The entire school took on an international perspective with pupils of all ages dressed in continentally-inspired ensembles for the day. From champagne bottles to flamenco dancers and even a Bavarian cuckoo clock, pupils and teachers transformed themselves with a vast array of outfits inspired by the modern languages currently taught at the school.
In preparation for the celebrations, pupils were set on a mission to immerse themselves in foreign languages with a set of twenty challenges aimed to inspire cultural exploration and get them thinking linguistically. From swapping the language on their phone for a day to watching a foreign film without subtitles, tasks ranged in difficulty and the dedication needed to complete them with prizes awarded for those girls who had worked hard to step outside their linguistic comfort zone.
Pupils also had the opportunity to broaden their cultural horizons by investigating the traditional pastimes, customs and cuisine of our European neighbours. Even the Pre-Prep classes joined in with teacher, Miss Helen Mills, swapping their usual elevenses for a continental-inspired snack.
The European Day of Languages is annually celebrated across Europe every September. It aims to promote the 6000+ languages spoken around the world and raise awareness of the importance of lifelong language learning for everyone.
Head of the Ancient and Modern Languages Faculty, Mrs Sue Murley said: “Our girls always really throw themselves into European Day of Languages celebrations and this year has proved no exception. Whilst there continues to be a concerning decline in the number of students in the UK studying languages to GCSE and beyond, we’re delighted to see our girls show such enthusiasm when it comes to pushing their linguistic boundaries. At Truro High we firmly believe that foreign language learning is an essential life skill which not only enables us to communicate with others but fosters understanding and tolerance for cultures and societies around the world.”
This year, Truro High School celebrated an outstanding crop of exam results in Modern Foreign Languages with an average of 76% of all GCSE passes graded A*- B and a phenomenal 100% pass rate achieved at A Level.
