By Mr Piesse, Head of Modern Languages

Keen linguists from Years 7-10 and Year 12 travelled to Sutton High School for this year’s GDST Languages Festival on February 28th. 

Following a welcome from Mrs Dawson, the Head at Sutton High, we heard from the keynote speaker, Ian Bauckham CBE, CEO of the Tenax Schools Trust on the importance of languages, how Spanish, German, French and Mandarin were the most sought after languages and about the significant demand for translators, particularly those who also have expertise in STEM subjects too. After this, we were split into Year groups, with the Year 7s taking on a Spelling Bee challenge, the Year 8s a Culture Quiz, Year 9s Group Sketches and Year 10 and 12 prepared for a debate using iPads on motions such as ‘whether team/individual sport are better’ or ‘whether we have become too reliant on modern technology.’ 

After a short break, we witnessed a collaboration extraordinaire across all the schools as the Year 7s took part in a singing workshop and learned how to perform ‘Let it Go’ from the movie Frozen in French, German and Spanish! The Year 8s participated in a fascinating workshop on how to invent a language, led by David Adger, Professor of Linguistics at Queen Mary University of London.

After a delicious lunch, all schools and age groups gathered together in Lees Hall to hear Year 7 sing ‘Let It Go’ in four different languages, hear feedback from their ‘create your own language workshop’ and watch the winning Year 9 sketches. Finally, we listened to the presentation of prizes, which included the following mentions for NHEHS girls:

Julia gained a special commendation  for her heroic effort (doing a double round of spellings) in the Year 7 Spelling Bee.

Ishita was runner up in the ‘sum up the event’ competition, saying she was inspired by the day to be a polyglot.

Salem was chosen to share with the whole hall the principles of a language that she created herself in the Linguistics Workshop.

Year 9 German students Lydia, Evangelina, Isabella and Saima were runners up in their play category.

Year 9 Spanish students Heather, Sarah Jane, Sofia, were runners up in their play category.

Year 9 French students Chloe, Naya, Sephera and Anna WON their play category with their play entitled ‘La Liaison et Le Lait.’  

All girls stepped up to the mark and exemplified great team work, confidence and thinking on their feet: they were a credit to the school. 

I am delighted to say that we now have our first MFL trophy to add to the cabinet!