On a crisp, cold December evening, an enthusiastic group of Year 11, 12 and 13 linguists visited St Dunstan’s College in Catford and were treated to a 'Careers in Languages' evening. The event was billed as a chance to attend an inspiring evening to unlock a world of opportunities with languages. Students explored the diverse and rewarding career paths that language skills can open up. They discovered many incredible opportunities listening to speakers from top organisations such as GCHQ, Military Intelligence, the Foreign Office, and the UN. They also heard first hand from a panel of current language undergraduates, who shared their experiences of studying languages at university. Additionally, they had the opportunity to take part in a fascinating taster session of Japanese, hosted by Kings Language Centre. Many BGS students came away inspired about future career possibilities of which they had not been aware prior to the evening.

Mrs Watkins, MFL Department

The trip to St Dunstan's was amazing! At the beginning of the event, we listened to a presentation by a group of people who are currently studying languages at university and using them in their jobs. It was very interesting as we also found out about different job ideas, such as working with GCHQ, MI5 and MI6. I had such a good time looking at the different stalls, where we were also given freebies too! The school was so grand and it was overall an amazing experience!

Gracie Gosling, Year 12

I really enjoyed the language trip to St Dunstan's - we enjoyed a variety of talks from a range of people using languages daily in their work and I found it fascinating to see the variety of ways that languages can be used in work. Translators aren't the only jobs, there are many others, such as GCHQ Language Analysts, Hotel Managers and many others. It gave an amazing insight into the pathway languages can give you in the future and I feel privileged to have been given the opportunity to take part.

Rafael De Souza-Plans, Year 11

Tuesday brought an exciting opportunity for Bexley Grammar School MFL department, in collaboration with St Dunstan's College, who provided an amazing event on the subject of careers in languages. The night was a fantastic, information-filled evening where I got to hear from many linguists, such as a representative from the United Nations, members of the British Army - Intelligence Corps, GCHQ, university students and graduates, business owners, teachers and more. I think the most interesting moment for me was the question panel at the end!

As someone who is hard of hearing, and fascinated by sign language around the world, I thought it would be interesting to hear if any of the professional linguists had any interaction with foreign sign languages. The silence after I had asked this question was powerful, as all the best linguists that could be brought to the career evening expressed their bewilderment and interest in sign language, but none had learnt any sign in the over 300 sign languages in existence, that provide over 70 million people with communication in the world. This question also led to some fascinating personal conversations, including with some of the panellists about my experiences with language and communication. I hope this spreads awareness to all present in the evening, and those reading this, about the prevalence of sign language around the world.

Louis Luckman, Year 11

I recently had the opportunity of a lifetime to go to Japan with the MFL department. There were 15 students and 2 adults (thank you to Ms Zotova and Mr Adams for their help!). We were all on an exchange program with a Japanese school called Keio, a prestigious high school connected to one of the best universities in Japan (ranked third according to unirank 2024).

I believe that the exchange program is what makes the trip, especially at Bexley Grammar, so great! I first met my exchange partner, Issei, in late February this year when he came to England and stayed with us for a week as well as going to Cambridge as a school for a couple of days) and he got to experience British food, school and traffic (which was quite a shock I think).

We had contacted each other before that, so we knew each other, but it was incredible to form such a close friendship with someone on the other side of the world. When I went to Japan, Issei and his family picked me up from the airport, and after a group photo, took me to their house. His mum had prepared an amazing meal for lunch, with two different types of noodles, steak, fruit and tea, and we started getting to know each other. It was a great opportunity to practice my conversational Japanese, and I surprised myself with how much of the conversation I was able to keep up with.

Throughout the four days I had with them (a weekend and two school days), I learnt more about the Japanese language, culture and general life, which was invaluable to my studies and to my personal knowledge of the country. There was even an election at the time, so I got to watch some of the coverage in Japanese! The family were so enthusiastic about me being there and all of my worries were gone within a matter of minutes after meeting them. Even their dog welcomed me with lots of cuddles.

As well as with the family, I was immersed in Japanese culture in school, where I experienced lessons from Art to Spanish, and activities from broadcasting a message to the entire school​, to Japanese extracurricular activities like Karuta (a card game based on memorising parts of Japanese poems). One of the things that was most interesting to me was classroom etiquette, which included it being considered rude to drink without permission, but completely fine to fall asleep in class, as it represents the hard work of the students making them tired.

As the final part of the trip, we went to Kyoto, Shinjuku, Shibuya and Harajuku, to explore even more of Japan, with its unique combination of vibrant and modern cities and traditional culture spanning centuries and centuries. We travelled by the world-famous Shinkansen (bullet train), catching views of Mt. Fuji and the countryside, and then dived into culture in a beautiful castle previously associated with the Shogun, and its surrounding natural beauty, all of which was breathtaking. To see these amazing sites was something I have dreamed of for years, so it was fantastic! And what would a trip to Japan be without karaoke (or maybe two... or three)?

