Week of Languages 2024/2025
StudentVisitKafkaExhibition
By Sara-Louise T and Mariia O
Students from Years 9 to 12 travelled to Oxford on Wednesday, October 16th, to see the Kafka exhibit at the Bodleian Libraries. Traveling by train, they were eager to learn more about Franz Kafka, a keyfigureinliterature.
The exhibition featured original manuscripts, personal letters and rare documents,offeringaglimpseintoKafka’s writing process. His work, known for themes of isolation, bureaucracy and the human condition, remains just as relevant today. Students investigated several aspects of his life through the educational exhibit, including his relationships, his experiences in Prague in the early 20th century and the difficulties heencountered asawriter.
Students had the opportunity to interact with the resources and consider how Kafka's ideas are still relevant in the modern world. Discussions about how literature may reflect and critique real-world events and structures were spurred by the visit. Teachers encouraged students tothinkcriticallyabouttheroleof literature in understandingbroadersocietal issues.
Following the visit, the group spent some timetouringOxfordandadmiringitsmany historical and scholarly sites.Theyhadthe opportunity to take in the architecture and
distinctive atmosphere of the city as they strolledaroundit.
Many others found the tour to be enlightening, enabling them to view Kafka's writings in a fresh light and recognise their significance in the modern world. The tour gave students a greater appreciation for the importance of classic literature outside of the classroom by reaffirming its ability to speaktouniversal humanissues.
SpanishWeekoflanguages
By Dain K
Tocelebratethe‘WeekofLanguages 2024’,theSpanishdepartmenthosted variouseventstodeepenstudents’ understandingofSpanishlegendsand culture.
Theweekstartedwitha‘Weekof LanguagesAssembly’ledbyourlanguage andSpanishrepresentatives.They discussedtheimportanceofstoriesand legendsinSpanish-speakingcultures, explaininghowthesetalespreserve culturalheritage,passdowntraditionsand createasenseofidentityandbelonging.
Throughouttheweek,sessionswere organisedfordifferentyeargroupsto exploreavarietyoflegends.Year7and8 studentslearnedaboutGalicianand Chileanmyths,whileYear9focusedon the‘LosNinots’andthecelebrationofSan DionísinValencia.Year10and11 exploredthehauntinglegendof‘La Llorona’andSixthFormstudentshadthe opportunitytolearnaboutTaínolegends, including‘LaLeyendadeCoquí’.
Thehighlightoftheweekwasthechance forSixthFormstudentstomeetand engagewithQuiquePalomo,theillustrator ofVidayMuertebyFedericoGarcía Lorca.Studentshadresearchedhiswork beforehandandpreparedasetof interestingquestionstoputtohimduring anonlineQ&Asession.Itwasanamazing opportunitytoconnectdirectlywiththe artistandgaininsightsintohiswork.
Thisyear’s‘WeekofLanguages’wasa greatchancetolookintoSpanishfolklore,
helpingstudentsgainadeeper understandingofbothlanguageand culturewhilehighlightingthemessages andteachingsconveyedinthesestories.
Tripsand Exchanges
ChineseTrip
By Aswini K
ExploringChina
OurOctober2024half-termtriptoChina wasfullofamazingactivitiesand experiences,suchasvisitingfamous ChineselandmarkslikeTheGreatWall andTheTerracottaArmy The12-daytrip tookustofourdifferentcitiesinChina: Beijing,Xian,ShanghaiandSuzhou.
Beijing
The Great Wall of China (Mutianyu section)
Iamsuremanyofyouhaveheardabout thewonderthatisTheGreatWallof China.Despitethechallengingfeatthat wastheclimbuptothewall,itwas definitelyworthitforthestunning panoramicviews.Knowingthatwewere walkingonawallthatwasbuiltover2000 yearsagowasanunforgettableexperience, andIfeltitconnectedmewithallofthe peoplethathadbeenonthatverysame wallmanyyearsago.
The Sacred Road: Visitingthesacredroadleadingtothe burialsiteof13emperorsoftheMing Dynasty,whichonceservedasa ceremonialrouteforimperialfuneral processions,providedareminderaboutthe richhistoryofChina’sdynasticheritage.It waslinedwithimpressivestonestatuesof animalsandmythicalcreatures,suchas
lions,camelsandxiezhi,allofwhich symboliseprotectionandhonorforthe emperors.Withtheparknearlyemptyjust beforeclosing,wehadtherarechanceto takeinthepeacefulbeautyofthesunset amongcenturies-oldsculptures.Itwasa sereneandunforgettablemomentofthe trip.
Traditional Chinese Tea Ceremony
Asthebirthplaceoftea,Chinawasthe perfectplacetoexperienceatraditionaltea ceremony.Withitsrichanddiversetea culture,wehadthechancetosamplea varietyofteas,includingginsengoolong, jasmine,blacklycheeandPu’er Eachone offeredauniquetasteandinsightintothe depthofChina’steaheritage.
Stayingonthetopicofthelargevarietyof China’scuisine,we’llmoveontoour adventuresinXianwhichincluded experiencingadumplingBanquet.
