Around the world at Hunstanton school

Students in Hunstanton had the chance to explore the world from their classrooms when their school celebrated this year’s European Day of Languages.

All year groups at Smithdon High School, part of the West Norfolk Academies Trust, took part in the event, which has been staged annually since its launch at the end of 2001, to mark the close of the European Year of Languages.

“The European Day of Languages is jointly organised by the Council of Europe and the European Commission and is always celebrated on September 26,” explained Leah Hawkins, WNAT Lead for Modern Foreign Languages.

“Smithdon had celebrated the event prior to this, but this year had the widest range of activities available for students to be involved in, celebrating languages across the world.”

The school’s themed activities were organised by Modern Foreign Languages teacher Melanie Collard.

“Throughout the week, students were greeted at classroom doors with Instagram-style ‘posts’ introducing them to famous landmarks and places around the world, and had the opportunity to take part in a scavenger hunt through the week, as they moved around the school, naming countries in the ‘posts’ and the languages spoken there,”  said Mrs Hawkins.

“We had a form-time quiz for all pupils to take part in, and teachers wrote the dates in different languages at the start of their lessons on the day. 

“We celebrated staff who speak another language, either as their home language, or as a second language they have learnt themselves.”

As well as language learning, the day promotes linguistic and cultural diversity, with events taking place across Europe.

The five-day celebration at Smithdon also included an assembly, which set the tone for the week.

“We presented a whole-school assembly on the importance of learning a foreign language, and how it can help you in your future, both linguistically and culturally,” added Mrs Hawkins.

“We think it is very important not just to learn languages in the classroom, but to appreciate their impact in the wider world too. These events give us an opportunity to celebrate diversity and culture, and to celebrate how empowering the learning of a second – or third or fourth – language can be.

“Students sometimes learn more about their teachers too, and can appreciate their efforts in learning other languages themselves.”