The Travel edit
MFL NEWSLETTER
LANGUAGE TRIPS ARE WHAT IT IS ALL ABOUT!
Year 8 have had the chance to put into action - or words - the language skills they have been practising all year.
SCHOOL TRIPS
“NOT ALL CLASSROOMS HAVE FOUR WALLS.”
It has been a pleasure and privilege to be able to organise school trips again this year. Our Year 8 have made the most of their stays in Vienna, Valencia and Normandy in June 2023.
This is truly the best way to progress and enjoy cultural differences and diversity.
All in all - an incredible learning journey!
Please find more information and details about the various trips on offer
SONYA CHAPPELL
GERMAN
VIENNA - JUNE 2023
LANGUAGE TRIPS ARE WHAT IT IS ALL ABOUT!
From the 21-24th of June 2023, Year 8 students had the opportunity to go on language trips for German, Spanish and French. I chose to go on the German trip to Vienna.
The trip consisted of 17 students and 3 teachers on a 3 day long trip to Vienna. On the trip we got to experience lots of activities alongside practising our German speaking skills.
The activities we did include: An audio guided tour of Schönbrunn palace, An Apple strudel workshop, a few hours at the amazing amusement park Prater, a visit to the Belvedere Museum to see famous artworks, a stroll around the Hundertwasserhaus and time to sit in the parks to enjoy the view of Vienna!
My favourite was the trip to Prater as we got lots of freedom and time to enjoy the rides on the very hot day! Overall, it was a really fun and exciting trip where we got to hang out with friends whilst we were learning new words and practising our German skills!
Matilda Y8
DAY TRIP TO THE GOETHE INSTITUT
On Thursday 8th June, the Year 9 and 12 German students took the train from school to visit the Goethe Institut, the German cultural centre in South Kensington, London. It was a perfect, sunny day, and there were many other school groups in attendance too so overall the atmosphere was buzzing and brilliant.
There were various interactive workshops and talks on offer all day long, giving information on how to choose your career to discovering more about the German workplace. During the workshops, we had the chance to practise our German speaking, and test our general knowledge (like matching up companies with the goods or service they provide). Downstairs, there was an information fair with stalls from different companies such as Lidl and BayernLB, providing details about career, internship and education opportunities in Germany We attended 3 workshops of our choice, but the one that stood out the most for us was about ‘Career opportunities in Germany’, where we discussed the different types of job markets and the various different companies which were founded in Germany. We were certainly surprised to find out that Nivea, Puma, Fanta and Boss were all German companies. Having the experience to learn all these amazing things about German industry really made me consider pursuing a future career in Germany or in a German company In addition, there was also an extremely insightful event, where companies offered more information about apprenticeships or opportunities for Further Education in Germany for young international students. All these stalls had fascinating things to say about work life in Germany and Germany's strong industry.There were even stalls showcasing more about the cultural background, for example one using VR to demonstrate the natural landscape of Germany and another offering a cookbook of traditional recipes - there were also a lot of freebies on offer from all the different companies.
Overall, it was a super informative and fun day, providing extra insight into how the German language can facilitate the most amazing career choices and opportunities to connect to people around the world.
After the event we had just enough time for a picnic and ice cream in the park and came back to school right on time at 2.29pm, ready and punctual for our afternoon lessons, of course - not to stereotype here ; )
Vielen Dank to Frau Schindler Smith and Frau Adam who accompanied the trip and made this experience possible for us
Amrit Y12 German rep and Saima Y12 German student
National Winner of the German Olympiad 2023
The German Department of NHEHS is very proud to announce that Mariia Oleksiyenko in Y10 has been awarded the National Winner of the Year 10 and 11 Prize in the German Oxford Olympiad 2023.
This year, all tasks were very well received as they all revolved around food and entries were of very high calibre. Mariia chose the following task:
Write a story about two children from different cultural backgrounds becoming friends through food.
Her writing is a testimony of being able to use another language to a degree that communicates and describes a beautiful moment where 2 young people, with different cultural backgrounds, meet and bond whilst sampling a Ukrainian dish at a food festival and develop a life-long friendship after that; all written in a simple but highly accurate sentence structure in German that is poignant and uplifting at the same time. Wunderbar, we are so proud!
