot more confidence."
Will Caldwell, aged 17, from Westhoughton Sixth Form, added: "It was really interesting to find out what the players' interests were and be able to practise speaking a foreign language."
The event was organised by Bolton Wanderers Learning For Skills Centre as part of the Creating Chances project, which sees players get involved with schemes in the community.
Centre manager Janet Rhodes said: "We get a lot of requests from schools for foreign players to come in and speak to the class, so we thought we'd hold a big event and bring the schools to us. We're hoping it will become an annual project."
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