We were delighted to celebrate the European Day of Languages today. Mr. Zaleski opened the assembly by emphasizing the many ways people communicate with one another: through speaking, listening, writing, and sign language. He then posed a thought-provoking question: Why choose to speak a different language from the native language of our country?
Speaking another language can help preserve family heritage and allow us to communicate with grandparents or extended family members. It can also provide a deeper understanding of a country’s culture and mindset, enabling us to better appreciate its authors, artists, and cultural environment.
As a school, we are fortunate to have the opportunity to learn and communicate in different languages. French is taught to all primary school students, and in secondary school, students can also learn Spanish. During the assembly, Mr. Zaleski invited children throughout the school to share a language they feel connected to.
The whole school gave Amelie, from Reception G, thunderous applause when she sang a song in Portuguese. We were also impressed by the children who confidently counted from 1 to 10 in various languages, including Italian, Greek, Portuguese, Turkish, and Bengali. We were delighted when Zaha, from Year 5 Howard, introduced herself and shared some facts about herself in Urdu. Everyone listened intently to a Sicilian tongue twister, which we enjoyed so much that we asked to hear it twice!
Mr. Wilson congratulated all the children who helped make our assembly so engaging and inspiring. Mr. Zaleski concluded with the message that by communicating with one another, we can gain a deeper understanding of each other and learn to appreciate and celebrate both our differences and our similarities.