Herzlichen Glückwunsch Marsha!
SPANISH
SALAMANCA - FEBRUARY 2023
SALAMANCA: CITY OF LEGENDS AND HIDDEN PLACES
Salamanca was the scenario of a rewarding and exciting new experience for a group of students from Years 10 to 13, during the February halfterm.
Legend has it that a treasure is hidden beneath one of the more than 300 shells which decorates its façade.
During the trip, girls had a guided tour of Salamanca, a photo rally around the Plaza Mayor, a salsa dance class, and a cookery class where they learned the art of cooking the traditional tortilla ¡La tortilla estaba riquísima! Many of us were still unsure whether to prepare tortilla using a simple recipe or to add additional ingredients to enhance its flavour. We will surely discuss this culinary dilemma in our Spanish lessons!
As the trip came to a close, it was heart-warming to see students reluctant to leave Salamanca and say goodbye to their host families. The trip was a fantastic experience for everyone involved. As a teacher, it was a pleasure to see the students grow and learn throughout the trip and to share in their experiences.
By Ms Barbosa, Head of Spanish
The itinerary included morning lessons at Colegio Delibes, an institution known for its Spanish language courses, which allowed students to practise their language skills in an immersive context.
Salamanca is known for its rich historical sights, and girls were able to visit landmarks such as the Plaza Mayor, La Casa de las Conchas, the Cathedral of Salamanca, and the Cathedral’s Medieval Towers.
The Plaza Mayor lies at the heart of the city and is one of the most famous landmarks in Spain. Students were delighted as they savoured churros con chocolate!
La Casa de las Conchas is a historic building covered in scallop shells, and the Cathedral of Salamanca is a stunning example of Gothic and Baroque architecture.
HERE IS WHAT OUR STUDENTS THOUGHT ABOUT THE TRIP
From Martha:
I loved our trip to Valencia! We took part in so many enjoyable activities. For instance, on the second day of the trip we all went to beautiful caves. We travelled in by boat and then we were given the opportunity to walk around and explore! After this, we all visited the lovely, Spanish shops outside of the caves and some of us enjoyed some tasty ice cream!
Also, one of the activities on the penultimate day was a Flamenco dancing workshop which was so much fun! It was really authentic and entertaining, we all got dressed up in Spanish Flamenco skirts and everyone gave dancing a try.
On our final day, we visited a traditional Spanish market in Valencia which had so many brilliant stalls. I bought a delicious glass of orange juice, a pretty bracelet and looked around so many other interesting stalls. I think the entirety of this trip was such an amazing opportunity to develop our Spanish linguistic skills and embrace and learn more about the many incredible different Spanish cultures.
VALENCIA- JUNE 2023
WHAT YEAR 8 HAVE TO SAY...
From Lara Roberts:
When we went to Valencia, there were so many different things I enjoyed about being on the trip. I loved all of the activities we did throughout the day, especially the caves because they were so beautiful, and the water was so clear and blue.
I also liked the aquarium because it was massive and had so many different animals to see. One of my other highlights was meeting our pen pals at their school I thought it was so nice to actually meet the people we are writing to Also to see what they look like, their personality, and have a conversation with them to get to know more about them. I liked to wander and buy things around the market and shopping areas as well while in Valencia.
On the trip I enjoyed speaking to people in Spanish, whether that's speaking to people at shops, people in public, or our pen pals. This improved my speaking skills, and it was nice to see things written in Spanish around the city, which developed my vocabulary. I also liked seeing/eating different foods from the city. Even if Valencia was quite hot, it was so pretty and amazing. I really loved being there, doing so many fun things with my friends, and overall having a great time.
FRENCH
LILLE - JUNE 2023
A STONE THROW FROM LONDON...
The French department invited Year 9 to take part in a trip to Lille for the day on June 17th.
It is always a wonder to find how close we are to an entirely different country and culture.
Year 9 students enjoyed a visit of the Musée des beaux arts. We then had a typical lunch in one of Lille's buzzing and gourmet restaurants, followed by shopping time, a survey of people walking by in French, and a tasting of the local delicacy: La galette de la patisserie Meert.
Girls were so impressive and keen to use their French they got interviewed by local podcasters! To whom they replied in French of course.
