Pupils from Gosforth Academy and Great Park Academy have just returned from a highly successful German exchange trip to Heidelberg, Germany. This year marked a significant milestone for the exchange, as Great Park Academy participated for the first time, joining Gosforth Academy, which has proudly upheld this enriching collaboration for nearly three decades.
For an entire week, our pupils had the invaluable opportunity to fully immerse themselves in German language and culture. They stayed with host families from the Elisabeth-von-Thadden-Schule in Heidelberg, gaining firsthand experience of German daily life and attending a German school day.
Beyond the classroom and family life, the exchange offered a packed itinerary of cultural and educational excursions. Pupils explored Germany's largest interactive science centre, the Experimenta in Heilbronn, and delved into the world of media art at the ZKM Centre for Digital Art in Karlsruhe. A trip to the zoo provided a fun way to learn the names of animals in German.
Adventure was also on the agenda! After a sunny boat trip down the River Neckar, pupils embarked on a challenging hike up a steep hill to the impressive fortress of Dilsberg. This historical site offered a perfect opportunity to compare it to Dunstanburgh Castle, which pupils visited during the first leg of the exchange back in October.
A highlight of the trip involved a collaborative project where pupils, working with their German exchange partners, produced fantastic videos interviewing each other about their daily lives in each other's language. It was truly inspiring to witness the confidence with which our pupils began to use German outside the traditional classroom setting.
What Our Staff Had To Say:
"Participating in the German exchange for the first time has been an incredible experience for our Great Park Academy pupils," commented Ms Khalid, Curriculum Leader for MFL at Great Park Academy. "They've not only significantly improved their language skills but also gained a deeper understanding of German culture and forged lasting friendships. We're thrilled to be part of this long-standing tradition."
Ms Schneider, German-Exchange Coordinator at Gosforth Academy, added, "It was wonderful to see the collaboration between Gosforth and Great Park Academy pupils flourish. The exchange continues to be a cornerstone of our MFL department, providing an unparalleled opportunity for our students to develop their linguistic abilities and global awareness. The confidence they gained in speaking German was truly remarkable."