No walls in the classroom - global collaboration with Australia

I've made a new global colleague in Katie Khoury, a teacher at Clancy Catholic College in West Hoxton, outside of Sydney in Australia. Due to the time difference we had difficulties in arranging a hangout between our students, so we decided to do something else. Katie let her students write down questions that they wanted answers to and here they are:

Education	Food	Hobbies
Do you have the opportunity to choose your subjects? If so, what are they? Is English a compulsory subject in Sweden? Explain how the school system works Is it compulsory to wear a school uniform? Are there different types of schools set up in Sweden, such as government and religious schools? If so, what is your school? What type of education is offered to students when they leave school? Are you allowed to choose the profession you want to study, or is this chosen for you? Are there many opportunities for people to have jobs in Sweden?	What is a typical Swedish meal? What are considered delicacies in Sweden?	What sports/activities do they offer at school? What are some of the most popular sports in Sweden? What is the most common type of sport played in Sweden? Is there a national sport? What are popular hobbies amongst young people? What is the legal age for young people to learn to drive? drink alcohol? enter a nightclub? leave school? Are there any festivals  / international events held in Sweden? If so, what are they? have you attended any? Describe a typical weekend for someone your age

Weather	Fashion	Religion	Other
What is the weather currently like in Sweden?	Describe the fashion in Sweden	What is the most common religion in Sweden? Is Sweden considered a religious country? Is Sweden considered multicultural?	Are there any current issues / controversies taking place between Sweden and other countries? Describe the seasons / climate in Sweden What are some typical pets that Swedish people may have? What are popular cars in Sweden? What are some of the popular genres of music /artists/bands among young people?

My students recorded a video (8th and 9th graders) and answered most of the questions above.... The video was appreciated and the Australian teenagers sent one back with answers to OUR questions. Here is their fantastic video of how their life at Clancy is like. (Some of my students haven't seen it yet, some have though, but I'm so impressed by it - great job!):

Life in Australia (link to video)

To make things even better, my students in year 8 are currently working with Australia and finding out more about the country. They are making video diaries about a trip they're making in the country and this fits right in - talk about "no walls" in the classroom. :)