Xian
The Terracotta Army
BeingabletoseeoneofChina’smost famousarcheologicaldiscoveriesand standingbeforethethousandsoflife-sized soldiers,eachwithuniquefacialfeatures, feltlikewitnessinghistoryfrozenintime. Thesheerscaleanddetailofthearmywas unlikeanythingIhadimagined.
Shanghai
The Oriental Pearl TV tower
VisitingtheOrientalPearlTVtowerwasa perfectopportunitytoexperiencethe modernarchitecturalwondersofShanghai fromadifferentperspective.Wewereable toseethesprawlingskyline,thewinding HuangpuRiverandthestunningcontrast
betweenoldandnewbuildings,allwhilst enjoyingastunningmealcontainingfood fromaroundtheworld.
Suzhou
A Silk Factory
Whilstvisitingthesilkfactory,wegotan up-closelookathowsilkismade,from delicatecocoonstofinishedfabric. Learningabouttheancienttechniquesthat havebeenpasseddownforcenturieswas fascinating.Itwasabeautifulwayto connectwithoneofChina’smost treasuredtraditionsandgaveusadeeper appreciationforthecraftsmanshipbehind silkproduction.
Boat Ride on The Grand Canal
TheGrandCanalinSuzhouisoneofthe oldestandlongestman-madewaterwaysin theworld.Thesereneatmosphereand elegantsingingfromourhelmswoman madeitamemorableexperience,offering auniqueglimpseintoSuzhou'srich culturalheritage.
FrenchTrip
by Mme Spencer
ThisEaster,theFrenchdepartmenthadthe pleasureoftakingafantasticgroupofYear 10andYear11studentstoBordeauxfor5 daysofFrenchimmersion;andwhata weekitwas!
Fromthemomentwelanded,ourstudents wereimmersedinallthingsFrench.They werewarmlywelcomedbytheirFrench hostfamilies,withwhomtheystayedfor thedurationofthetrip.Itdidn’ttakelong beforestudentswereconfidentlyusing theirFrenchinreal-lifesituations;from orderingcannelésandicecreamtobuying tramticketsandchattingatthedinner table.Itwasajoytowatchthembring theirclassroomknowledgetolifeinsucha naturalandimpressiveway.
Oneofthemostexcitingpartsoftheweek wasourvisittoalocallycée,whereour studentsmetFrenchteenagersandtook partinconversationsentirelyenfrançais. Anynervesquicklydisappeared,andsoon everyonewaslaughing,chatting,andeven exchangingsocialmediadetails.Itwasa proudmomentforallofustoseejusthow fartheyhadcome;manystudentssaidthis
wasthemomenttheyrealisedjusthow muchFrenchtheyreallyknew!
WealsoexploredBordeauxitself;atruly beautifulcityfullofstunningarchitecture, wideboulevards,andpeacefulriverside walks.Highlightsincludedwalkingtours ofthehistoriccentre,visitstothebassin deslumieres(animmersivelightshowina navalsubmarinebase!)and,ofcourse, enjoyingthesunshinealongtheGaronne. Bordeauxhasawonderfullycalm atmosphereforacity,anditfeltlikethe perfectplacetolearnandunwind.
Eachmorning,studentstookpartinFrench lessonsatLSF,aspecialistlanguage school.Thesesessionswerefun, fast-paced,andtailoredtoreal-life communication.Manyofourpupils commentedonhowmuchmoreconfident theyfeltinspeakingFrenchbytheendof theweek;andwecouldseeittoo!
Therewereplentyofopportunitiesforfun aswell;picnicsintheparkandexploring thelivelymarketsandshoppingstreets. Thereisalwayssomeformofshopping involvedwhenMmeSpencertakespartin aschooltrip! Mostimportantly,the studentsbondedwithoneanother, embracedtheculture,andpushed themselvestostepoutoftheircomfort zones;allwhilerepresentingourschool beautifully
Onestudentsummeditupperfectly:
“Thetripwasareallyfunexperience whichhelpeduslearnmoreFrenchand useitinreal-lifesituationswhilst exploringthecitywithourfriends.”
Anotheradded:
“Ihadareallyfuntimewhile improvingmyFrenchandexploringthe
beautifulcityofBordeaux…Ilearntso much!”
Formanyofthegirls,thiswastheirfirst timestayingwithahostfamilyor travellingwithouttheirparents,andthey returnedwithnotonlystrongerFrench skills,butalsoarealsenseof independenceandconfidence.
Wewereincrediblyproudofhowcurious, adventurous,andpositiveourstudents werethroughoutthetrip.Itwasabrilliant weekoflanguage,learning,and laughter,andwecan’twaittoreturn.
Sotoouryoungerstudents:ifyou’re wonderingwhethertogoononeofour languagetripsinthefuture,wehopethis givesyouatasteofjusthowexcitingand rewardingtheycanbe.Keeppractising yourFrench;youradventurecouldbejust aroundthecorner!
Merci,Bordeaux àlaprochaine!
