Every year on 26 September, the European Day of Languages celebrates the many languages spoken across Europe and encourages people of all ages to discover the value of learning another language. At Clayesmore, however, we decided that one day simply wasn’t enough, so we turned it into a two-week celebration of languages, culture and communication.
Throughout the fortnight, our Prep and Senior teachers wore badges showing the languages they speak; from fluent speakers to those with a few handy phrases. A simple way to celebrate the many languages within our school community and uncover a few hidden talents!
The badges certainly caught the attention of our students. More importantly, it was lovely to see the smiles they brought to the faces of our international students, who were able to spot their own languages and cultures represented around school. They also served as a simple but powerful reminder to our whole community that languages matter.
Our celebrations continued online, where teachers and members of the Senior Leadership Team shared messages about the importance of learning and speaking other languages. Their contributions highlighted that learning a language is about much more than vocabulary lists and grammar: it gives us the confidence to communicate, helps us understand different cultures and opens doors to new friendships, experiences and opportunities.
To round off our celebrations, our A Level Spanish students took centre stage, leading assemblies for the Prep School and Years 9–11. They shared their enthusiasm for languages and inspired younger students to see where language learning could take them.
Students have also had the opportunity to put their knowledge to the test with a language quiz, alongside taking part in the Global School Alliance poster competition, based on this year’s theme: “Languages Unite.” It is a fitting theme for our celebrations. In a school community made up of people from different backgrounds and cultures, language gives us a way to connect. Our two weeks of celebrations have been a wonderful reminder that every language tells a story, every new word helps build a connection and, ultimately, languages really do unite us.