From Annika:
The Normandy trip was a brilliant opportunity to see the famous landmarks, try the famous food and also have a great time.
We were lucky enough to engage in a variety of activities.
We looked thoroughly into the history of Normandy, especially the Battle of Normandy, and I'm sure that I can speak for everyone when I say that not only was it a good chance to learn, but we have taken away knowledge and understanding.
HERE IS WHAT OUR STUDENTS THOUGHT ABOUT THE TRIP
On the first day after we got off the ferry, we unpacked and played a friendly match of volleyball! After that we went for a walk on the beach.
On the second day we travelled by coach to the Bayeux tapestry. After that we headed over to Caen to do some shopping. On the way we visited William the Conqueror's castle.
Personally, I think this was the best shopping trip as it had a Sephora!
On the third day we saw the Mont St Michel and took a long walk up to the top. I think if you are ever visiting Normandy you need to go here!
On the final day we visited a war museum and a 360 degrees cinema which showed real footage from the war and genuine interviews. After that we went down to the nearby market and got lunch.
Ordering by ourselves really helped us learn new language and expand our vocabulary. I am really glad I was given this opportunity as it taught me independence and has definitely had an impact on my ability in French.
YEAR 8 NORMANDY- JUNE 2023
I really enjoyed our trip to Normandy this year! We were all up at 4am, eager to go on the ferry. As soon as we arrived, we were embracing the authentic French culture by eating traditional food and visiting traditional markets. We saw the beautiful Bayeux Tapestry and visited many other museums, in which we learnt lots. The food was amazing, ranging from fromage, des baguettes et tartes français traditionnelles. C'est delicieux.
We took many walks down the beach in the sunset. One night, we even got to dance at the local Fete De la Musique. During the trip we learnt many useful phrases. For instance, "Où est le gel douche?" meaning "Where is the soap" in the supermarket, as our bathrooms had no soap!
We spent our evenings playing intense volleyball matches and board games. I especially enjoyed looking at the modern museums and eating French ice cream, as well as interacting with French people in the markets.
Overall, the trip was extremely memorable and fun! I became friends with more of my classmates who I did not know that well before. I learnt lots, about French language and culture as well.
Esha
YEAR 8 NORMANDY- JUNE 2023
CHINESE
UPCOMING TRIP!
In Autumn Half Term 2024, the Chinese Department will be going on a trip to China. We will be visiting big cities like Beijing and Shanghai.
We will also be going to see the Terracotta Warriors and a beautiful garden city.
FILM PROJECT IN YEAR 7
For the Chinese project, my group created a lego stop motion animation in Chinese.
Even though the film was short in the end, the filming process took a few hours as the whole film is taken through pictures only. To make the film look more natural, I used blue tack when the characters were sitting down.
Once the animation was complete, I met up with the rest of the group to add in the speech. Otherwise, where will the Chinese come in? Saba had written the script, giving different speaking parts to each of the three characters. She had to write out the script in English, using words and phrases that we had learned in class and then, using her book and the slideshows from class.
FILM PROJECT IN YEAR 7
For those who don’t speak Chinese and don’t understand the speech, here is a brief overview of what is going on:
Li wakes up in the morning and has blue cake for breakfast. His cat had a big grey fish. We made sure we included colours as we had learnt them not that long ago. Li then has a conversation with his older sister about what subjects he likes. We learnt subjects last half term such as 数学 (maths) and 体育 (PE). Li then goes to school and reads in the library. We did a big section on places such as library (图书 馆). The character 书 means book, 图 means picture (picture books) and 馆 means pavilion/place. So, a library is a place where there are books and picture books in a building. If you break apart the words, they do make sense in the end.
Li then eats lunch with his friend. Then, during PE, Li and his friend race. His friend falls over but Li helps her up. Li then wins the race, winning a gold trophy. They then study in the library. Afterwards, Li returns home and eats pizza with his sister.
Even though this process took a long time, it was worth it as we created a great film. We couldn’t have done it without any of the group, so thank you. Enjoy.
HAPPY HOLIDAY!
Finally, the MFL department would like to wish you a happy holiday: Bonnes vacances! Schöne Ferien! Felices vacaciones 节
⽇快乐
