Visit: Ysgol Gyfun Cwm Rhondda

A German Day for Welsh-medium pupils at Swansea

The German section at Swansea University recently hosted an exciting day for pupils from the Ysgol Gyfun Cwm Rhondda, accompanied by their German teacher, Harry Hayward. The day was filled with immersive experiences aimed at deepening the students' understanding and appreciation of German language and culture.

The pupils engaged in various activities throughout the day, including a taster session led by Susanne Arenhövel, providing them with a glimpse into the linguistic richness of the German language. Additionally, Christiane Günther guided the students taking German GCSE through a career portfolio session, highlighting an introduction to German businesses in the UK which ended in designing a German CV and a motivational statement for a work experience placement at sweet manufacturer Haribo.

The pupils also explored the intricate history of events leading to the Fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989, with Professor Julian Preece introducing them to German singer Udo Lindenberg and his song, Girl from East Berlin. This gave them a chance to understand important events and cultural changes from the past.

During lunch at the Taliesin Centre, pupils had the opportunity to interact with current German language students and members of the student-led German Society. The day concluded with a campus tour led by enthusiastic student ambassadors who shared their own university experiences, providing valuable insights into student life at Swansea.

Teacher Harry Hayward commented as follows:

'Thank you very much for hosting our Year 10 German and History pupils from Ysgol Gyfun Cwm Rhondda. Our pupils were immersed in the German language and enjoyed a mini masterclass on the culture of the GDR. We learned lots and really enjoyed the experience. Some pupils have even requested prospectuses!  Diolch/danke!'

~Christiane Günther (Senior Lecturer, German)