Year 12 German Student Explores Language and History at KCL
Ayaan (Lower Sixth) took part in King’s College London’s annual German Writing Competition where he wrote a text imagining he was one of the first passengers on the Wuppertal Schwebebahn, the world’s oldest suspended railway. Ayaan was then invited to attend a workshop and prize-giving event hosted by the university’s Faculty of Arts and Humanities. The day offered an opportunity to explore languages beyond the classroom, and below, Ayaan shares how the experience strengthened his confidence in spoken German and gave him a valuable taste of undergraduate-level study.
Ayaan’s Reflection
After entering the German Writing competition at King’s College London, I was invited by the Faculty of Arts and Humanities to take part in a workshop and prize-giving event led by the Department of Languages, Literatures and Cultures!
After being warmly greeted by Dr Catherine Smale, a presentation on the significance of medieval language was delivered by Dr Alice Hazard, which I found particularly interesting as I am studying Chaucer’s “The Merchant’s Tale” as part of English A-Level. We were then divided into three groups according to our language of interest. As part of the German cohort, I participated in a workshop focusing on the Wuppertal Schwebebahn, the world’s first suspension railway built in Germany, and the focus of the competition. Our group engaged in numerous collaborative activities, including discussing the significance of its scientific relevance, speaking about the future in relation to technology, and creating a dramatic representation of the first passengers.
Through this event, I gained confidence in my German-speaking capabilities, learned more sophisticated phrases, and, overall, obtained a different perspective of the medieval language. It was a valuable experience at an undergraduate level.