– The French Department
GermanExchange
By Anishka G, Ciara S and Neve P
Afterspendingpartoflastsummerin Germanywithourpenpals,itwasexciting tofinallywelcomethemtoLondon.Weall sawfamiliarfacesagainanditbrought backsomanymemoriesofourtimein Karlsruhe.However,thistimewewerethe hosts,andthiswassomethingwe’dall beenlookingforwardtoformonths.
Throughouttheirvisit,wesharedamixof schoollifeandmorerelaxedmoments together,suchasoneafternoononwhich weplayedgamesandenjoyedourtime together Therewasalotoflaughter,and weallattemptedtospeakineachother's languages.Theyalsojoinedusinafewof ourregularlessons,whichgavethema glimpseintoourschoollives.Itwasfun seeinghowtheteachersinteractedwith themandadaptedourlessonstowards them.
Whilewewereinclass,ourGerman friendsspenttimesightseeingaround London.Theyvisitedsomeofthecity's mosticoniclandmarks.Theyreallyloved London,whichinsomewaysremindedus howmuchthereistoappreciatehere!
Onourfinaldaytogether,wehada farewelllunchatschool.Theygottotry ourschoolfood,whichisdefinitely differenttoGermancuisine.Wethensaid ourgoodbyesandtooksomephotos together.Wecanallsaywehavebuilt somereallyuniquememoriesand friendshipstogether TheGerman exchangeprogrammehasbeenso fascinating,especiallyvisitingGermany. Wearereallygratefulfortheexperience, andhopefullywewillstayincontact!
Legendsand Festivals
WillhelmTell
By Mariia O
Ifyou'veeverheardofamanshootingan appleoffhisson'sheadwithacrossbow, you'vealreadybrushedagainstoneof Switzerland'smostfamouslegends.That manisWilhelmTell,afolkherowho stoodupagainsttyrannyandbecamea powerfulsymboloffreedomand resistance.Butwhowashereally,andwhy doeshisstorystillechothroughtheSwiss Alpsandbeyond?
Itallstartedintheearly14thcentury, whenSwitzerlandwasundertheharshrule oftheAustrianHabsburgs.Accordingto legend,thelocalAustriangovernor, AlbrechtGessler,raisedapoleinthe villagesquareofAltdorfandplacedhishat ontop.Heorderedeverypasser-bytobow beforeit,asymbolofobediencetothe empire. WilhelmTell,arespectedhunterand familymanfromBürglen,refused. Aspunishment,Gesslerdevisedacruel test.Tellwasforcedtoshootanappleoff hisyoungson’sheadusinghiscrossbow. Failuremeantdeathforbothofthem. Inamomentofextraordinaryskill(and nerve!),Tellsplittheapplecleanlyintwo withoutharminghisson.ButGessler noticedsomethingsuspicious;Tellhad secretlypreparedasecondarrow.When questioned,Tellconfessedthatifhehad hurthisson,thesecondarrowwouldhave beenforthegovernor
Furious,Gesslerhadhimarrested,butthat wasn’ttheendofTell’sstory Whilebeingtransportedbyboatacross LakeLucerneduringastorm,Tell managedtoescapebyleapingontoarock, nowfamouslycalledthe"Tellsplatte",and disappearedintothemountains. Later,heambushedGesslerinamountain passandassassinatedhim,sparkinga rebellion.TheSwisspeople,inspiredby Tell'sbravery,roseupandeventually securedindependencefromHabsburgrule. WilhelmTellbecameanationalhero,a manwhochosejusticeoversubmission.
Tell’sstoryhasbeenretoldinliterature, musicandart.FriedrichSchiller’s1804 play"WilhelmTell"broughtthelegendto widerEuropeanaudiences,andGioachino Rossini’sfamousoperagaveitamusical legacytoo.Hisimagestillappearson monuments,stamps,coins,andevenSwiss tourismposters.
WilhelmTell’sstoryteachesusabout courage,resistancetooppressionandthe ideathatordinarypeoplecanbecome extraordinarywhentheystandupforwhat isright.Whetherlegendortruth,histale continuestoinspirepeopleacrossthe world.
ChineseFestivalsandtheir legends
By Angela L
ChineseNewYear(SpringFestival) （春
Arguablythemostsignificantfestivalin China,theChineseNewYearmarksthe beginningofthelunarcalendaryear It usuallyfallsbetweenJanuaryand February,anditscelebrationslastfor15 days.Thefestivalisatimeforfamily reunions,feastsandhonoringancestors. Fireworks,lanterndisplaysanddragon dancesfillthestreetsaspeoplewishfora prosperousnewyear
TheoriginsofChineseNewYearare steepedinthelegendofNian,afearsome beastthatwouldappeareveryNewYear’s Eve,terrorizingvillages.ToscareNian away,thevillagersdiscoveredthatitwas frightenedofthecolorred,loudnoisesand brightlights.Thus,thetraditionofusing reddecorations,lightingfirecrackersand wearingredclothingbegan.Thefestival symbolizesthetriumphofgoodoverevil andthehopeforabountifulyearahead.
