STUDY TRIPS
My favourite part of the trip was the independence we were given to discover the city . During our lunchbreaks and between activities , we walked around in small groups , ordering food in German and navigating cobbled streets .
This trip was important for us to witness the context and vast , complex history of the language we are learning in school . It is more than sequences of words we struggle to pronounce , but the basis of centuries of stories and events . This experience was an extremely memorable four days ; thank you so much to Mr and Mrs Dyer and Mrs Day on behalf of all of us !
Polly Ward , Year 11
GERMAN STUDY TRIP TO BERLIN
Due to the pandemic , my first opportunity for a school trip came only in my third year at Sevenoaks – so you can imagine how we were all looking forward to it ! With two years of German under my belt , this was the perfect opportunity to gain some local practice . Not only did we have numerous opportunities for this , but it was also an opportunity to uncover German history – not from a page , but with our own eyes .
Stepping out of the airport to walk to the hostel ( or Jugendherberge ), I was fascinated by the colourful poster-laden stone walls promoting German cultural and musical festivals . Our first activity the next morning was a walking tour around the Jewish Quarter , led by a Jewish-German guide , visiting Jewish institutes and historical sights . We saw sites of past protests marked by various artistic statement projects , and plaques for activists who played major roles in Berlin ’ s history . As I walked , I was struck by the depth of Jewish impact running through Berlin ’ s streets – an example being the ‘ Stepping Stones ’, engraved metal squares embedded in the cobblestones . These gave forgotten names , silenced by the Nazis , a permanent place in the city for everyone to see . Buildings that had been burnt in Kristallnacht and bombed in the war were rebuilt by the significance they held for the people of Berlin . We saw many repurposed and refurbished buildings , such as factory buildings of Hackescher Markt revitalised into beautiful , modern flats . In addition , we walked up the Reichstag , a parliamentary building marked ‘ Dem Deutschen Volke ’ ( to the German people ), for a stunning view over the city .
IB HISTORY STUDY TRIP TO BERLIN
I was privileged to attend the Lower Sixth History trip to Berlin at Easter : simultaneously an extremely informative and enjoyable experience , with a jam-packed four-day schedule . Upon arrival , we were immediately immersed in the history of our surroundings with a walking tour of Berlin focusing on the 1848 Revolutions . This not only helped me to acclimatise myself to the city , but it acted as a great revision session of what we had studied in class , boosting my understanding .
Throughout the trip , there were many impactful and insightful moments : one of the most memorable for me was visiting the Holocaust Memorial on the second day ; this was harrowing and
102 TRIPS , CLUBS AND ACTIVITIES