Making Languages our Business
The fourth Making Languages Our Business event took place at Exeter University on Wednesday 20th January 2010 with 84 Year 9 and Year 10 students from 10 schools (Torquay Community College, Churston Ferrers Grammar School, St Cuthbert Mayne School, Westlands School, Dartmouth College, Torquay Grammar School for Girls, Brixham College, King Edward VI School, Okehampton College and Torquay Boys’ Grammar School) and 29 adults. It is important to offer students opportunities in which they can share their passion for languages with students from other schools. Having the event at Exeter University gives them all an insight into what life at university can be like and for most students this will be the first time that they visit a university.
In the morning the students took part in 5 business and language sessions using French, German and Spanish on a rota basis to experience firsthand how languages are used in the work place and how learning foreign languages gives them an important skill and boosts business credentials. In one of the business simulations students became “doctors” for 30 minutes and interpreted between an English speaking “doctor” and a foreign patient. In the Centrax session, they worked in groups to create a poster promoting Trent 60, a new gas turbine. In another activity, they learnt about the differences in cultures when doing business abroad. Natwest ran an activity in which students had to design a Valentines Menu and then pitch it, very much like it is done in the Apprentice! Students also had a go at translating some articles about the cold weather in Spain, Germany and France at the beginning of January. 7 Sixth Form students (Torquay Boys' Grammar School) who study languages helped with the activities, an excellent opportunity for them to develop their leadership and communication skills.
After lunch undergraduate students from the university took the students on a tour of the campus which was followed by a talk about how important languages are in today’s world by Mr Swindell (Flybe) and a lecture in Japanese, finishing with the presentation of some prizes for the best students Centrax promotion posters.
This event unites businesses, secondary schools and the university to engage more young people from the region and persuade them that language study and success in business go hand in hand. When students see a real company director talking about how languages are so important in their company it has a real impact and in many cases makes students reconsider their options. Even a little language will open many doors in their future careers.
This event was organised to give all local students the opportunity to experience how languages are used in the work place and to make them aware of the importance of having languages which will definitely be an asset for them in the future. It is always a real pleasure to work with all the youngsters that attend the event and to see them learning by putting into practice their language skills as well as developing some other invaluable skills such as teamwork. Learning languages is seen as an excellent discipline by all employers and a student who has learnt languages really stands out from the crowd when looking for a job. A language can take you a long way!
Making Languages Our Business won a CILT European Award in 2007. The event is being replicated in other parts of the country and it is considered as a good example of how to encourage young people to continue with their language studies.