Mid-AutumnFestival
TheMid-AutumnFestival,alsoknownas theMoonFestival,iscelebratedonthe 15thdayofthe8thmonthinthelunar calendar,typicallyinSeptemberor
October.Thefestivaliscenteredaround thefullmoon,asymbolofharmonyand unity Peoplegathertoadmirethemoon, eatmooncakes(roundpastriesfilledwith lotusseedpasteorotherfillings)and spendtimewithfamilyandfriends.
Themostfamouslegendassociatedwith theMid-AutumnFestivalisthestoryof Chang'e,theMoonGoddess.According tothemyth,Chang'shusband,HouYi, wasaheroicarcherwhosavedtheEarth byshootingdownnineofthetensunsthat werescorchingtheplanet.Inreward,he wasgivenanelixirofimmortality. However,whenHouYi’sapprenticetried tostealtheelixir,Chang’edrankitto preventitfromfallingintothewrong hands.Asaresult,shefloatedtothemoon, whereshelivesalone,separatedfromher belovedhusband TheMid-AutumnFestival honorsChang’eandtheloveandlonging betweenherandHouYi.
DragonBoatFestival(端午节）
TheDragonBoatFestival,celebratedon the5thdayofthe5thmonthofthelunar calendar(usuallyinJune),isafestival knownforitsdragonboatraces,the consumptionofzongzi(stickyrice wrappedinbambooleaves)andwearing colorful,protectivesachets.
ThisfestivalhonorsQuYuan,afamous poetandstatesmanfromtheWarring Statesperiod.QuYuanwasknownforhis loyaltytohiscountry,andwhenhis kingdomwasovertakenbyinvaders,he threwhimselfintotheMiluoRiverin despair.Localvillagersracedtheirboatsto trytosavehim,andwhentheyfailed,they droppedriceintotherivertopreventfish fromeatinghisbody Thetraditionof dragonboatracesandeatingzongzistems fromthislegend,symbolizingthe villagers’loyaltyandrespectforQuYuan.
LaLeyendadeCoqui
By Dain K
TocelebratetheLanguagesWeeklastyear, Year12SpanishA-levelstudents researchedthePuertoRicanlegend:‘La LeyendadeCoquí’.
ThelegendintroducesayoungTaínoboy, Koki,wholivesinavillagenearEl Yunque,therainforestinPuertoRico.The boyadmiresthemoonandoftenrunsaway fromhistribeatnighttolookatit.His fascinationwiththemoonissostrongthat hewouldspendhoursstaringatit,wishing hecouldreachit,asifthemoonwere somethingtangible.Hespeakstothemoon relentlessly,callingita"guanín"(aterm usedforalarge,valuablenecklace).
Despitethewarningsfromhisfamilyand thevillageelder,Yocajú,whoworriedfor hissafety,predictedthatKokiwouldbe rememberedforgenerationsifhekept goingouttolookatthemoon.ButKoki's desiretoreachthemoononlygrew stronger.Onenight,Kokiwentoutintothe forestagain,approachedtheriverwhich reflectedthemooninitswater,and believedthatitwassmilingathim.When hereachedouttotouchit,heaccidentally fellintotheriverandbegantodrown.As hesank,hecalledouttoYukiyú,theTaíno godofgoodness,tosavehim.Suddenly, Kokitransformedintoatinyfrogand begantosinghisnameintheformofthe coquí’sdistinctivecall:"Coquí,coquí."
Whenhisfamilysearchedforhimthenext daybutcouldn’tfindhim,theelderYocajú saidthatKokihadn’tdied,buthad transformedintothecoquíandwouldlive foreverasasymboloftheisland.This legendisstillcelebratedtodayandthe coquí’scallcanbeheardechoingthrough theforestsofPuertoRico,especiallyon nightswhenthemoonisfull.
Thislegendisseentohavemany messages;whilstononesideitteachesthat followingone’sambition,desiresand actingwithoutconsideringtherisksor listeningtowarningscanleadto unforeseenconsequences,ontheotherit emphasizesthedeepconnectionbetween natureandPuertoRicanculture.
LalégendedeDurandal
By Georgia C
Inthe8thcentury,undertheruleof EmperorCharlemagne,aswordwas entrustedtooneofthegreatestknightsthat Francehadeverseen;Roland.Thissword hadbeenforgedbyanangelwiththetooth ofSt.Peter,thebloodofSt.Basil,andthe hairofSt.Denis,andwassaidtobe indestructibleandsopowerfulthatitcould slicecleanlythroughstoneandbone; effectivelytheancientFrenchExcalibur. However,duringtheBattleofRoncevaux Pass,Rolandwassodesperateforthe swordnottofallintoenemyhandsthathe flungitoveravalley,whereitembedded itselfintothecliffsthereatRocamadour. Roland’sstoryisdetailedthroughthe chanson de geste orepicpoemthatisthe (aptlynamed)SongofRoland,aswellas countlesstapestries.
