Fort Campbell High School Juniors Connect Face-to-Face with Swiss Pen Pals

Juniors in Cheyenne Schaefer’s English Language Arts 11 class at Fort Campbell High School turned written pen-pal letters into live connections on January 22, 2026, video chatting face-to-face with their Swiss peers.

The supervised group exchange capped weeks of preparation, during which students practiced epistolary and informational writing by crafting letters for an international audience and carefully analyzing replies from Switzerland. This groundwork helped them approach the conversation with confidence and clear purpose.

In the live session, students compared daily life, school routines, hobbies, and cultural similarities and differences, while honing respectful dialogue, active listening, and thoughtful questioning. Many described it as their first direct interaction with peers abroad.

The activity culminated in warm goodbyes, with students waving to their screens and expressing plans to reconnect—transforming abstract pen-pal correspondence into lasting, personal ties.

“It made the letters more personal and memorable,” one student reflected. “The call let us see their culture and connect beyond the classroom.”

The initiative supports DoWEA’s focus on authentic global academic discourse, building communication skills and cultural awareness for military-connected students in an interconnected world.

Fort Campbell High School, located on the Kentucky-Tennessee border, educates children of service members stationed at the installation.