German exchange at Bromley High School.
Last week the German exchange students arrived at Bromley High school where they met their partners for the week, who were of the same age in year 9, with whom they would live and experience life in an English school. In addition, a number of activities took place with the German exchange and it was a very insightful experience.
Firstly, the girls arrived and met up with their partners, with whom the girls had been previously in contact with to each other so they already knew who they would be with which helped to ‘break the ice’. The girls took a plane from Germany and reached Bromley High School by coach. A number of girls that studied German took part and it was a highly enjoyed atmosphere. The girls spent their school days in class with their partners experiencing a day in the life of an English schoolgirl. In addition, even the girls who did not study German and did not have a German exchange hugely enjoyed it as everyone made new friends and learnt new aspects about each other’s lives. One of the girls in year 9 said it was “an amazing experience that she really enjoyed”.
The girls also went on day trips in London where they went sightseeing and were shown the various famous attractions in central London such as the London Eye, Madame Tussauds and Big Ben. Madame Tussauds was greatly enjoyed as the girls took pictures of themselves alongside various sculptures of famous people in the world. In addition, the German exchange were given the opportunity to practise their English skills as they spoke with the English girls, which also worked in reverse as the English-speaking girls were able to practise and further their knowledge of the German language. The English skills already present with the German girls were highly skilled and well-practised.
In addition, the German girls spent their evenings at the homes of their buddies and their families, where the parents and guardians were able to speak with the German girls and learn new information too. The German girls were able to experience typical dinners in Britain and how a typical school evening is spent, allowing the girls to reflect on their own school days and find interesting comparisons. The girls were supervised by teachers and supervisors from the German school who did regular checks to make sure everything was ok and there were no issues, in addition at Bromley High School the girls were well taken care of by the teachers and other students within the school, with everyone respecting each other and helping each other out. The girls attended assemblies in the morning and after went to normal classes with the other girls where they were well taken care of and involved in class discussions by making sure they were aware of what was happening.
In addition to the German girls having been able to come to England their buddies will also go to Germany where the process will be repeated again however this time in reverse with the British girls staying and experiencing life in Germany. Exchanges are great opportunities for students to discover, learn and appreciate other cultures while also making new friends, making it an unforgettable experience.
By Pawinder Manak, Bromley High School GDST
