The Balkan And Eastern European Society (B.E.E.S) is proud to announce our entrance into the BGS community!

We aim to raise awareness about our traditions, sharing our culture with the school community. It has been amazing to see how many students have interacted with our Balkan and Eastern European cultures, and learnt more about our countries! We are a team of dedicated Ambassadors, Creative Directors, including a Social Media Director, Finance Manager, President and Vice President, from a wide range of countries, such as Bulgaria, Romania, Poland, Russia, Moldova, Serbia, Croatia, etc. 

I’d just like to say a big thank you to Victoria Karasimova for organising and forming the society and Ms Zotova for being our teacher representative!

As well as this, we aim to fundraise for many Balkan and Eastern European charities with our events. This includes our Bake Sale on the 25th of November. It will be a special opportunity to try our homemade Balkan and Eastern European desserts. We can’t wait to share this part of our culture with you. Make sure to look out for the posters and posts on our Social Media pages! @bees.bgs 

On the 14th October, we hosted a traditional dance session and learnt Bulgarian and Albanian dances. It was so great to see many people taking part in this and stepping out of their comfort zones. It was such a fun experience and a successful first B.E.E.S event! See the pictures below of this event. 

We hope to see you at the B.E.E.S Bake Sale, where all our proceeds are going to charity! For any further questions or ideas, please don’t hesitate to reach out at @bees.bgs on Instagram or email bees.bgs@gmail.com! 

Deya Dimitrova, Social Media Manager (B.E.E.S)

Our recent school trip to the stunning island of Sardinia was an incredible adventure, packed with unforgettable experiences that left a lasting impression on all of us.

We stayed with an Italian family in Ms Contini’s home town of Isili, which was perhaps the most memorable part of our trip. Their warm hospitality and delicious home-made meals made us feel right at home.

We began in Cagliari, Sardinia's vibrant capital, where we soaked up the lively atmosphere of the city and learnt about its history. Before we met our families, we went to one of the three breathtaking beaches we were due to visit, called Poetto, and although the water was cold, the memorable experience with friends made all other worries disappear.

On the second day, we stayed in Isili and visited the museum of textiles and copper, which offered us a fascinating glimpse into Isili’s rich traditions and craft skills, deepening our appreciation for the island's cultural heritage. We didn't just stick to the land; a canoeing excursion gave us a chance to see the San Sebastián Church from a different perspective and learn about the many legends that took place there. Paddling through the waters was both thrilling and tranquil.

A particularly heart-warming visit was to Centro Cetacei marine animal rescue centre in Nora. Seeing the dedication of the volunteers and the recovery of the animals touched us deeply. Eating a home-made lunch by Nora beach enlightened us, and we enjoyed the hot weather and clear waters.

History came alive as we explored the ancient Nora archaeological site, a window into the city’s past.

The adventure continued as we ventured deep into the Zuddas Cave, where we marvelled at the formations of stalactites and stalagmites and the deep history behind the cave.

 

The last beach, Porto Pino, was by far the best in my opinion: the waters were clear, the sand pristine and the weather hot. That day was also the day of Sant’ Antonio, who is a Saint celebrated in Isili. Therefore, we spent the night dancing with the families and with each other.

On the last day, the natural beauty of Sardinia was on full display during our visit to Giara National Park, where we were surrounded by lush landscapes, stunning vistas and the largest population of wild horses in Europe.

As we bid farewell to Sardinia, our hearts were heavy as we were leaving; however, we were thankful for the incredible experiences and the warm hospitality we encountered. Sardinia has left a mark on our hearts, and we carry the spirit of the island with us as we return home, forever enriched by the memories we've made.

Krishal Patel, Year 10

Staying with my host family in Sardinia was an amazing experience. They were very welcoming and friendly. One cultural difference I noticed was how they enjoy long, leisurely meals together, which made me feel very much at home.

One of my favourite visits was to the city of Cagliari. The historical buildings and beautiful views of the sea were breathtaking. It was fascinating to learn about the city's rich history.

I loved all the Italian meals we had, but my favourite was the home-made lasagne my host family made. The flavours were incredible, and it was so fresh and delicious!

Our time in the hall with all the families was fantastic. It was fun to see everyone together, sharing stories and enjoying each other's company. It made the trip even more special.

Overall, my trip to Sardinia was unforgettable, filled with wonderful people, delicious food, and beautiful places.

Anagha Pai, Year 10

After having been to Sardinia, I can easily say that it has a special place in my heart. The locals were caring and kind and the food was tantalising as well. We will never have pasta like that in England. The weather was pleasant, and our host families were courteous.

During our holiday, we explored many parts of the wonderful island of Sardinia and learnt all about its history and culture, ranging from the Nuraghi, the city walls in Cagliari and archaeological ruins and buildings. Furthermore, we went to three unique, golden beaches. Although the waters were transparent, they were very salty and didn’t taste very nice.