Thislegendwasrecentlybroughttothe foreofFrenchculturewhen,inJune2024, aftertheswordhadbeenlodgedinthe stoneforsupposedlyover1,300years (thoughmostlikelycloserto250),the inhabitantsofthevillageatRocamadour noticedthatithadsuddenlydisappeared overnight!Itwasadevastatingblowtothe smallvillage,asthelegendofthesword hadbeeninextricablyintertwinedwiththe cultureandhistoryofRocamadour,and thedisappearanceoftheswordleft residentsreeling.Aftervariouspolice investigations,Durandalremainsunfound, butthevillagecontinuestotellitsstory.
BattleoftheOranges
By Mariia O
EveryFebruary,thequietPiedmontese townofIvreaeruptsintoacitrus-scented battlefieldasthousandsofpeoplegather foroneofItaly’smostunusualtraditions, theBattleoftheOranges.Partofthe town’shistoriccarnival,thiseventisnot onlyaspectacleofflyingfruit,butaliving expressionofItalianfolklore,rebellion andresilience.
TheLegendbehindtheBattle:
ThestorydatesbacktotheMiddleAges andcentresaroundamythicalheroine; Violetta,thedaughterofamiller Accordingtolegend,Ivreawasonceruled byatyrannicalmarquiswhoimposedthe ius primae noctis;therighttospendthe firstnightwitheverynewlywedwomanin thetown.WhenViolettawasforcedinto hiscastle,shedidn’tsurrender.Instead, sheslewthetyrantwithhisownswordand sparkedapopularuprising.
Tohonourhercourage,thetownspeople re-enactthisrevolutionarymomentevery year,notwithswords,butwithoranges.
HowtheBattleworks:
Thecarnivallastsseveraldays,butthe climaxisthethree-dayBattleofthe Oranges,wherenineteamsof “revolutionaries”onfoothurlorangesat helmeted“tyrants”incarts,whorepresent themarquis’sguards.Thebattleischaotic, colourful,andmessy,yetfiercely organised,withrules,teamflagsand protectivegear
Spectatorswhodon’twanttobepelted weararedhatcalleda“berrettofrigio”, symbolisingfreedom.It'sasignthat you’reapeacefulobserver(andhopefully sparedfromincomingfruit).
Whatmightseemlikeawildfoodfightis actuallydeeplysymbolic.It’sacelebration offreedomoveroppression,community prideandtheenduringpowerof storytelling.Italsoreflectstherichnessof Italiancarnivaltraditions,wheresatire, historyandmythcometogetherin theatricalcelebration.
Politics:Whatishappeningin Germany?
By Sara-Louise T
TheinclusionofpoliticsinaModern ForeignLanguagesnewslettermayseem surprising,butitactuallymakesperfect sense.Understandingthenationwherethe languageisspokenisjustasimportantto learningalanguageasbeingableto memorisevocabularyandgrammar People'sdailylives,cultures,education andfuturesareallinfluencedbypolitics. Furthermore,alotisgoingoninGermany atthemomentthatmakesitcleartous whatmatterstothepeoplethere.Someof themostsignificantpoliticalchangesin Germany'shistoryhaveoccurredsince September2024.Thisiswhathasbeen goingon;
RisingFar-RightinStateElections
ParticularlyinThuringiaandSaxony,the far-rightparty"Alternativefür Deutschland(AfD)"(Alternativefor Germany)madesignificantgainsinstate electionsinthefallof2024.Thiswasthe firsttimeafar-rightpartyreceivedthe mostvotesinastatesinceWorldWarII. Thisprovokednotonlydiscussions,but alsoprotestsacrossthenation.
TheGovernment'scollapse
ThecoalitionledbyChancellorOlaf ScholzfellapartinNovemberduetoa disagreementwiththefinanceminister Theadministrationlostavoteof confidencebyDecember,andearlyfederal electionswerescheduledforFebruary 2025.
ANewHeadofState:FriedrichMerz
Afterwinningthemostvotesinthe election,FriedrichMerz'sChristian DemocraticUnion(CDU)wentontoform anewgovernment.Afteratensefew monthsofvotingandnegotiations,Merz wasappointedChancellorinMay2025. FriedrichMerzdidnotreceiveenough votesintheBundestag(theGerman parliament)tobeelectedimmediatelyafter hisinitialnominationaschancellor For thefirsttimeinGermany'spostwarhistory, acandidateforchancellorlostonthefirst vote.Sincecandidatesareonlynominated aftergainingsufficientsupportfroma coalitionofparties,thisrarelyoccurs. Merz'sfailurerevealsriftsinthealliance betweentheChristianDemocraticParty (CDU)andtheSocialDemocraticParty (SPD),whichmayhavealong-termeffect onhistenureaschancellor.Itmightbe muchmoredifficultforhimtoenactnew legislationormaintainthesmooth operationofthegovernmentifhecannot countonthefullsupportofhisown coalition.
ANationInPoliticalTransition
Merzhaspledgedtoconcentrateon restoringfaithinmainstreampoliticsand implementingdomesticreforms.Millions ofGermanshaveparticipatedin nonviolentdemonstrationsagainst extremismatthesametime,demonstrating thecountry'sstrongsupportfordemocracy andinclusivity
BookReviews:
By Mariia O
Readingbooksinaforeignlanguageisnot justanacademicexercise,it’sawayto stepintoanotherculture,develop vocabularyandexperiencehowlanguage isreallyused.Ithelpswithconfidence, grammarandevenpronunciation.But mostofall,it’sfun!
