International Day of Languages is a Colourful Display of Culture

Every Autumn Term, Hazlegrove turns into a multi-lingual melting pot for one day. 

This year was no exception; children in the Pre-Prep sang songs in Spanish and Mandarin and enjoyed learning snippets of Greek and German whilst children in the Prep School were treated to taster sessions in Arabic, Spanish and German and lessons across the curriculum involving language activities.  In Drama, the children performed mock interviews in their mother-tongue, in Maths the children practised de-coding ancient script and in Music the children learnt about traditional music from around the world, ranging from Chinese instruments and the roles they play in daily life, to singing a translation of a well-known song Le lion est mort ce soir.. 

There was a real buzz around school as the children absorbed themselves in a Pétanque tournament on the lawn, French conversation in the dining hall, a Translation Treasure Hunt and a Best Dressed Parade. The importance of language learning in today’s world was highlighted in our Celebration Assembly and we thoroughly enjoyed listening to the beautiful languages spoken by some of our international pupils through prayers and cultural insights. All this, against the backdrop of a foray of colourful dress and the xylophones of Gamelan music from Indonesia.

A fantastic contrast to the Somerset countryside that reminded us all of the small part we play in our wider world.

The day raised £360.00 for Wharf Kids, a charity Hazlegrove have continually been supporting in recent years. Wharf Kids supports children that were affected by Ebola living in one of Sierra Leone's poorest neighbourhoods.

Mrs Richards

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