One of the highlights of my holiday was meeting my host family. Although it was daunting at first, she welcomed me with open arms, improved my Italian and taught me all about her culture. I didn’t know that it was normal to eat rabbits in Italy. She was like a second mother to me and I will never forget her. Another highlight of my trip was being able to venture around the island by ourselves. I feel that buying food at shops has not only improved my Italian vocabulary, but has made me more confident in what I say in Italian.

Overall, this trip has been an amazing experience and I would recommend anybody who is thinking about travelling to Sardinia to go.

Braiden Dolan, Year 10

Click on the link here to view the Sardinia Photo Gallery.

On Wednesday, the MFL department at BGS hosted a language debate with the prompt, ‘AI is a dangerous new tool in education’. The debate was hugely successful with 4 schools attending, and 19 teams competing in 6 different languages; German, French, Italian, Spanish, Japanese and Chinese. Over the past few weeks, we have had a number of sessions rehearsing our arguments, both for and against, practising debating techniques and preparing to go head-to-head with Beths, Dartford and Trinity.

We met with the other schools and began our debates by flipping a coin, determining who was ‘for’ and who was ‘against’. The atmosphere was very supportive, with audience members of friends and teachers, yet tense as the debates sometimes got incredibly heated.

Speaking for all those at BGS who participated, the experience was incredibly helpful to real world experiences, talking about current issues with native speakers and others who are in the same boat as us, learning languages. I found my Spanish improved immensely, just through the few weeks I spent preparing it, and it has given me a new drive to improve to a new level of its native speakers.

The event ran smoothly, and everyone was so supportive of each other, with students from different schools and languages talking and getting to know each other. I am super proud of our school for hosting the event and hope for years to come students participate in language events like this, not only to help with confidence for learners but also to deepen connections with other schools and other speakers.

Ella Curl, Year 12

On May 29th, a group of German learning students headed out to Hamburg to spend just under a week practising our German with our exchange partners and exploring the beautiful city of Hamburg.

Our first day started off with a relaxing boat ride along the river Elbe, from where we could see many landmarks of Hamburg and its wonderfully green banks. We then resided on a sandy bank where we ate lunch. Afterwards, we wandered to St. Michael’s church, a staple of Hamburg, where we climbed up a copious number of stairs in order to see a wonderful view of Hamburg from above. We were then able to spend the afternoon with our exchange partners going around Hamburg.

The second day started with school, in which we were able to see the learning environments of our exchange partners and how they differed from our school environment. We were first greeted by their Headteacher, followed by 3 double periods of lessons, including any from English (where they are studying Romeo and Juliet), PE, Drama, Chemistry and/or Art. Afterwards, we had lunch with our partners and then promptly gathered outside Schoko Versum, a chocolate factory, where we received a tour on how chocolate was made, starting in the rainforest, ending up seeing the different machines used in the process and trying how chocolate tasted at each stage.

Our third day was spent in Lübeck, an old city slightly north of Hamburg. We went on a tour of the city including Museum Holstentor, the gate that was the main entrance to the city, built in 1464 and is still standing (though leans slightly due to the lack of foundation under the connecting wall between the two towers), the narrow streets built when the population of Lübeck was very high and housing was needed, but there was a lack of space, seeing a bus that drove on both land and in the water, and other buildings like St. Peter's church, all built with red bricks as Lübeck does not have natural stone to build with. We then got a few hours to go round in our own groups and see more of Lübeck, like the marzipan museum and shop, as Marzipan originated from Lübeck and became very popular for its use as table decoration due to its ability to be coloured and moulded into different shapes.

On Sunday we had the whole day to go round Hamburg with our exchange partners to see more sights. For example, going to Elbphilharmonie, a concert hall in Hamburg, and also another great opportunity to see Hamburg from above, Planten un Blomen, which is a beautiful flower park and a wonderful water show, or viewing parts of the Ironman, a massive triathlon event which happened to land on the same Sunday we were in Hamburg.

We are all so grateful to Dr Symons for being able to rearrange this trip for us after last year’s mishap with the flight being cancelled and this only being established once we had arrived at the airport. It was a wonderful experience from which many of us plan to revisit our exchange partners in Hamburg. In addition, many thanks to Frau Knebler for hosting us and helping organise the trip. And finally, thank you to Mr Adams for accompanying us.

Charlie Furlong, Year 10

In May, the MFL Department ran their very first MFL trip to Oxford University with a selection of our Year 10 and Year 12 linguists. The focus of the trip was to give our most enthusiastic linguists a glimpse of the opportunities that studying languages at university could open, especially when combined with another subject in joint degrees. On the day, students had the chance to attend some very informative sessions led by Nicola Brown, School Liaison Officer at the Faculty of Medieval and Modern Languages, and Sarah Large, Outreach Program Coordinator at Mansfield College. After a taster lecture in literature, our group met two BGS alumni, Lucas and Harry, for a private tour of Hertford College.