TheMFLDepartmentencourages everyonetotryreadingabookinanother language,whetherit’satranslatedclassic, adual-languagenovel,orashortstory
Happyreading,oraswesayaroundhere: Bonneslectures!VielSpaßbeimLesen! ¡Feliceslecturas! 阅读愉快！
MrsJSchindlerSmith Bookreviews
AsanativeGermanspeaker,Irecentlyhad thepleasureofreadingtwoverydifferent booksintheoriginal:FreiheitbyAngela MerkelandBeateBaumann,andKairosby JennyErpenbeck.Whiletheydiffer significantlyinstructure(oneareflective politicalautobiography,theotheralyrical, psychologicallyrichnovel)bothare deeplyrootedinGermany’shistory.I foundthecontrastbetweenthetwo particularlyrewarding;oneoffers thoughtfulpoliticalinsightsfromthe perspectiveofaformerchancellor,while theotherprovidesanintimateportrayalof lifeinthefinalyearsoftheGDR.Each approachesitssubjectinanentirely distinctway,yetbotharehighlyengaging andthought-provoking.
AngelaMerkel:Freiheitby AngelaMerkel&Beate
Baumann
In‘Freiheit’,AngelaMerkel offersarareandintrospective lookatherlifeandpolitical philosophy,incollaborationwithBeate Baumann,herlong-timeadvisor.Thebook isnotachronologicalmemoir,butrathera seriesofthemedreflectionson responsibility,freedom,power,andthe valueofscientificthinking.Theseallow readerstounderstandhowMerkel approachedleadershipand decision-makingduringhersixteenyears aschancellor
Merkeldiscusseskeymomentsinherlife andcareer,fromgrowingupintheGDRto navigatingglobalcrises,withstriking clarityandintegrity
ReadingFreiheitintheoriginalGermanis essential:thetone,humour,andprecision ofthelanguagereflectMerkel’s personalityandbackgroundinawaythat wouldbedifficulttocaptureintranslation fully
Recommendation:Foranyoneinterestedin Germanpolitics,leadershipunder pressure,orpost-reunificationhistory, Freiheitoffersaprofoundlypersonaland principledperspective.Itisallthemore impactfulwhenreadinMerkel’sown words.
KairosbyJennyErpenbeck
In‘Kairos’,JennyErpenbeck exploresthecomplexitiesofa destructiveloveaffairset againstthebackdropofthe GDR'scollapse.Thenovel followstherelationship
betweenKatharina,ayoungwoman seekingmeaning,andHans,anolder, marriedintellectual,whosedynamic evolvesfrompassionatetopossessive. Paralleltothisdeeplypersonalnarrativeis theunravellingofEastGermanyitself;an intimateandpoliticalfallfromcertainty intodisillusionment.
Erpenbeckwriteswithhercharacteristic precisionandrestraint.Herprose,richin metaphor,capturesthefleeting,often painfulintersectionsbetweenpersonal time(Kairos)andhistoricaltime (Chronos).ThedeteriorationofKatharina andHans’srelationshipmirrorsthe ideologicalerosionofthesocialiststate, makingthenovelasmuchameditationon memoryandcontrolasonromance.
ReadingKairosinGermanisessentialto experiencingitsfulldepth.Erpenbeck’s languageisnuanced,andIcanimagine thatthepoliticalundertonesandcultural specificityresonatemoreauthenticallyin theoriginal.
Recommendation(forSixthFormers): Kairosisamasterfullycraftednovelthat interrogatespower,love,andhistorical rupture.Forthoseinterestedin post-reunificationliteratureand psychologicallyrichnarratives,itisbest readinGerman,whereErpenbeck’svoice canbefullyappreciated.
StaffBookPicks:AJourneyThrough WorldLiterature
Lecittàinvisibili–Italo Calvino
Writtenintheformof poeticdialoguesbetween MarcoPoloandKublai Khan,‘Lecittàinvisibili’is
adreamlikemosaicofimaginarycities, eachamirrortohumanthought,memory anddesire.Onecityreflectsitselfina lake,raisingthequestion;whichismore real,thecityoritsreflection?Digestibleas aseriesofvignettes,thebookoffersa gatewayintomagicrealismand philosophicalreflection.Arewarding challengeforlanguagelearnersandlovers ofimaginationalike.
Favouritequote:"D'unacittànongodile setteolesettantasettemeraviglie,mala rispostachedàaunatuadomanda."
("Acityisn'taboutits7or77wonders,but abouttheansweritgivestoaquestionyou have.")
L’artdeperdre–Alice Zeniter
Thispowerfulnovelcharts awoman’ssearchfor identityacrossgenerations, assheuncoversherfamily's Algerianrootsandthe silencesurroundingtheir exileafterdecolonization.Zeniter delicatelybalancespersonalmemorywith politicalhistory,craftinganarrativeabout inheritance,displacement,andthelegacy ofcolonialism.It’sanintimateandmoving explorationofhowwefindourselves throughthestoriesofothers.
