Alicante opens new doors to learning Spanish 

Elena Cepaityte 9.4 reports on a recent Claremont High School trip to Spain 

From the 9th to the 15th of June 2024, thirty Year 9 students visited Alicante and Valencia, broadening their language skills in Spanish and delving into the rich culture.  

The students stayed at a comfortable youth hostel and attended a local languages school where they only spoke in Spanish, which greatly improved their speaking skills.  

They went to the school for three hours a day with fifteen-minute breaks in between lessons. There they learnt to talk to strangers and ask them questions, such as directions. In addition, they learnt about history, geography, food tech and art.  

The students also had some freedom to explore Alicante themselves. Dev Pindoria commented, ‘In our free time, we went shopping to lots of different shops and were able to buy food and drink’.  

They also visited several museums, including the Museo de Hogueras, a bonfire museum, and the Museo del Chocolate Valor. They had a workshop to make their own food - the traditional tortilla and paella dishes, which they got to enjoy afterwards. This made it one of the most popular activities on the trip.  

A highlight for many was a mini-rave in the reception area. Vidya Naker recounts: ‘The funniest part of the trip was the karaoke night. Some of the girls started singing and that turned into a dancing competition. It was really nice.’  

Although the trip was amazing, everyone missed their beds and families in England... But they still wished they could have enjoyed the Spanish weather a little longer! All the students had lots of fun, from jokes to hair and make-up and getting to know their classmates better.  

The Year 9s represented the school wonderfully. ‘The pupils' behaviour was exemplary,’ Ms Abrahams commented proudly, ‘and they managed to charm everyone they met, including the hostel owner, their Spanish teachers, the activity leader and even the waiters at the restaurant we ate in. All the students improved their Spanish and were ready to speak it with anyone who would listen! Thank you to the teachers who accompanied the trip and to the pupils who made it so much fun.’  

For all who went, this was a marvellous and immersive experience. Sabina Jiurje commented afterwards: ‘I loved the trip so much, it was such a nice bonding experience with friends. I would want to do it again 100%!’