Our students were not only inspired by the academic sessions but also by the personal stories and experiences shared by the student ambassadors and our BGS alumni. The opportunity to explore the beautiful and historic campus of Oxford University was an unforgettable experience that has sparked a newfound motivation and curiosity in our linguists. Witnessing their excitement and engagement throughout the day was incredibly rewarding.

Ms Giglione and Dr Symons
MFL Department

On the 17th May, I, along with 24 other Year 10 language leaders and Year 12s, visited Mansfield College (Oxford University). When we arrived at the college, after a brief walk through the beautiful grounds, we were offered biscuits and refreshments, which we enjoyed outside under the shade of parasols in the warm sun. Afterwards, we attended a lecture where we learnt about the process of applying to university and the various opportunities and jobs that having a language degree offered, which included careers in law, advertising and education. Shortly after, there was a Q&A with three Oxford students, which I found immensely interesting and learnt that studying languages involves a lot of culture as well as literature, which made me more eager to continue to learn languages in the future.

After the lectures, we were taken around the college for a tour, where we saw the beautiful library as well as the impressive artwork of some Oxford students which were decorated around the corridors, some of which were celebrating the anniversary of when women were first admitted into the university. We then attended a seminar, where we analysed an 18th Century text, which gave us a fascinating insight into the literature segment of studying languages at university, which was shortly followed by a tour of Hertford College led by two BGS alumni; Harry and Lucas.

The trip was an excellent opportunity for me to understand the experience and enjoyment which comes with studying languages at university, as well as providing a general overview of the application process of university - I definitely recommend this to anyone who is given the opportunity to go on this trip!

Hana Ostrowski, Year 10

It was incredibly interesting to have an early look at how Modern Foreign Languages are studied at Oxford University and what daily life for students is like throughout its different colleges. A highlight for me was the academic taster session, where we were split into different groups and given a text translated from French. From there, we then had to find and use specific details from it in order to gather inferences about its origin, context and story. Listening to different interpretations from different groups shows us how diverse our individual understanding of linguistics can be.

Berad Musov, Year 10

The trip to Oxford University was an amazing experience. Visiting Mansfield College was extremely inspirational. We got to learn about the courses they offered, student life and even had a taster lesson. We then visited Hertford college. There we also saw the dorms, dining hall and its chapel. It was altogether a great experience. Thank you to Dr Symons and Miss Giglione for taking the time to put this trip together.

Caitlyn Osei-Tutu

Please click on the link here to view the MFL Trip to Oxford University. 

The school trip to the Baltic States was phenomenal. It was a great opportunity to experience the cultures of the Baltic States, and gain an insight into their fascinating history. It was also a great opportunity to practice my Russian - I purchased so many Russian books on the trip, my suitcase burst open at Gatwick Airport! We visited various museums in Tallinn and Riga, and went on guided tours of both cities, from which we learnt some fascinating stories about their past. One interesting story we heard from our guide in Riga was about a man who would not be allowed into a guild, which prompted him to purchase the building opposite the guild house, and place statues of cats on the roof out of spite, with their backsides facing the guild house. One of the highlights of the trip was a cooking class in Tallinn, in which we were taught to make Пельмени (Russian dumplings), which were served with borscht and black bread - all delectable Russian foods. Thrilling, enriching, and packed with unforgettable experiences, the entire trip was an absolute blast!

Malin Karasimov, 13 KSK

During the first part of the Easter holidays, we visited Riga in Latvia and Tallinn in Estonia. I really enjoyed it! We went to local museums and restaurants, and had guided tours of the two cities' old towns, which are truly beautiful. We had opportunities to explore the cities for ourselves, buy souvenirs, take hundreds of photos, and find out about local culture. For me, it was not just a welcome break from preparing for GCSEs, but one of the best weeks of my life :)

Here are some of my favourite memories (the full list would be way too long):

• The tour of Riga old town - we had a legendary tour guide.
• Swinging on the swings, a Latvian Easter tradition (apparently it stops mosquitoes from attacking you during summer!).
• Listening to street musicians on a pretty lit-up evening in Riga.
• Seeing the old Soviet radio equipment in the Viru hotel & KGB museum in Tallinn.
• Making traditional pelmeni and vareniki dumplings at the Troika restaurant (and eating them).
• Malin, doing maths from a textbook at 7 am in the hotel lobby.
• Countless friends group in-jokes.

Winter Smythe, 11AMM

At 5am on the first day of the Easter holidays, a group of sleepy Russian-speaking students from Year 9 up to Year 13 embarked on a six-day adventure in Latvia and Estonia. Between balmy, sunny Riga at 17°C and rainy, snowy, windy Tallinn at 0°C, we had it all - culture and history, VR games, a cooking workshop, a walk in the woods and a visit to an Estonian Russian-speaking school. For many students, it was the first residential secondary school trip, a chance to spend time with their friends in a new environment. Not just the students, the members of staff who went on the trip had an amazing time too!

Ms Zotova, MFL Department

Click here to view the Baltic States Trip 2024 Photo Gallery