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

BA Flag Awards

As part of the European Week of Languages the MFL department hosted an assembly to award year 10 students with their BA Flag Award badges to celebrate the success of all their hard work last academic year. As a result of the BA Flag Award running successfully in schools British Airways has won special recognition in the form of the European Language Label award. They have sent an email thanking all testers, including those here at the Weald of Kent.

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.

European Week of Languages Videoconference

On the 28th September 2010 we (a year 8 French class) conducted a videoconference with our partner school in France: Lycée André Maurois in Elbeuf, near Paris. We focused on the topic of careers - the chosen topic for European Week of Languages. This was not the first videoconference we have done jointly with our French partner school, and so this time the official language was English. The French side asked us questions about our future career choices and whether that would need languages or not. Our answers formed a listening exericise that they completed the other side.

Here are some of the pupil reviews...

Lara: On the 28th of September 2010 we had a video conference to France. We prepared answers to the questions they asked us. We answer these three questions in English we took it in turns to answer. I enjoyed getting the chance to see how alike our two schools are. All in all it was a great opportunity.

Holly: …I feel a bit more confident about speaking out loud to other people now. …It was cool to see what schools are like in different countries. … I gained a lot out of the video conference and I would love to do it again some other time!

Anna: … I found out what it was like to talk to somebody French, and it was interesting to hear how they spoke English. It was the first time I had seen a video conference with France.

Frederica: It was good practice to speak to them in English and speak loudly and clearly because this skill will probably be used in your job when you are older.

Emilia: The video conference was a lot of fun and a great experience to see how they learn languages in other countries like France. I would most definitely like to do another conference with the school in Elbeuf again as it was a very amusing and unique experience.

Freya: I found the video conference really interesting because we got to hear real French people speak to us and hear their accents! It was also a really good opportunity because we could answer questions and the class felt involved in the link between the schools. I really enjoyed it because I have never spoken or heard a French student before and also I found it was a really fun activity in class and a good way to learn.

Eleanor: …it was very interesting to hear how the French speak our language. I have learnt to speak clearly when speaking to people and I have also learnt that it is important to have your answers prepared … Also, that you should not speak into your book and that you should speak directly into the camera.

Olivia: The video conference was a great opportunity for us to practise public speaking…

Sophie: … I have now learnt how to speak clearly and slowly so people can understand you and also how to keep eye contact with that person through the web cam.

Grace: I would definitely like to do this again because it was really fun and is a good way of learning French pronunciation.

Ella: I think the video conference, was a very fun and educational experience. It gave us the opportunity to practice speaking to real French people, and it taught us how to speak at a steady pace and confidently.

Zara: I really liked taking part in the video conference as I enjoyed listening and speaking to French people... I also liked the fact you can have a link with a school so far away.

Molly: Even though it was in English it gave us a chance to see what other schools in different countries are like and their similarities and differences. Over all it was a great opportunity and I really enjoyed it… I would love to do it again.

Abigail 2: I think that the video conference was a brilliant experience; it gave us a chance to speak to some French people inside school as well as getting to use some new technology.

Katya: I think the video conference was educational and…it is better if you look directly at the camera and watching it back I can see this is the mistake that most people made.

Jessica: I enjoyed the video conference a lot because it was a good experience talking to different students from another country.

European Day of Languages 26th September 2009

This week our year 9 French students are celebrating the European Day of Languages by entering a French poetry competition! See some of the results below:

Poetry Competition 2009-10

See more presentations by wok20mfl Upload your own PowerPoint presentations

You can read more about the European Day of Languages at the Council of Europe's website.