Published by Albert International School | May 2026
There is something that happens when a student steps off a plane in a new country for the first time. The language they have been practising in classrooms suddenly surrounds them from every direction — on signposts, in conversations, in the friendly exchange with a stranger asking for directions. It stops being a subject. It becomes life.
That is exactly what happened when a group of Albert International School students travelled to London recently. And rather than tell you about it ourselves, we thought the people best placed to describe the experience are the students themselves.
“People weren’t judging us”
For Shemsy Tabit, a student at Pierre Corneille, one of the most powerful moments of the trip was simply being himself in an unfamiliar city.
“I really liked the fact that people were not judging us in London — because of our accent, because we were from a foreign country.”
This is something that so many language learners quietly fear: the vulnerability of speaking in a tongue that is not your own, in a place where everyone else seems at home. Pierre found the opposite. London’s openness became a space where he could engage, connect, and enjoy — from navigating the tube to a memorable dinner at a Chinese restaurant where the group received their programme certificates.
The trip also brought students closer to each other. Shemsy reflected warmly on the surprise birthday party they organised for a classmate, evenings spent hanging out with teachers, and the freedom of the final days spent exploring shops and the city on their own terms.
“All the activities were fun — the plane, the hotel, the train, the tube. We also had a lot of fun in the amusement park. It was the best day ever.”
“It felt like being a student at a university”
For Ghali Zouaki, the trip was about more than sightseeing. It was a moment of personal growth.
“I became more mature — like I was living on my own. It felt like being a student at a university.”
Ghali described the experience as “full of fun, a mix of emotions” — one that allowed him to form new friendships, practise English with native speakers, and genuinely engage with the rhythms of British daily life. The amusement park left a lasting mark too.
“The amusement park was a thrilling experience. I would say it’s a once in a lifetime experience.”
He ended his reflection with gratitude — to the travel agency, the school, and everyone who made the journey possible. That generosity of spirit says something not only about Ghali, but about the kind of community Albert International School works hard to build.
“Every artefact tells a story”
If Shamsy and Ghali spoke to the heart of the trip, Samia Cherkaoui — a second-year middle school student at Alexander Fleming — captured its intellectual soul.
Samia wrote a remarkable account of the three museums the group visited, taking readers on a journey through time and human creativity. At the British Museum, she encountered artefacts spanning ten thousand years of history, including the Rosetta Stone — the key that unlocked the mystery of hieroglyphs and opened a window onto ancient civilisation.
“Each artifact and object tells a story, connecting the pieces of our past to show us the path of civilisation and human progress.”
At the Victoria & Albert Museum, it was the sheer breadth of human creativity that moved her — sculpture, fashion, photography, decorative arts, and a tranquil garden centred around a fountain.
“From delicate porcelain vases to masterpieces, every artifact inspires visitors to think about human creativity.”
The Science Museum completed the picture, tracing humanity’s journey from steam engines to modern robotics. Samia and her classmates stood before one of the world’s first computers and World War-era inventions, piecing together how the modern world came to be.
“All the discoveries we made in the museums are just a small part of a long history. These places show us forgotten cultures and ancient artefacts. When we look at them, we realise how people lived a long time ago.”
More Than a Trip
What comes through in every one of these accounts is something that cannot be taught from a textbook: the confidence that grows when you navigate a new city, the friendships that deepen when you share extraordinary experiences, and the curiosity that is sparked when history, art, and science become tangible rather than theoretical.
This is what Albert International School’s London programme is designed to do — not simply to move students from one landmark to the next, but to give them the kind of experiences that stay with them long after they return home.
If you would like to learn more about our London trips and other educational programmes, get in touch with our team — we would love to help your students write their own story.
Quotes contributed by Shemsy Tabit, Ghali Zouaki, and Samia Cherkaoui. Museum review written by Samia Cherkaoui, second-year middle school student at Alexander Flemming.
Albert International School — Educate. Explore. Empower.
