HS in London (?)

April 22nd – May 2nd, Humanities Spring goes to

London & the beautiful Lake District and Edinburgh

Program Description

Humanities Spring in London is a full-immersion travel study program in which students get a direct, firsthand experience of London, Grasmere & the beautiful Lake District, and Edinburgh. Intense, site-specific learning: we’ll read Virginia Woolf in the London she wrote about so illuminatingly, and Wordsworth in the Grasmere which inspired him, David Hume in Edinburgh who wrote there when the city was referred to as the Athens of the North, and look at Turner and Damien Hirst, Bridget Riley, and Constable, 20th century architecture, Georgian city-planning, — all in an attempt to understand as much as we can of the English and Scottish contribution to contemporary intellectual and artistic life! Both in the classroom — when we are reading texts or writing mini-compositions about what students have seen that day — and out — relaxing in a royal garden, on a HS tour of a museum, sitting on the steps of St. Paul’s Cathedral, strolling along the lake so dear to Wordsworth or through one of London’s charming outdoor markets, conversation is at the heart of the Humanities Spring experience.

Classes, Excursions, and Home-Base

From April 22^nd to April 26^th: London

We’ll spend from April 22nd to April 26th studying and experiencing the city of London and its wonderful sights and, in particular, its modern and contemporary art and architecture, together.

Short classes in the mornings will help us connect more directly with what we see both on our walking tours and in museums.

Morning classes in the classroom (9:30 – 11:30) will be based on conversation, on readings about what we are going to see that day, and on mini-compositions in which students record their impressions of what they’ve seen in London.
Informal classes in English conversation continue all day until 7:00 (dinner and relax time!) Everyplace we visit, whether it is St. James’ Park or the British Museum, each student will be asked to say a sentence or two in English about their impressions (don’t worry, staff will help you!).

Excursions will include: London’s squares, bridges, Tower, but also the Thames River with the experimental Milennium bridge and, of course, London’s wonderful neighbourhoods, The Houses of Parliament, Camden Town, Portobello Road, St Paul’s Cathedral etc…We’ll take a walk through London’s famous Gardens and parks: especially St James (which Virginia Woolf loved and wrote about) but also Hyde Park and Regent’s Park. Last but not least, we’ll visit many museums: The Tate British, Tate Modern, National Gallery, British Museum (several Museum tours and a wonderful Talk and Draw Session at the National Gallery) and, if we have time, the Courtauld Gallery.

London home-base: Palmer’s Lodge Hostel, an elegant, renovated Victorian home

April 26th- April 29^th : The Beautiful Lake District (Cumbria) and Grasmere

On April 26, we board the train for Grasmere (about a five- hour ride). We’ll be walking and relaxing in the beautiful Lake District, home to William Wordsworth, the father of modern English poetry. Wordsworth (1770-1850), believed that poetry should be democratic, for everyone. He wrote in a new simple, non-poetic, conversational language — which you will all be able to understand !!! — and which we think will be enriching and inspiring to students of all levels!

Morning classes: Starting April 27^th, we’ll have conversations (about our train trip, our wonderful Grasmere breakfast, etc.) we’ll read and discuss Wordsworth’s poems together, and write mini-compositions.

Excursions: We’ll walk along the lakes and through the fields which inspired them. We’ll buy gingerbread in the local gingerbread shop, visit the cafes and shops of this little charming town, spend time in the church Wordsworth attended, visit his two homes and the gardens still there today which he landscaped himself, a living expression of his sensibility and aesthetic. On April 29^th we will get on the train for Edinburgh (about 2 hours away).

Grasmere home-base: The Butharlyp Howe YHA 5 star hostel, charming and peaceful, in the midst of the Lake district countryside

April 29th – May 2nd Edinburgh

On April 29th we will get on the train for Edinburgh (about 2 hours away). We will have 2 days of morning classes (where students have conversations, read texts about what we’re going to visit that day, and write mini-compositions about their impressions of Edinburgh) and spend the rest of the day getting to know this graceful and elegant city firsthand – its gardens, squares, museums, Castle, Royal Mile and monuments. Now that we are at the end of the trip, students will make presentations to the rest of the group in English, about their favorite spots and works of art. We will get to know both the fairy-tale Gothic old city, and the rational new town, with its innovative grid which became an inspiration for New York City.

HS alumni who work and study in the city will take us to their favorite pubs, bakeries, gardens, and bookshops and help us to feel at home, HS residences are right in the center of the old city, just a few minutes from the Royal Mile.

Edinburgh home-base: The Old Schoolhouse Hostel Apartments, comfortable and roomy, a short walk to the Royal Mile

A Day at HS London …

8.30 HS breakfast all together –croissant, coffee, juice, cereals, fruit, etc

9:00 — 11:00 HS Classes — conversation, readings , mini-composition and memorization

12:00 National Gallery HS guided tour

1.30 Picnic lunch in St James’ Park

3:00- 5:00 HS walking tour : Houses of Parliament, Westminster Abbey, Big Ben and London Eye.
Return to the hostel for a rest (free time)

7:00 Ferry to the Tate Modern and evening visit of the museum

8:30 Dinner all together at the “The Anchor Pub”, on the banks of the Thames and near the Tate

10:30: back at the hostel .. time to sleep .

DATES AND COSTS

Humanities Spring goes to London & the beautiful Lake District & Edinburgh!

The Whole trip April 22nd- May 2nd, London-Grasmere-Edinburgh (students may also choose just to come to London, see below under Just London)

DATES: April 22nd- May 2nd

COSTS: 1,400 euros (see below for our early enrollment reduction)

Price includes:

round-trip flight
hostel in London, Grasmere, and Edinburgh
British rail transportation from London to Grasmere and from Grasmere to Edinburgh
London group subway pass
transfer from London airport to hotel and from Grasmere train station to hostel
all museum fees and activities we attend together
all HS intensive conversation classes
all HS guided tours
breakfast

HS EER (early enrollment reduction) All students who enroll by February 15th are eligible for our 150 euro reduction.

Students may also choose just to come to the London portion of the trip.

Dates and Costs for Just London:

Just London, April 22^nd to April 26^th600 euros includes:

round-trip flight
hostel in London (4 nights/5 days)
London group subway pass
transfer from London airport to hotel
all museum fees and activities we attend together in London
all HS intensive conversation classes and guided tours
breakfast

HS EER (early enrollment reduction) for students who enroll by February 15th: 50 euros