Edcational visit to Germany
Every other year the department organises an educational visit to Germany. Students from Years 7 and 8 are given the opportunity to spend five days in the Rheinland, accompanied by staff from the Modern Languages Department and teachers from other curriculum areas.
Our visit in June 2003 to Bad Salzig proved yet again to be a most successful and worthwhile educational visit for all pupils fortunate enough to take part. The students who participated excelled themselves with their exemplary behaviour. On each and every occasion during the trip's excursions and varied activities, our pupils conducted themselves admirably.
It was especially rewarding to witness their enthusiasm when trying to communicate in German, whether in the hotel with our hosts, Herr and Frau Tatsch, or when practising their negotiating skills in German in shops and food outlets.
I feel sure the experiences they gained at first hand can now be shared back in school in lessons with their peers. A photo quiz and diary competition for writing the most interesting daily account of the trip - das Tagebuch - also served to act as a reward and affirmation for pupils participating in such a positive way.
This was our seventh visit to this part of the Rhine and it yet again proved to be an ideal location for the planned excursions including a boat trip to Rüdesheim, two chair lift rides, visits to famous, historical monuments, including Napoleonic fortress, a visit to a swimming pool, visits to fairy tale castles in Cochem and not forgetting an exciting shopping visit to the more modern centre of Koblenz. Even the local Spar supermarket, near the hotel, held a certain daily fascination for the pupils to yet again practise their purchasing skills with Euros.
None of this would have been possible, of course, had it not been for the constant hard work and vigilance of all the teachers who accompanied the trip.
Our hotel, the Apostelhof, in Bad Salzig provided our party with excellent accommodation, ideally suited to our needs. Our landlady and her husband were impressed, as during our previous visit in 2002, with both the respect our pupils showed for their surroundings and their frequent attempts, especially at mealtimes, to communicate in German.
The next visit to Germany will take place in the summer term of 2005. The location for the visit is yet to be decided.