Favouritequote:“Quandonestréduità cherchersurWikipédiades renseignementssurunpaysdontonest censéêtreoriginaire,c'estpeut-êtrequ'ily aunproblème.”
TheBlackCity–Boris Akunin Agrippingentryin Akunin’scelebratedErast
Fandorindetectiveseries,‘TheBlackCity’ plungesreadersintopre-WWIBaku,a worldofoilwealth,espionageand revolution.Fandorinisasdashingand sharpasever,navigatingacitybrimming withpoliticaltensionandcriminal intrigue.Forloversofcrimefiction,thisis amasterclassinatmosphereandplotting, andit'savailableinEnglishandover30 languages!
Here'saquotebyBorisAkuninduringa recentinterview:"Historyisanovelthat hasbeenlived;thenovelishistorythat couldhavebeenlived."
FromMoscowtoLondon–AlisaZotimova
Zotimova'smemoircaptures theexhilarationand vulnerabilityofuprooting one’slife.Movingfrom MoscowtoLondon,shesharesacandid accountofambition,adaptation,and personalgrowth.Forstudentswho’ve experienced(orimagined)crossing cultures,thisbookoffersbothempathy andinspiration,areminderthatresilience oftenbeginswithuncertainty
Favouritequote:"It'smorefuntokeep running."
LePetitPrince–Antoinede Saint-Exupéry
Don’tbefooledbyitssize orillustrations,‘TheLittle Prince’isatimelessmeditationonlove, friendshipandwhatitmeanstotrulysee. Astheyoungprincerecountshisjourney acrossplanetstoastrandedpilot,hemeets
grown-upsobsessedwithpowerandpride, revealingtruthsabouthumannature. Writtenwiththegentleclarityofafable, thisnovellaspeakstothechildinevery reader.
Favoritequote:“Onnevoitbienqu’avec lecœur.L’essentielestinvisiblepourles yeux.”
Elamorenlostiemposdel cólera–GabrielGarcía Márquez In‘LoveintheTimeof Cholera’,Márqueztracesa lifetimeoflonging,as Florentinowaitsdecadesfor hischancetobewithFermina.Setina Caribbeantownmarkedbyrecurring choleraoutbreaks,thenovelblurstheline betweendiseaseanddesire,youthandold age.Richinimageryandemotion,it’sa sweepingtaleaboutlovethatevolvesand enduresthroughtime.
Favouritequote:“Fueinevitable:elolorde lasalmendrasamargaslerecordaba siempreeldestinodelosamores contrariados.”
Lequatrièmemur–Sorj Chalandon Inthishauntingnovel,a Frenchtheatredirector attemptstostageAntigone inwar-tornBeirut, assemblingactorsfrom acrossreligiousandpoliticaldivides. Chalandon’sprosecapturesthepowerand fragilityofartamidstviolence.‘The FourthWall’isaheart-wrenching meditationonwar,hope,andtheroleof cultureinthedarkestoftimes.
Favouritequote:“J’aiapprisquelaguerre n’estpasuneparenthèse.Elleestun point.”
IlGattopardo–Giuseppe TomasidiLampedusa
Anepictaleofaristocratic decline,‘TheLeopard’ followsPrinceFabrizioof SalinaasSicilyapproaches theunificationofItaly Throughelegant proseandbittersweetintrospection,the novelcapturesaworldfadingintohistory It’sanovelofgrandeur,nostalgiaand politicalnuance,broughtvividlytolifein Visconti’scinematicadaptation.
Favouritequote:'Ostella,ofedelestella! Quandotidecideraiadarmiun' appuntamentomenoeffimero,lontanoda tutto,nellatuaregionediperenne certezza?'Abitofacheatasthislineis technicallyfromthefilm,butitisa memorableparaphraseofamomentinthe novelwheretheLeopard(notreallya leopard,butaprince,bewilderedbyallthe changesinthesocietyaroundhim)gazes upata'faithfulstar'andaskswhenhewill begrantedaplaceamongthemthatis'less ephemeral,farawayfromeverything,in yourrealmofperennialcertainty'.
SostienePereira–AntonioTabucchi SetduringPortugal’s Salazardictatorship, ‘PereiraMaintains’tells thestoryofasolitary journalistawakeningto politicalconscience. Writteninadeceptivelycalmtone,the novelunfoldsasaquietrevoltagainst repression,wrappedinquestionsofethics,
freedomandcourage.Asubtleyetdeeply movingreadthatlingerslongafterthe finalpage.
Favouritequote:“Lafilosofiasembrache sioccupisolodellaverità,maforsedice solofantasie,elaletteraturasembrachesi occupisolodifantasie,maforsedicela verità.”
Seunanotted’invernoun viaggiatore–ItaloCalvino Thisboldandexperimental novelcastsyou,thereader,as itsprotagonist.Witheach chapterbeginningadifferent storyinterruptedmid-way, Calvinoturnsreadingintoanadventureof falsestarts,shiftinggenres,and self-reflection.‘IfonaWinter’sNighta Traveller’isanintellectualpuzzleanda joyfulhomagetobooksthemselves, perfectforthosewhoenjoymeta-fiction andliteraryplay.
