Languages for All - Speaking Exam Session

This year, we have been taking part in the Languages for All programme, a project run by The Reach Foundation alongside Royal Holloway (University of London). The aim is to support and encourage school pupils across Hounslow to continue their language studies at A level. We attended the launch event in the autumn then were delighted to welcome representatives into school for an intensive session to help Year 11 students prepare for their French and Spanish GCSE speaking exams. 

The Head of Languages for All, Michael Slavinsky, introduced the session with information about LfA programme and how students can benefit from taking modern foreign languages at A level. Michael was accompanied by two student ambassadors from Royal Holloway University who shared their experiences of studying languages at university level, their time spent abroad as part of their courses, and how they had improved their spoken foreign language skills.

The students then enjoyed a "speed-dating" style speaking session. In pairs, students asked and answered key questions relevant to their speaking exams. Students were also able to practise speaking with the university ambassadors, Michael Slavinsky, their school teachers as well as a Sixth Form student, Ali Asghar. The session was highly successful and that it was very beneficial for our students to meet and work with young people who have continued with their language studies to a much higher level.

The feedback from our students was really positive - a couple of examples are included below:

• "The success of the event was incredible.  The exercises offered were highly beneficial to both me and my peers.  I would like to express my gratitude to Michael Slavinsky for making this possible.  Its success rendered me speechless and I would not hesitate to jump at such an opportunity again."
• "The event really helped me to understand how to respond to the examiner in the conversation part of the speaking exam.  I understood how to elevate my answers to a grade 9 standard."

The event students a real confidence boost, putting them in exactly the right mindset for their GCSE speaking exams.