Our trip to Ireland
Ireland, the land of sheep, shamrocks, and step dancing. The master of rainy days. I know what you’re thinking right now – I used to think so too. But let me introduce you to another side of the Emerald Isle: Ireland, the master of sunny days, astonishing landscapes, and some of the warmest people you’ll ever meet.
From 29 March to 5 April 2025, my classmates and I got the opportunity to visit Dublin. We spent seven days in the capital city of this amazing country. For nearly all of us, it was also the first time staying with total strangers, who became our second family for just a week. Almost all of us had very nice host families. They cooked and cared for us and, most importantly, they made us feel welcome in their homes. It was a great way to speak and improve our English-speaking skills, and to actually get to know the Irish culture directly from local people.
We started off strong at the Baileys Farm in County Wicklow by cuddling cows and learning everything about ways to make dairy production more sustainable. It is a very important topic, especially for our generation. Also, we learned many new words that will help us in our careers.
From Monday to Friday, the international language school “Babel” taught us everything about Irish superstitions and language differences with the help of fun and simple games, which really gave us another perspective on the Irish people, their history, and the English language. Ain’t this grand?
We definitely made huge progress on my English skills by talking to strangers on the streets. Waiters, bus drivers, teachers, and all those friendly and accommodating people really made a difference for me.
The highlight was, for sure, the cliffs of Howth, just a 30-minute train ride from Dublin. The stunning beaches and landscapes were so breathtaking that we stayed there for several hours to soak in the sun and enjoy the seaside.
I think this language trip had a tremendous impact on many of us. We have learned a lot, laughed a lot and have grown even closer as a class. I can only recommend taking such an opportunity as a student when you get it!
I would hop on this airplane to the Emerald Isle again in a heartbeat.
Katharina Kropfitsch
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