Celebrating European Day of Languages: A Week of Multilingual Fun and Learning
This year, our school celebrated the European Day of Languages with a range of engaging activities that highlighted the diversity of languages and cultures within our community. It was a fantastic opportunity for students to broaden their horizons, explore new languages, and celebrate their own heritage, all while engaging in cross-curricular learning.
One of the highlights of the week was the special lunchtime club, where students not only learned basic Russian greetings and phrases from one of our outstanding Grade 9 students but also took part in a lively quiz hosted by our Spanish Language Assistant. On the other hand, our French Language Assistant led an interactive geography-MFL themed game, making the lunchtime club a hub of multilingual learning and fun. Students even got the chance to express themselves in their own languages by writing words and phrases on our “Language Wall.” One standout contribution was an impressive sentence written in Hindi by a Year 9 student, which captivated everyone’s attention.
Across various subjects, students participated in activities designed to connect language learning with their wider curriculum. In Science, there was a fun treasure hunt where students had to find and identify scientific apparatus labeled in different languages. In English, Year 11 students watched a scene from Macbeth performed in French, deepening their appreciation for literature across languages. Meanwhile, in Maths, students completed arithmetic sums using numbers written in various languages, sparking curiosity about linguistic diversity and its impact on numeracy.
The whole school assembly, led by the Head of MFL, Mrs. Siddiqui, focused on Article 30 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, which emphasises the right of children to learn and use the language and customs of their family. During the special lunchtime club, students shared their own experiences of speaking multiple languages at home and in school, fostering a deeper appreciation for the cultural richness that languages bring to our lives.
To celebrate the many heritages represented within our school, students also brought in cultural artefacts, which were displayed in a special exhibit. Items included a rickshaw model, traditional shalwar kameez, a kurta, an evil eye bracelet, a Sikh kara, kirpan, kanga (part of the five Ks of Sikhism), and an Islamic prayer cap. Each artefact was accompanied by a caption detailing its cultural significance, creating an educational experience that allowed students to learn more about their peers’ backgrounds.
The celebration concluded with a charity cake sale in support of the Alzheimer’s Society, reminding students and staff alike of the health benefits that come from learning languages. Research shows that multilingualism can help delay the onset of dementia and improve memory, making language learning a valuable skill for life. The entire school community contributed to this cause, and the event was a resounding success.
