Reflection by Samaira Sirohia- Workshop”MItdenken mit Marx” at Goethe Institute.

Samaira Sirohia (8D), one of the enthusiastic participants of the Mitdenken event, beautifully penned down her reflections after the session. She had attended the event on the 12th Aug.
Moreover a creative summary of the event has been put together by her, offering a glimpse into how deeply the children were engaged on that day.

Mitdenken mit Marx – Samaira Sirohia 8D

Karl Marx (1818-1883) was a German philosopher, historian, sociologist, and journalist born in Trier, Germany. He wrote Capital, which inspired our day’s activities. We began with introductions and the concept of fairness, which Marx valued. Fairness means making judgments without discrimination or bias. We were grouped with students from other schools, which was out of our comfort zone but ensured that we bonded with other students.

Our first activity was matching German words with pictures — das Proletariat (working class), die Gerechtigkeit (justice), die Gleichheit (equality), die Ungleichheit (inequality), die Bourgeoisie (owners), and die Arbeit (work). We had discussions on each of the words with examples.

Next was the class system game. Chits were picked and they determined whether we were workers, supervisors, or owners. Workers or Proletariat made bookmarks in 20 minutes. Supervisors checked quality and ensured deadlines were met. The Bourgeosies who were the heads of it all and overlooked the entire process. We were made to sign contracts agreeing to fulfil our duties as mentioned and producing high quality work efficiently. Owners sold them for ₹100 each. Workers got ₹20, supervisors ₹100, and owners kept the rest.  It did not matter who did how much work, who produced more goods as everyone was given the same amount. We could buy badges, caps, notebooks, stickers. Owners bought the most goods. This showed unfairness, luck, and the need for unions and strikes.

The paper-shredding activity taught die Entfremdung (alienation). Some had scissors, others rulers, which was also the unjust we had to face .We cut strips in silence as instructed.  We didn’t know the purpose, leaving us alienated. The work felt monotonous, isolating, and disconnected from results.

We wrote dream jobs and discussed their role in capitalist society. Then we rated professions and found hand-based jobs like cleaners or waiters got fewer stars. Every profession has its own importance, its own value in society and in every field. Just because they don’t make use of mind and instead hand, we treat them without respect and pay them less?

We answered reflection questions on how to create a fairer society and reduce inequality. Worksheets after each activity helped us think deeply. During breaks, we had hot chocolate, muffins, noodles, and played memory games and scrabble with other schools.

Thank you to MHS and Goethe Institut for giving me this opportunity! I look forward to more such events!

Summary – Mitdenken

Mitdenken mit Marx : Where Curiosity Meets Conversation

On 12th and 13th August, following two dynamic sessions by Goethe Institute at the 48th International Kolkata Book Fair—a year in which Germany was the theme country—some German students of Class VIII (12th Aug) and Class VI (13th Aug) participated in Mitdenken mit Marx (“Think Along”), a day-long and thought-provoking gathering once again at Max Müller Bhavan.

This interactive event invited young learners to step into the world of Karl Marx and reflect on a compelling question: What would Marx say today?

Through a rich mix of discussions, role-plays, and creative expression, participants engaged with the fundamentals of Marxist thought in an open, lively space. The focus was on curiosity rather than certainty, with no right or wrong answers—only respectful dialogue, reflection, and the courage to question.

Ultimately, Mitdenken emerged as a space for free thought, constructive challenge, and collaborative exploration, where critical perspectives were encouraged and nurtured.

Exploring Poetry with Elfchen – A Creative Journey in German

In our recent DeutschInd Club session, students had the delightful opportunity to explore Elfchen—a charming and imaginative form of five-line poetry in German. Guided by our resource person, Aditya Mohan Ray from Modern High School International, the young learners were introduced to the unique structure of the Elfchen, which consists of just eleven words arranged across five lines.

The session was both engaging and inspiring, as students dove into the world of creative writing while sharpening their German language skills. It was a beautiful blend of language learning and artistic expression, allowing students to think deeply, play with words, and express themselves in new and poetic ways.

The result? A collection of wonderfully imaginative and heartfelt Elfchen poems that showcased the budding poetic flair and linguistic creativity of our participants. This experience not only enriched their vocabulary but also sparked a genuine love for the art of poetry.

 

Digivoice Youth Congress June 2025

Media-Smart and Future-Ready: MHSG Students at Digivoice 2025, Pune.

