Queen’s has a long-standing tradition of valuing the study of modern languages. Now, with over thirty different languages spoken by members of our school community, many of our pupils already enjoy learning languages in order to communicate widely with a diverse audience. Our role is to instil an appreciation of diverse cultures, as well as an ability to apply transferable skills to learn any language that they might need in the future.
Our pupils not only study French alongside either Spanish, Italian or Mandarin, but are also introduced to Linguistics in a module in Year 7, as well as taking part in the UK Linguistics Olympiad in the Junior and Senior College (Years 10-13). Their study of language is contextualised within the cultural framework, whether in the classroom or on cross-curricular trips to London’s theatres, the National Gallery, Chinatown or the Victoria and Albert Museum. Pupils enjoy exploring language and culture through taking part in regional and national ventures, including: the Translation Bee, Poetry in Translation Competition, Hispanic and French Theatre Festivals and a Spanish Debating Competition.
Pupils are encouraged to take further risks with their language learning and participate in the exchanges and homestays on offer from Class 2 (Year 8) up until A-level. Our linguists are sufficiently adventurous and resilient that all of our A-level students spend between 1-3 weeks independently in France, Spain or Italy doing work experience, attending a language school or participating in an exchange.
Equally, it is satisfying that several of our linguists are confident enough to go on to study new languages at university, such as Turkish or Portuguese. The UK needs more intrepid linguists such as those at Queen’s!