Why take school parties to practise German in industrial cities such as Hamburg and Hannover when they can grapple with glottal stops in a picturesque Tyrolean town? The Hauptschule (secondary modern) in Imst, 35 miles west of Innsbruck, is keen to hear from schools on the outskirts of London interested in setting up an exchange scheme for 13 and 14-year-olds. Contact: Dietmar Walch, Lehnenweg 21, A-6464 Tarrenz, Austria, tel and fax: 010 43 5412 4893.

Pupils in Romanian secondary schools are eager to correspond by letter and cassette (in English, French or German) with their counterparts in Britain. Although participants will be invited to visit families in Romania, the Romanians will be unable to make return visits due to the collapse of their currency. Contact: J D Britten (British Council-employed regional adviser for English teaching), Str Popa Laurentiu 11A15, 1900 Timisoara, Romania, fax 010 40 56 119434.

WORK AND TRAVEL ABROAD.

Bunac (British Universities North America Club) has placed more than 160, 000 young people in jobs abroad since 1962. Its Work America and Work Canada schemes offer summer work to full-time and gap-year students over 18. The Bunacamp scheme places 19 to 35-year-olds in summer camps as counsellors for up to eight weeks with time to travel around North America afterwards. Work Australia places 18 to 25-year-olds “down under” for up to 12 months. Details: 071 251 3472.

IT’S GOOD TO TALKThe English-Speaking Union is seeking volunteers to talk with students from diplomatic and overseas business communities who need to improve their conversational English. This will involve 10 one-hour sessions at Dartmouth House, Mayfair, London W1. Details: English in Action, 071 493 3328.