Two students from MHSG were selected to represent the school at the Digivoice Youth Congress, held from June 23rd to 27th, 2025, at the Goethe-Institut, Pune. The congress, tailored for young individuals aged 14–17, focused on empowering youth through media literacy.

Participants engaged in a vibrant and enriching program that included interactive workshops, thought-provoking discussions, collaborative group activities, and spirited competitions. The event emphasized the importance of critical thinking, digital citizenship, and responsible media consumption in today’s rapidly evolving digital landscape.

Beyond skill development, the congress also fostered intercultural exchange and collaboration, offering a unique platform for students from diverse backgrounds to connect, learn, and grow together. The experience not only broadened participants’ perspectives but also encouraged them to become more informed, reflective, and responsible members of the digital world.

 

Wortastic! Deutsche Wörter on Stage

We are proud to announce that two students from MHSG have emerged victorious in the “Wortastic! Deutsche Wörter on Stage” competition. Their creative video entries were featured on PASCHorizonte, the student blog of the PASCH initiative in South Asia.

This exciting competition was open to PASCH students from Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. Participants were challenged to choose a funny or unusual German word and bring it to life through a short video using drawings, mime, gestures, or a sketch to illustrate its meaning.

Congratulations to our talented students for their outstanding creativity and achievement!

Class 7 Visits Goethe-Institut for “Monthly Movie Magic”

On 17th April 2025, a group of enthusiastic German language students from Class 7 took part in the “Monthly Movie Magic” event at the Goethe-Institut. This engaging initiative aimed to immerse students in the German language and culture through the captivating medium of cinema.

As part of the program, students watched a German film. To enhance their learning experience, a variety of interactive activities were incorporated before the screening, during the interval, and after the film. These activities were thoughtfully designed to support language acquisition, inspire cultural exploration, and encourage meaningful engagement with the film’s themes.

The event was both educational and enjoyable, offering students a memorable opportunity to connect with the German language and culture in a dynamic and interactive setting.

Deutsch DialogTreff

In yet another session of the “DeutschDialogTreff,” which aimed to provide a unique opportunity for German language students to enhance their language speaking skills in an informal setting, some students from Class 9.

“DeutschDialogTreff” is designed to offer students a platform to practice speaking German outside the traditional classroom environment. They got a chance to meet and engage with their peers, thereby improving their speaking abilities and social skills. The session covered a range of interesting topics tailored to different age groups and interests.

Fit 1 Prize Distribution at Goethe Institut

On 11th December 2024, 5 MHSG students of Classes 8 and 9 received special prizes from Frau Astrid Wege, the Director of  Goethe Institut/ Max Mueller Bhavan, Kolkata for their excellent performance in the Fit1  Examinations. The names of the students are Dhriti Banerjee, Vanisha Jain, Udita Mallik, Aarshi Roy Bishnu and Kashvi Chaturvedi

Fit in Deutsch is a German exam for young people between the ages of 10 and 16. It certifies that candidates have acquired basic language skills and corresponds to the first level (A1)  on the six-level scale of competence laid down in the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR).

Buntes Miteinander – Vielfalt erleben (Shillong Camp)

Six German Learners of Class 8 were selected for the youth camp “Buntes Miteinander – Vielfalt erleben”. The project was a collaboration between Goethe-Institut Kolkata and Delhi. The camp was held at Ri Shat Sngi Orchid Resort in Shillong from 25th to 28th November 2024. The students took part in various German workshops and other exciting group activities. They also visited the Sacred Forests and the EFL University. There they had an interactive session with the students.

 

Jugend gestalten Zukunft Lonavala Camp

From 16th to 21st November 2024, German learners of both Modern High School for Girls and Modern High School International took part in a youth camp, “Jugend gestalten Zukunft,” in Lonavla, Maharashtra. The Jugend gestalten Zukunft initiative aimed to promote the German language and culture but also focused on the sustainable development of children and young people. Participants created a play town centered on the theme of “Schools of the Future.”  Through this engaging, hands-on experience, they reflected on their educational journey and envisioned ways to build sustainable schools.

The “Spielstadt” (play town) approach offered participants a chance to explore the educational systems of India and Germany while reimagining what schooling could look like in the future. Through learning by doing, students took on roles such as school authorities, teachers, parents, students, youth welfare officers, ministers, and even a mayor.

In the program’s kick-off workshops, participants learned about sustainability goals and how to integrate these into their designs. Throughout the activity, teams identified areas for improvement and presented their ideas in a School Parliament. The outcome included a mini exhibition of their concepts and a three-minute video in German, where they highlighted measures for building a sustainable school.