I would like to thank everyone that had a role in organising the trip, especially Mr Adams, and my host family, and the other people on the trip who I have made memories of a lifetime with! Everyone worked together to make this an experience that is impossible to forget! I can't wait to stay in contact with my host family and hopefully meet them again soon!

Louis Luckman, Year 11

Our dedicated team members not only organised the event, but also got involved at home to prepare all of the homemade desserts and popular traditional dishes from our cultures. We want to thank everyone for their support - every purchase has a huge impact! It was amazing to see how well-received our efforts were, and the enthusiasm with which people were willing to try something new.

“The bake sale was genuinely excellent for discovering different traditions, because I’d never even heard of half of the things they were selling, but it was surprisingly good.”
Lou Annarumma

“I liked that there were lots of cakes that I wouldn’t normally have tried, but the honey cake I did have was very nice. There was a good selection of things to choose from.”
Mr Whittaker

“The B.E.E.S. events are definitely ones that inspire ACS. Their exponential growth having just started this year is commendable, and every society should take a note out of the BEES book”  
Ify, ACS Co-President

“Being able to share traditional desserts from my Bulgarian culture was an amazing opportunity, and I’m so glad everyone enjoyed all the delicious food all the B.E.E.S. members supplied!”
Deya Dimitrova

As well as this, I’d like to say a huge thank you to everyone involved for providing an amazing representation of our diverse cultures and backgrounds, allowing us to offer a taste of the rich history and significance behind our recipes, particularly from Poland, Bulgaria and Romania.

We are currently working with Rubikus, a charity committed to providing aid to Ukraine in response to the ongoing humanitarian crisis caused by the war. Their motivated team of volunteers directly helps to evacuate and situate refugees most affected by the conflict into newer, safer homes. The money we have raised has gone towards covering transportation costs and lodgings needed for an evacuation, offering a lifeline to someone who is suffering. Rubikus’ purpose and dedication is inspiring for us all, and we are honoured to be able to assist them in their mission. If you would like to read more about their cause, find their website here https://helpua.rubikus.de/en/#survey, and they are welcoming any donations through paypal - https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=RX494MS6H29Q2

Every donation helps towards making a massive difference in the course of someone’s life.

For any questions about future events or getting involved, please feel free to email us at bees.bgs@gmail.com!

Victoria Karasimova, President and Founder (B.E.E.S.)

It marks the end of the Monsoon Season in Cambodia AND it celebrates the change in direction of the Tonlé Sap River. (It is the only river in the world that flows up and downstream seasonally and is viewed as a miracle). 

To celebrate, there are: boat races with boats decorated to represent the Hindu and Buddhist gods of the Moon and River, lanterns honoring the full moon adorn the riverbanks, fireworks, traditional costumes and special food such as Ambok, a rice dish served with roasted banana and coconut.

Caitlin Gorman, Year 10

Here are some of the lanterns made by students
on display in the MFL department.

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)

The MFL2 Fest opened its doors to the entire school during break time, allowing everyone to partake in the festivities. Later, during Period 3, the event was exclusively enjoyed by the Y10 MFL2 students, providing them with a more immersive experience exclusively for dual linguists.

One of the highlights of the festival was the array of ten food stalls, each offering a taste of the food and cultures linked to the languages studied at BGS: Spanish, Italian, French, German, Russian, Japanese and Chinese. The Y10 MFL prefects prepared an assortment of international delicacies, from crispy churros and mini pizzas to refreshing bubble tea and sweet tanghulu. This culinary journey around the world was a hit, bringing together flavours that delighted the palate and celebrated global diversity.

In addition to the gastronomic delights, the MFL2 Fest featured a variety of cultural activities. The cultural section was a hub of creativity and learning, with face painting, calligraphy stands, origami making, and a book stall, as well as a raffle and sticker stand.

The dedication of the Y10 language prefects, combined with the enthusiastic participation of the school community, made the festival a memorable and enriching experience for all.

Ms Giglione, MFL Department

Click on the link here to view the MFL2 Fest Photo Gallery.

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.

Braiden (Italian)
Harvey (Italian)
Hana (Spanish)
sabelle (Spanish)
Ritad (Spanish)
Millie (German)
Aashraya (Japanese)
Darina (Russian)
Lev (Chinese)

The judging panel, composed of three Sixth Form students, assessed each speech based on three criteria: message, intonation, and delivery. After all nine speeches were presented, the panel reconvened to nominate the winner, 2nd place, and 3rd place. This was a particularly challenging decision due to the high quality of all the speeches.

Our heartfelt congratulations to:

• Hana for winning 1st place
• Darina for securing 2nd place
• Harvey for achieving 3rd place

We extend our gratitude to all nine participants and their friends for attending the finale with such a positive attitude, and to our judges - Sifat, James, and Jasreen - for their time and professionalism.

Ms Giglione, MFL Department

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