European Week of Languages 2024

This year’s European Week of Languages sought to celebrate and promote a quite simple notion: that the study and enjoyment of other languages and cultures enriches our daily lives and provides unique perspectives and opportunities. This year’s week of events and competitions at St Paul’s was an uplifting and joyous celebration of language-learning and European culture, both modern and ancient.

We were delighted to welcome Professor Thomas Wynn (Durham University) whose compelling talk to the Fourth Form ‘Why English Isn’t Enough’ kicked off our celebrations last week. Professor Wynn demonstrated how the study of modern foreign languages is able to appeal to a broad range of academic interests, how languages are uniquely placed to equip pupils with cross-cultural awareness, and how languages will serve pupils in their future careers.

On Wednesday evening, Mr Edward Williams (former SPS Head of Modern Foreign Languages and former SPS Director of Drama) led a fascinating joint seminar ‘Challenging the Audience’ for A Level linguists from SPS and SPGS (St Paul’s Girls’ School). Pupils were invited to ask how theatre can challenge the audience’s preconceptions and expectations. Pupils then engaged in groups with a variety of theatrical texts according to their language of study, which they then presented to Mr Williams with great insight and acuity.

Our pupils threw themselves into the exciting range of activities on offer with great enthusiasm and curiosity. In French, pupils have taken part in a delicious French breakfast and competed fiercely for the house pétanque crown and a French quiz. In German, pupils have got creative with compound nouns and dug into a plentiful German breakfast. In Classics, pupils have had a go at creative writing in their Latin lessons, Mr Taylor gave a fascinating talk about Linear B (the oldest attested written form of the Greek language) and pupils recreated some ancient Olympic events in Founder’s Court. In Italian, we have sampled mountains of gelato, made tiramisù, and attended a film screening at Ciné Lumière. In Spanish, pupils have visited Spain virtually in a Geoguessr competition. Not to mention Languages University Challenge, Languages Bingo, Latin Wordle on the Tannoy each day, the House Languages Passport competition, talks on Portuguese and Yiddish, a languages treasure hunt, and a fiercely contested House Languages Countdown. Well done to all of the winners and thank you to all of the pupils and staff for organising and running such a varied, informative and, above all, fun week of activities.

Félicitations, Gut gemacht, Congratulazioni, Felicidades and thank you to all who took part!

House Pétanque

Winners: Amaan (Upper Eighth) and Ed (Fourth Form) – Cloete House

Runners Up: Zach Tydeman (Upper Eighth) and Joey Hammond-Giles (Fourth Form) – Blurton House

Pupils vs Languages Teachers University Challenge

Winners: Max Swinnerton, Charlie Kirby, Alex Toledano, Adam Seydo (all Upper Eighth)

Fifth Form Languages Escape Room

Winners: TBC

House Languages Countdown

Winners: TBC

Fourth Form House Languages Passports Competition

Winners: TBC