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SUBJECT STRETCHERS
Arabic for Beginners
Beginners Arabic offers an introduction to speaking,
reading and writing modern standard Arabic, loosely
following the course ‘Mastering Arabic’ by Jane
Wightwick and Mahmoud Gaafar. Our aim over the course
of two years is to gain enough confidence to tackle most
simple written Arabic with the aid of a dictionary and the
ability to speak with confidence about our family, school,
travel essentials (ordering food in restaurants) etc.
Archaeology & Classics Club
This club offers the opportunity to learn about life in the
Ancient World in many different civilisations, including the
Egyptians, Persians, Vikings, and of course the Greeks
and Romans. The club also learns how archaeologists
piece together information about past societies – and
most excitingly there is the opportunity to excavate.
Activities include watching films and documentaries,
making models and posters, learning to use
archaeological techniques, and how to dig.
Classics Society
We offer a range of events throughout the year enabling
boys to pursue their interest in the Ancient World beyond
the confines of the various syllabuses. Speakers are
invited from universities and other schools on a variety of
historical and literary topics, but there are also trips to
plays, various museums and classical sites in Britain, as
well as further afield. Those not studying classical
subjects are welcome to attend.
Geography GIS Club
An exciting opportunity to explore geography through
digital mapping software called GIS (Geographical
Information Systems).
Navigate the globe, create your own datasets and maps,
and explore the world through this virtual software.
Joint Literary Society
Do you want to broaden your mind, read more widely,
become more interesting, cultured, imaginative, and
generally well-versed in intellectual discussion? The Joint
Literary Society is a chance to read and discuss literature
from around, above, beyond, below, and indeed nowhere
near the syllabus. Here you can encounter writing and
ideas from the most classic to the most contemporary of
writers and become a literary critic and connoisseur in the
company of Abingdon’s and St Helen’s finest minds.
Rumour has it that the eating of cake may also be a
central feature of this society.
If you are interested in reading, literature, culture,
discussion and cake, or indeed you are considering
applying to read English at university, then please do
come along.
Joint Modern Languages Society
The Modern Languages department runs a series of
events throughout the year in conjunction with St Helen’s.
The Society is co-organised by a committee of sixth form
linguists at both schools. The Society is not only for boys
studying modern languages (French, German, Spanish,
Chinese, Italian, Russian...) but any sixth formers
interested in languages, language learning and other
cultures. Events include social evenings, dinners, film
showings, visits to the theatre/cinema and talk by visiting
speakers. Details published on an ad hoc basis.
Linguistics Club
This is a club run by students for students and focuses
on linguistic code breaking. Students will unravel a wide
range of rules for the formation of sounds, words and
sentences in a wide range of languages; this often leads
to surprising insights and always broadens cultural and
linguistic horizons.
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