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EFL Bristol Trip

In May, just before half term, nine EFL students from years 6 and 7 and two teachers went on a cultural Bristol trip. The aim was for the students to learn a little more about the city they are living in. In the previous week we had looked at the life of Isambard Kingdom Brunel and in particular the building of the Clifton Suspension Bridge.

Armed with this knowledge, and having prepared a short questionnaire, the students went into the centre of Bristol and up to the Downs to interview members of the public. As soon as they had completed their first interview, and conquered their initial apprehension, all of the children really enjoyed discovering different things about their interviewees.

We also made our way to the Bristol Museum where the students looked at old paintings of the suspension bridge prior to its completion before seeking out the freaky animals in the museum’s taxidermy section. We then all caught a bus to be back at Clifton College in time for tea.

The following morning we made our way to Clifton Suspension Bridge and enjoyed an informative, amusing tour from one of the bridge’s guides – the children chipping in every now and then with their own nuggets of wisdom.

The children produced some fine work and an excellent display about Brunel and the trip in time for Commemoration Day. Overall the trip was a great success, both linguistically and in learning about the surrounding culture, and we will be looking to repeat it next year.

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