During this year’s Activity Week, a group of our Year 9, 10 and 12 linguists enjoyed a four-day adventure in the vibrant city of Barcelona.
Our journey began bright and early on Tuesday morning as we boarded our flight to Barcelona. As soon as we landed, we were greeted by glorious sunshine and blue skies that would accompany us throughout our stay. We headed straight to the fascinating Museum of Illusions, where students explored some of Barcelona’s landmarks in a fun and interactive way. It was the perfect introduction to the city, providing plenty of laughte
r and photo opportunities. After dinner, students put their language skills into practice by ordering ice creams in Spanish before strolling along the pedestrian avenue of Portal de l’Àngel. It did not take us long to embrace the warm evenings and discover that Barcelona truly comes alive after sunset.
r and photo opportunities. After dinner, students put their language skills into practice by ordering ice creams in Spanish before strolling along the pedestrian avenue of Portal de l’Àngel. It did not take us long to embrace the warm evenings and discover that Barcelona truly comes alive after sunset.Wednesday offered a wonderful blend of language and culture. The day began with Spanish lessons to build confidence in their speaking and listening skills. Our pupils showed bravery as they stepped outside their comfort zones and communicated in a totally new learning environment. Afterwards, we took part in a paella workshop and discovered the secrets behind cooking one of the most iconic Spanish dishes. In the afternoon, we delved into the work of Antoni Gaudí. A visit to the stunning Casa Batlló revealed his imagination and creativity. In fact, one student compared Gaudí’s work to AI, and she was absolutely right- Gaudí was far ahead of his time, combining colour, shapes and textures to create distinctive buildings. The day ended at the magic fountain in Montjuïc, where music, light and water gave us the opportunity to let our imagination fly with the city skyline as our backdrop.
On Thursday, we began our day with a visit to La Sagrada Família, Gaudí’s most extraordinary masterpiece. Whist we stood beneath its majestic columns and stained-glass windows, we were mesmerised by the colours and shapes of this remarkable church. Later, we gathered near Mercat de Santa Caterina to revise key vocabulary and expressions before putting our learning into practice at the market itself. Students enjoyed ordering their lunch in Spanish and quickly realised that they could communicate far more confidently than they had expected. As a reward for their efforts, we treated ourselves to a well-deserved ice cream before an afternoon walking tour through the atmospheric streets of the Gothic Quarter and El Born. Along the way, some students sampled the traditional Catalan pastry coca de llardons. In the evening, we enjoyed some delicious tapas before attending a captivating flamenco performance.
On Friday, we spent our final morning strolling down Las Ramblas and learning about this famous boulevard. Did you know it once served as a sewage channel outside Barcelona’s medieval walls? We enjoyed our final lunch at Mercat de la Boqueria and sampled local specialities whilst soaking up the lively atmosphere. We then spent our last hour browsing the shops…because no trip would be complete without a spot of shopping!
The Barcelona trip was a real success. The pupils embraced every opportunity to engage with a new culture through its language, people and landmarks. In the MFL Department, we often describe linguistic and cultural trips as our ‘bread and butter’ because they enable students to understand the true purpose of language learning. Whether ordering food at a market, chatting in shops or navigating the city in a foreign language, these real-life experiences build confidence and demonstrate that languages are far more than a classroom subject.