School breakfast has a continental twist

It was Bon Appetit when language students at a Hunstanton school celebrated a successful year of studies with a Continental-style breakfast.

Over a series of four different mornings, groups from Years 7, 8, 9 and 10 at Smithdon High School were invited to a Languages Celebration Breakfast, where they enjoyed pastries and drinks while honing their French and German skills.

“We have been running these events over the last half term for all year groups to celebrate students’ efforts in lessons, progress made, and achievements in their French and German lessons,” explained Leah Hawkins, Head of Languages at Smithdon, which is part of the West Norfolk Academies Trust.

“Teachers have identified around 30 students for each year group, and they have been invited to join the department in the school library during form time to have a fresh breakfast of croissant or pain-au-chocolat and a drink – so long as they use their language skills and order in the target language.”

The bi-lingual breakfasts were originally introduced by the school’s previous Head of Department, but this year were organised by Modern Foreign Language Teacher Bernice Robinson, with the support of Mrs Hawkins and the rest of the Languages Department.

“Students had to speak French and German when ordering their breakfast and then were encouraged to speak the language between each other,” continued Mrs Hawkins. “Teachers spoke to students in the target language to facilitate conversations.”

Members of the school’s pastoral and senior leadership team also attended the petit-dejeuner and Fruhstuck events to celebrate with the young linguists – and practise their own GCSE language skills, as best they could.