German Ambassador on Bristol University visit

The German Ambassador to the United Kingdom visited the modern languages department at the University of Bristol, where he paid tribute to the standard of its teaching.

Georg Boomgaarden was given a tour of the department on Woodland Road by Mark Allinson, head of the department and a specialist in the modern political history of Germany and Austria.

Mr Boomgaarden visited the new multi media centre and met students who are training to teach German in Bristol schools.

This kind of teacher teaching is rare for undergraduates, as teacher training in the UK is normally restricted to post-graduates.

Students that Mr Boomgaarden met help teach pupils in Redland Green, Clifton High and Bristol Cathedral Choir School, and younger pupils at St Michael's on the Mount Primary.

The Ambassador also met German students who have come to study in Bristol under the Erasmus programme, which sees students from European Union counties studying abroad for one academic year.

The Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany to the Court of St James's (to give him his official title) was very complimentary about Bristol and its university.

While in Bristol, the ambassador also gave a talk as guest of honour at the annual dinner of the Bristol Anglo-German Society and met civic leaders in the Council House.