After having sat their exam in May, the Higher French class of 2012-13 benefited from the ability to keep up their speaking and language skills, through travelling to Geneva in Switzerland the following term. Although none of the pupils carried the subject on to Advanced Higher level, they were all keen to not lose the attribute of knowing a foreign language.
On arriving in Geneva at 11 am, the group of eight , plus two teachers, took the bus to their hotel where they thanked the receptionist (en Français) for the complimentary Toblerone they each received. After having settled into their rooms they set off to the city centre to get their bearings, have some lunch and shop. The bus journey to and from the hotel took approximately ten minutes and wound through the mostly traditional Swiss streets of Geneva.
During the second day the group visited the United Nations building and received a guided tour of the main section. They benefited from watching over meetings and discussions concerning global matters that were open to the public. The pupils found this trip perceptive and were particularly interested in the thought provoking artwork situated throughout the building. Following this, a solar powered train ride down by Lake Geneva gave everyone an insight into the history and architecture of the city. However, despite being provided with many blankets, the wind was freezing cold, and the group made their way to the Christmas markets in the centre of town to warm up afterwards. That night they ate at an Italian restaurant, Pasta Prima, selected by the teachers, which was a great success – so much so that the group returned on their final night.
On Saturday the teachers and pupils benefited from a tour of the original Red Cross building. All involved said they believed the experience to be both eye opening and moving, and that the museum was well thought out: being interactive and informative. A traditional Swiss themed restaurant had been booked for dinner that night and a teacher and the boys managed to raise a few from their seats on giving the traditional Swiss music and yodelling a try. The group enjoyed the famous taste of fondue and had a laugh whilst trying to put their entrepreneurial and language skills into use by selling their Young Enterprise products to the customers and staff.
Despite it being the last full day in Geneva, the group made the most of the Sunday -laughing at those ,who were unfortunate enough to lack a blanket, on the freezing cold bus tour of the city they went on in the morning. Following lunch, the pupils and teachers enjoyed a boat trip along Lake Geneva as they watched a striking sunset over the city. That night, everyone dressed up to head out for dinner at the restaurant they had most favoured throughout the trip – Pasta Prima.
Although it was clear Geneva and the laughs it had provided would be missed by all on Monday, the group still enjoyed their time together on the journey home. Throughout the whole experience there was never a dull moment and all eight pupils and the two teachers got on extremely well. Despite having not been in a class together for several months, the group gelled and had a laugh together more so than ever and were thoroughly grateful for the trip, as well as the opportunity to maintain their skill of speaking French .
