CIEE London Study Tour - Fall Block II
About the Destination
York, a historic walled city in North Yorkshire situated at the meeting point of two rivers the Ouse and Foss, is ideally located halfway between London and Edinburgh. The city has Roman roots and a Viking past. It used to be referred to as Jorvik when it was the capital of a Viking territory. A walk around the city walls is a great way to view some of the city’s prominent landmarks, the most significant being the York Minster. The York Minster is the centre of Christianity in the North of England and has retained this title since the 7th century.
During your time in York, you can visit ‘The Shambles’ which is a historic and picturesque street with overhanging timber-framed houses and traditional shopfronts. It has been officially listed as one of the UK’s most historic streets. York began as a significant wool-trading centre before emerging as a railway hub and confectionary manufacturing centre during the 19th century. York is still renowned as a town where many famous British sweets were created including the Terrys Orange, Rowntree’s fruit pastels and the world-famous KitKat. You can learn more about York’s role in the confectionery industry at the York Chocolate Story Museum. More recently, York has followed many surrounding towns and shifted their economy towards services.
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WALK TOUR OF YORK
In smaller groups, you will be able to walk around York with an expert guide to point out and explain the highlights of this historic city.
We will visit and be guided through the imposing York Minster. This beautiful cathedral has been at the centre of Christianity in the North of England since the 7th century and recently was the venue for Ellie Golding’s wedding ceremony.
YORK CASTLE MUSEUM
York Castle Museum was founded by Dr. John Kirk and houses his extraordinary collection of items on York’s social history, reflecting everyday life in the county. The York Castle Museum is housed in a former debtors’ prison and an adjoining former women’s prison, both of which are Grade I listed. The museum’s name comes from the fact it stands on the site of the former York Castle.
Clifford’s Tower is an imposing tower raised by William the Conqueror. It is almost all that remains of York Castle, and has served as a prison and a royal mint in its time. It provides stunning panoramic views over the city of York.
FREE TIME OR OPTIONAL VISIT TO THE YORK NATIONAL RAILWAY MUSEUM
The museum tells the story of rail transport in Britain and its impact on society. It is the home of the national collection of historically significant railway vehicles such as the Mallard, Stirling Single, Duchess of Hamilton and the only bullet train outside Japan. For train or engineering enthusiasts it is a must-see attraction in York. After the visit to the museum, you will be free for the evening. Please see the free time suggestions list for ideas of what to do. Dinner is at your own cost.
Depart by coach for Castle Howard, one of Britain’s finest historic houses in North Yorkshire. It is a private residence and has been the home of the Carlisle branch of the Howard family for more than 300 years. The house is set in a thousand acres of sweeping parkland dotted with statues, temples, lakes and fountains. Inside discover world-renowned collections gathered by succeeding generations of the Howard family.
Free Time Suggestions
York Art Gallery
Spot the L.S. Lowrys, Turner or Hockney and surround yourself with some of the best ceramic art in the world at York Art Gallery.
YORK'S CHOCOLATE STORY
Discover how York became the UK’s home of chocolate and uncover a host of surprising secrets and fascinating facts along the way.
The York Dungeon
Take a trip through to York’s darkest history with an unforgettable 75 minutes of edgy entertainment and 10 live shows at The York Dungeon.
Jorvik Viking Centre
A fully reconstructed Viking village complete with the sights and smells, and an adjoining museum.
WHAT ARE THE STUDY TOUR LEARNING OBJECTIVES?
The intercultural learning objectives of the study tour curriculum—delivered in two parts, pre- and post-tour—are to promote cultural self-awareness, cultural literacy, and the ability to bridge cultural gaps. Through activities and exercises, students are encouraged to consider issues of culture, identity, values, beliefs and assumptions. Ultimately, students develop competencies to experience new and unfamiliar experiences without relying on stereotypes and heuristics.
Each study tour should achieve learning objectives in each academic track whereby students can:
ARTICULATE some of their own values and beliefs, and explain how these values and beliefs, as well as their experiences, have shaped their own views surrounding politics and international relations in general.
RECOGNIZE diversity and difference within the local cultural context, and be able to compare and contrast this with the diversity that exists in other contexts with which they may be familiar.
IDENTIFY at least two ways in which practices surrounding media in the host environment are culturally-influenced and/or ways that media practices in the host environment impacts culture.
EVALUATE at least two ways in which social and cultural factors in the host environment have influenced values, beliefs, assumptions, or practices surrounding local healthcare.
DECONSTRUCT their own assumptions and values and analyze how these shape their views on international business. In addition to achieving learning objectives in the academic tracks a study tour presents opportunities to support students understanding the cultural beings of Self and Other. These include developing abilities to self-reflect and become more self-aware, increase their understanding of the salient values in their previous and current environment, and develop their capacity for the awareness of others in their previous and current cultural context.