Favouritequote:“Leggereèandare incontroaqualcosachestaperesseree ancoranessunosacosasarà.”
TheMasterandMargarita –MikhailBulgakov
Asurrealwhirlwindof devils,talkingcatsand bannedmanuscripts, Bulgakov’s‘TheMasterand Margarita’isbothadazzling satireofStalinistRussiaanda philosophicalnovelaboutart,truthand redemption.Thenovelfeaturesdual narratives,onesetin1930sMoscow,the otherinancientJerusalem.It'safantastical rebellionagainstcensorshipandcynicism. Unmissableforanyonecuriousabout Russianliteratureatitsboldest.
Favouritequote:"Cowardiceisoneofthe mostterriblehumanvices."
OceanoMare–AlessandroBaricco
Poeticandintrospective, ‘OceanSea’brings togetheracastoflostsouls ataremoteseasideinn, wheretheoceanbecomesaliving metaphorformemoryandlonging.With dreamlikeproseandafragmented structure,Bariccocreatesanovelthatfeels morelikemusicthanplot.It’sabookfor readerswhorelishbeauty,ambiguity,and emotionaldepth.
StudentsBookPicks:
- FedericoGarciaLorca's‘Rural Trilogy’;‘LaCasadeBernarda Alba’,‘Yerma’and‘LasBodasde Sangre’.
- ‘ArsèneLupin, Gentleman-Cambrioleur’,Maurice Leblanc.
- ‘LePetitPrince’,Antoinede Saint-Exupéry
- 'BeautyandGrace'(HSK4level chinesegradedreader)
- Lecrimedel'orient-express
We would like to dedicate this lastpageto someone very important. Some things her colleagues and students would say about her:
A thoughtful communicator, a dedicated educator, and a warm-hearted colleague; wishing you smooth sailing in Italy! And hey, when things get stressful, don’t forget to sip some good old Taiwanese high mountain tea; it works wonders!
She has always been a great champion of all languages and was so supportive and trusting of staff at all levels, including language assistants such as me. I feel very lucky to have had such a wise, calm and fair boss and I shall also definitely miss her very dry sense of humour!
I appreciate her serenity and the way she valued and respected all team members. I also celebrate her vision for building an MFL department of excellence, deeply humane and motivating.
It was a pleasure working with Frau Schindler-Smith. I truly appreciated her rigor and reliability, as well as the way she always took the time to check in; asking how I was doing, whether I’d had a good weekend, and so on. She listened with genuine interest, and it was clear that she truly cared about her team. Thank you, Frau Schindler-Smith, for everything; you will be greatly missed.
She is a very knowledgeable, patient, enthusiastic, fun-loving, organised and committed leader of Languages. She will be greatly missed!
“A great person attracts great people and knows how to hold them together.”
– Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
This couldn’t be more true of you. You have brought out the best in us, led with vision and heart, and kept everything (and everyone) moving forward. We will miss you more than words can say.
Thank you for all of your hard work and dedication to teaching us German. I have learnt a lot from your lessons. We all really appreciate everything you have done for us, and you are the most organised teacher I have ever seen. I wish you the best as you start a new chapter in Italy and we will all miss your lessons.
Thank you for everything you taught me in my German class. Your passion for the language and culture made our lessons lively and exciting. Not only did I learn a lot, but I always felt like you were interested in our progress. We will miss you very much, but I wish you all the best for your future, both professionally and personally. Vielen Dank für Ihre Unterstützung und Inspiration!
Thank you very much for being such a supportive and helpful form tutor You were very helpful during GCSEs and I felt a lot more confident after your guidance. I appreciate it very much!
Thank you so much for all that you all have done for us and the German department this year I really really enjoyed your lessons, especially when you make us do presentations and practise our speaking. You are the most organized teacher that I have ever seen and I will miss you a lot when you are not here next year Vielen Dank again! I hope you have the best of times in Italy!!
Of course we are talking about Frau Schindler-Smith, who has led the MFL department for the past 6 years. With her dedication to language teaching, commitment tofosteringculturalexchange and appreciation through countless initiatives, thoughtfulness in leading a large department, outstanding sense of humour and passion for students progress and learning, Frau Schindler-Smith has ensured that languages thrive at NHEHS. She not only led German, butalsoensured languages were delivered and managed with great German efficiency; we have all learnedalotfromher Her students appreciated her outstanding organisation, love for languages and immenseculturalknowledge. We are very sad that she is leaving us for her new adventures in sunny Italy, where another team will have the pleasure to work with her We wish her all the very best.
WirwerdenSiesehrvermissen!
Danke,Merci,Gracias, 谢谢,Grazie
- The MFL department and your students
AthankyoutoSaraLouiseT,RidhiVand DainKforwriting,editingandformatting theNewsletter,andtoMariiaO,Georgia C,Angela,Anishka,Ciara,NevePickles, MmeSpencerandAswiniKfortheir contributions.
- MsJEckert