The girls enjoyed taster lessons in Chinese, German, Italian and Spanish and left their sessions with a newfound ability to communicate a little in each of the languages as well as an understanding of the different cultures associated with each of these languages. The lessons gave the girls the opportunity to use the new languages in songs and games designed to encourage them to speak.

After their lessons, the girls attended a talk given by Mrs Enza Siciliano Verruccio, Departmental Director of Teaching and Learning and Programme Director of the BA Modern Languages at Reading University and Ms Jennifer Liddell, a second-year linguist at Reading.

The girls enjoyed a short, interactive quiz testing their knowledge of languages around the world. Afterwards, the talk focused on the ever-increasing importance of learning a language and gave the girls an insight into the opportunities offered by studying languages and how learning a language can help to broaden horizons.

Later in the day, the Lower Sixth linguists were given the opportunity to attend a second lecture given by Mrs Siciliano Verruccio about studying languages at university. Lower Sixth Form girls, Jemima and Lara said, “It was both informative and inspiring to hear about the different options available to us when it comes to studying languages at a degree level, including the opportunities for a year abroad in many exciting locations (including the beautiful island of Réunion, which absolutely caught our attention!) as well as the potential to study literature and culture. Mrs Siciliano Verruccio also introduced us to the concept of studying a language ab initio at university, which appealed to many of us.”

Head of MFL, Mrs Jane Basnett said, “The girls thoroughly enjoyed the Language Taster Day and the Lower Fourth girls are looking forward to the challenge of learning a new language next year. I would also like to thank Mrs Siciliano Verruccio and Ms Liddell for inspiring the Sixth Form girls about the benefits of studying languages at university and beyond.”