Cross-curricular Physics and French visit to Geneva

Nineteen A-level Physics and French students enjoyed an interesting and inspiring four-day visit to Geneva, including a host of activities from visiting an antimatter factory, crossing the border to visit a chateau to taking a guided tour of the United Nations. The Physics department has run a trip to Geneva for the last two years but invited the French department to join them to give more students the opportunity to benefit from the amazing opportunity.  Mrs Harrison, Physics Teacher, said: “It was the most jam-packed trip we have ever run to Geneva. Mrs Norman has been hugely instrumental in adding to the itinerary and has made it so memorable for all of us” Nineteen A-level Physics and French students enjoyed an interesting and inspiring four-day visit to Geneva, including a host of activities from visiting an antimatter factory, crossing the border to visit a chateau to taking a guided tour of the United Nations. The Physics department has run a trip to Geneva for the last two years but invited the French department to join them to give more students the opportunity to benefit from the amazing opportunity.  Mrs Harrison, Physics Teacher, said: “It was the most jam-packed trip we have ever run to Geneva. Mrs Norman has been hugely instrumental in adding to the itinerary and has made it so memorable for all of us” The first day started at the Parc Mon Repos where the students took in the views across Lake Geneva. On the way they discovered a small sandy beach for a quick paddle. Ice-cream was obviously the next stop and the first real opportunity to use their French – thank goodness for the A-level French students being able to translate the huge variety of flavours. Day two was a 6.30 start for the visit to CERN – a center for scientific excellence. The students spent the morning finding out about the collaborative nature of CERN and its discoveries, including the Higgs Boson. They visited the data centre and the Antimatter Factory to learn about the new G-bar experiment they will be conducting in the future. On the third day the Physics and French students went their separate ways for the morning. Physics returned to CERN to take part in the S-cool labs where we became particle hunters and built cloud chambers. The French students travelled into France and visited Voltaire’s chateau, the place where this French philosopher wrote his last essays on tolerance and freedom of speech. We then all met up again after lunch to visit the United Nations. We experienced “human rights” being defended at the United Nations and attended a world delegates’ conference. The evening was a friendly game of bowling where it was discovered Mrs Norman had been hiding a secret talent! On the final day, the French students were up early to sample the Swiss gastronomy during a guided visit of a covered market before joining back with the rest of the group to explore the old town and the beautiful views at the top of the cathedral. Lucy Turner said: “Going to Geneva with my A-level French class has to be one of the best experiences I’ve had in my college and school years. A highlight of mine has to be our visit to the United Nations and witnessing all of the amazing work they do there.”  The trip was a huge success, the students were fabulous, as always, and they have some fantastic memories to take away. It was a truly inspiring trip and a wonderful way to link across the curriculum. Next year’s group have a lot to live up to! Eleanor Bramley concluded: “I found the trip to Geneva extremely enjoyable while also very helpful for my French. I felt that my confidence in speaking French improved a lot as well as my listening and translation skills.”