YEAR 13 FRENCH TRIP

Year 13

FRENCH TRIP

• To appreciate the consequences of war from different perspectives.
• To understand the importance of actively working together with their European counterparts to safeguard peace in Europe.
• To improve listening and speaking skills in French.

Eight A Level French students from Prince Henry’s were invited to join a group of 20 young people representing the city of Leeds at a four-day event organised by the War Veterans Association in France to commemorate the 60th anniversary of VE Day. As well as visiting important war memorial sites, the programme included a conference on the future of Europe, bringing together 80 teenagers from England, France, Belgium and Germany. The students were accompanied by Mr Fakhfakh, International Co-ordinator (European Links).

During the trip, one of our students, Amy Au, addressed a crowd of several hundred at a special ceremony attended by war veterans. Speaking on behalf of the British group, Amy, who also studied A Level History, spoke about why it is so important for young Europeans today to remember the lessons learned from the past. This was a very prestigious event, and our students felt very privileged to be involved.

Brendan Coyne was one of the eight participants from Prince Henry’s:

“The guided tour of Breendonk Concentration camp and the films of Jewish prisoners quarrying the bunkers at La Coupole certainly left an immensely strong and (rightly) distressing impression on all of us, far stronger than any history lesson could. Equally, hearing the testimony of a former Belgian pilot gave us a clear image of what it was like to fight in the Second World War. However, whilst the importance of remembering the war was stressed to us, so was the importance of reconciling ourselves with Europe's history. This was made clear in speeches from figures such as the Belgian Minister of Defence which stressed the need for a peaceful Europe based on mutual trust and compromise.

Personally, what struck me as being the most encouraging sign of a peaceful and reconciled Europe was not all the flag raising, saluting and songs, nor the speeches, official meals and receptions. Rather, it was the fact that several dozen students from four different European countries could talk, work and go to bars with each other, feeling not only completely at ease, but also that this was the natural and obvious way that things in Europe should be.”