As part of Discovery Week, the Lower Fifth (Year 10) are visiting four European cities to practice their language skills. Whether speaking French in Bordeaux, German in Berlin, Spanish in Granada or Italian in Rome, the LV are out and about discovering more about these great cities…

FRENCH TRIP TO BORDEAUX

On Monday 3^rd July, the first day of Discovery Week, the Lower Fifth trip to France has been very eventful. We took part in an interactive tour of the beautiful city where we saw the Opera House of Bordeaux as well as Le Monument aux Girondins and other attractions with incredible amounts of history. After eating some lovely sandwiches as well as a slice of chocolate cake for lunch, we made our way to the language school where we spent a couple of hours learning some of the French language speech mannerisms. During the session, my group were lucky enough to get the opportunity to go out and order the cake that Bordeaux is famous for, the canelé. This pastry has a cameralised crust and is flavoured with rum and vanilla. It was my first time trying it and I do not regret it one bit, it was absolutely delicious! To finish our day, we went to a bowling alley, and I think I can confidently say that all the students were astounded by the discovery of all the teachers’ incredible bowling abilities. I can’t wait to see what tomorrow will bring!
Athena, LV

On the morning of Monday 3^rd July, after having breakfast and participating in strictly french conversations with our host families, we made our own way to the centre of Bordeaux, which although daunting was an incredibly  independent and interesting experience. We were then taken on a tour of central Bordeaux and admired its most famous monuments including the bronze horse water fountain, the grand theatre, several streets with beautiful architecture, and a famous sculpture of a face which Mr Favreau tried to convince us was in the memory of a man whose face was flattened after falling on the tramline, I gullibly believed him. Bordeaux’s city centre would be best described as charming, with little boulangeries and cafes lining the wide streets, we have had the best time so far and cannot wait for the excitement that the rest of the trip beholds for us.
Orielle, LV

GERMAN TRIP TO BERLIN

For Discovery Week this year, members of the Lower Fifth studying German at GCSE are visiting Berlin to practice their language skills. Here are some reports from their first day, Monday 3rd July…

Today, I was faced with the daunting task of reserving a table in German. I walked up to the restaurant with my friend for support, reciting the polite, informational sentence in my head. I knew exactly what I would say, but as soon as I said “Hallo”, she asked me questions I wasn’t expecting including: “outside or inside?” This surprised me, but I followed the wise words of Bear Grylls “Improvise, adapt, overcome!” and began to answer her many questions. Once she asked me for my phone number I had to give up, because I had no idea how to say “plus”, so I answered in English. To my utter shock, she said that she didn’t know I wasn’t German! Feeling victorious, I walked out with my friend by my side, successfully having booked a table for seven of us on Tuesday.
Eydis, LV

On Monday morning, we visited the Brandenburg Gate, an 18th-century neoclassical monument commissioned by king Frederick William II of Prussia which has become a symbol of German unity. To get there, we took the U-bahn, which was very similar to the London tube. The station we arrived at had a timeline of the Brandenburg Gate and showed it at various times through history, which was extremely fascinating to learn about. The very first time we visited it, we were able to get a good look at it as there were not a lot of tourists, however, as we came back to it throughout the day, we saw it rapidly fill up with other visitors. It was a very impressive structure and very grand. I was most fascinated by the ‘Quadriga’ (the four horses) at the top.
Polina, LV

This morning our group went to visit the Holocaust Memorial in Berlin. The memorial includes over 2,700 concrete stones, each the same size but with different heights, placed equal lengths apart to create a wave-like effect when seen from above. The memorial is similar to a maze and creates a disorientating feeling – which is meant to make one feel claustrophobic and reflect on the message of the memorial. It is a memorial to remember the victims of the Holocaust in World War II. The design was created after an artistic competition presented to the public, was announced in 1995. A design by Peter Eisenman was chosen but had to be changed several times before it was put into construction. The overall discussion on the location and message of the memorial lasted almost a decade.
Emma, LV

After having a light lunch, we set off to the DDR Museum, taking a train before completing our journey with a walk by the river to the museum. It was a very interactive museum with typewriters to write on, clothes to wear, and videos to watch. There was a lot of information on the lives of the people of East Berlin, from the day-to-day items they owned to the military that remained there. We posed with Trabant cars and printed out our own ‘ideal’ socialist human that we designed (we got 14/70). After exploring the to scale apartment – fitted with radio, TV, kitchen supplies and an interactive screen which fit you with time-period appropriate clothes – we ventured into the gift shop. Most bought postcards, but Bryonny went out of their comfort zone and bought some Vita Cola. We all had a sip and agreed it tasted of sub-tier cola with essence of lemon. Overall, it was a success, cola and all!
Holly, LV

After a long day of travelling through Berlin, our group’s final stop was the museum, Futurium. I was awestruck with the remarkable interpretations and predictions of the future. Wristbands allowed us to interact with the technology in the museum, and Futurium was extremely interactive, allowing us to play simulators of reducing global warming, futuristic possibilities and to explore a genetic identity which we had to navigate. Though being a relatively short visit, the Futurium was one of the most enjoyable parts of the day, which allowed the group a better understanding of the possibilities of tomorrow.
Bryony, LV

SPANISH TRIP TO GRANADA

Our language trip to Granada was an incredible and unforgettable experience that I’m certain everyone will cherish for years to come. From the breathtaking views of the mountains to the bittersweet drive back to Malaga, every moment was truly memorable.

On the first night, after a long journey, we were warmly welcomed by our host families, who showed us nothing but kindness. We took a short walk together to explore the neighborhood, getting our first glimpse of the city.

Our first full day began with a walking tour of the city center, where we immersed ourselves in the fascinating history that Granada has to offer. We enjoyed lunch with our host families and then made our way to the language school. It was there that we met our incredible teacher, Paqui, whose patience and expertise guided us through the next four days of learning. In the evening, we visited an Arab tea shop, where we had the opportunity to taste traditional Arab teas believed to have curative properties by the people of Granada.

The second day was filled with exciting activities, including a visit to a beautiful cathedral where we learned about its intriguing history. We then had a flamenco class, immersing ourselves in the traditions and dances of this vibrant art form. After a delightful picnic lunch, we returned to the language school for afternoon classes and took some time to independently explore the town, becoming more familiar with its streets and atmosphere.

On our third day in Granada, we had the privilege of visiting the Alhambra, one of the candidates for the title of the Seven Wonders of the Modern World. The Alhambra enchanted us with its stunning architecture, breathtaking views, and the serene connection to nature it provided. After a delicious lunch with our host families, we continued with our enjoyable language lessons and later attended a mesmerizing flamenco show. This eye-opening experience allowed us to witness Spanish culture and its rich traditions passed down through generations.

As our last day arrived, we gathered at the school for a heartfelt final lesson, which included a dance with our beloved teacher, Paqui. With a mix of emotions, we boarded the coach for our musical journey back to the airport, bidding farewell to Granada and making our way home to London.

Sara P d M and Isabelle G