MFL Teachers Use Languages too!

Mrs Stockwell has done us proud in the MFL office today. The last time she had a conversation in Italian was 20 years ago. Yet today, when in desperate need of an Italian linguist, Mrs Stockwell came to the aid of Mrs Murayama and pulled an Italian conversation out of the bag in order to book hotel rooms in a hotel in Italy. She successfully booked the rooms and we are very proud!

The MFL team!

Why Learn Languages - The Apprentice

Here it is! Another reason why you need to learn languages - you might not fail tasks on The Apprentice. Languages help you get a foot in the door in business!

European Week of Languages Sept 2011

Continuing on theme of European Week of Languages, here is the assembly presentation led by the Head of Faculty and the 6th formers which celebrated the importance of learning languages:

why learn languages

More PowerPoint presentations from MFL Dept

European Week of Languages

Today the MFL department led an assembly on why it is important to learn languages. As part of that assembly some of the students gave testimony as to why they enjoy learning languages and the Weald of Kent, describing also some of the benefits of the trips they have been on. Here is one student's account:

I first chose to go to France on the basis of how much my sister enjoyed it and the fact that I wanted to study A level French, despite not being very confident in speaking it. However, taking part in the French Work Experience has been very beneficial for my language speaking and understanding skills. I would recommend this experience to anyone who is passionate about languages, as it really builds your confidence in being able to speak a foreign language. The trip can also increase independence as you are constantly given the freedom to spend your own free time however you would like, instead of having a programme of activities like lower down in the school. I took my guitar with me and sang with the primary and nursery school children, teaching them songs such as Heads Shoulders Knees and Toes, which proved very popular. This was an incredible experience and taught me that there are so many ways to get over language barriers that don’t involve speaking the language, although studying French for 5 years did come in handy!

Just like everyone else on the exchange, I made a long-term friendship with my exchange partner Priscilia, as well as all of the other French partners that were involved in the visit. From going over in June, she has already come back to England once and I am returning to Elbeuf in October with a few others to see them again. This was a truly incredible experience and I would recommend it to anyone.

Bradley Cooper speaks French!!!

Oh my gosh - in the languages department we are very excited: Bradley Cooper of "Limitless" and "The Hangover" (1 & 2) fame, SPEAKS FLUENT FRENCH!! Click here for the link to the video recording.

Reasons to learn languages

Last year, only 16% of those completing their GCSEs obtained the "English Baccalaureate", a new initiative of Education Secretary Michael Gove. The baccalaureate consists of five GCSEs: English, mathematics, a science, a humanity and a foreign language. Gove proposes that this be considered the benchmark of success, an idea which is not unreasonable considering that equivalent qualifications are already an expectation in most other developed countries.

The foreign language is the component which most often hinders a pupil in obtaining this qualification. Last year was the first year in which French was no longer one of the top ten GCSEs in terms of number of entries, a figure which has been falling ever since it became optional to study a language after the age of fourteen. Such little emphasis on the study of other languages, especially in comparison to our European counterparts where it is usually compulsory until the age of eighteen, is shocking, considering that:

• From 2012 entry onwards, it will be neccesary for all those applying to University College London to offer a language at GCSE level.


• Only medicine graduates enjoy a better rate of employment and higher level of salary than those who graduate in modern languages.


• Depite the common belief that "everyone speaks English", the figure is actually only 25%. It is also polite to attempt to speak to others in their own tongue when abroad, instead of arrogantly assuming a knowledge of English.


• Knowledge of another language improve's ones understanding of their own.


• However good a translation is, there is no substitute for Moliere, Brecht, Flaubert or Kafka in the original language.

These are just a few reasons why language learning is important, but widespread media concern over the decline in students choosing to study them does suggest that an overhaul in teaching methods and perhaps the curriculum is needed.

Qu'est-ce que vous pensez?

(source: timesonline)

Why Learn Languages - (USA)

We are way behind in adding this to the blog (this video is from July 2008!), however related to current times nonetheless. Barack Obama illustrates the need for the American population to learn more languages. Interesting debates ensued in the American news highlighting language being very close to identity.

Languages in Exciting Future Career Choice

Below is a write up by Abigail, one of our year 13 English Literature students, who is applying to do a Linguistics degree for her future career choices. This highlights cross curricular links between English and Modern Foreign Languages and the place that they both hold in an exciting career choice. Enjoy!

I have always had a fascination with language and have been interested in how it works and is pieced together. Studying English Language at A Level has made me want to pursue with this into further education. However I have been looking at courses in linguistics. This will mean I am analysing language and looking at how it works, it is the science of language. There is an opportunity to choose some Modern Foreign Languages as modules as this helps when analysing texts in such intricate detail.
In some of the courses I have chosen at university there is a chance to study Forensic Linguistics as a module. This is what I have a true passion for and wish to go into after I finish my degree.

Forensic Linguistics is analysing language for the police. When text messages, emails or letters are involved they can be analysed in order to discover more about the crime being investigated. Also using forensic phonetics, interviews with suspects can be analysed in great detail to help in the same way. This is a fairly new branch of police investigation and has enhanced the ways in which they can solve crime. I am currently carrying out an EPQ on the topic so that I can make sure that it is something that I really do want to do as a career but also so that universities can see that I have a real interest in language outside my core A Level study.

Importance of Languages NEWS FLASH

The recent media coverage of the Chilean miners rescue has highlighted the importance of languages in the global community. You only had to witness Tim Wilcox, prized journalist for the BBC, switching effortlessly into Spanish in order to interview the family of a miner and then translating the conversation back into English again for the viewers at home, to understand how much of an asset his knowledge of Spanish was to the BBC at this crucial time and indeed, for making him, usually the studio anchorman, the ideal man for the job abroad.

"And the other secret weapon the BBC had was its remarkable on-site anchor, Tim Wilcox. He is normally an anchor on the domestic BBC News channel but he was sent to Chile three weeks ago and he showed a remarkable change in persona anchoring on-site rather than from the studio. It was obvious how well he knew his story, that he knew and had spoken to all those involved – officials, family, and the like, his Spanish was impeccable in being able to interview family members and officials live and give instant translation – he was just so natural." (http://followthemedia.com/writeon/bbcchile14102010.htm)

His Twitter feed also shows the benefits of his language knowledge, as well as the power of Web 2.0 technologies:

Just spoke to the father of the first miner expected up, Florencio Avalos. Father Alfonso says he is excited but anxious.
1,286,908,596,000.00 via web

Interpreters were also important in the international communication process of the rescue attempt:

The voice of an interpreter on hand to translate the words of the miners and rescuers for the English-speaking audience watching at home, could sometimes be heard directing the miners to get out of the way of the camera set up to beam images across the planet.
http://www.nowtoronto.com/daily/story.cfm?content=177177

Interpreters were also used to communicate Presidential speeches abroad, and Chile's President, Sebastian Pinera, even showed up or own PM by speaking to him in fluent English.

All in all languages were at the heart of international affairs. So if you want to get ahead in the world - learn languages!

Why Learn Languages?

We often hear the "Why learn languages?" cry when people rely on English as being one of the current international languages. However, one must be careful in setting presumpions about the prowess of English in the world's eyes, especially when you are not on your own home turf (WARNING: this makes uncomfortable watching):



"Just imagine a German Reporter demanding that our own Mr Milliband, his counterpart, answers his questions in German!" José Picardo, Teacher, Nottingham High School