Talented language students have been celebrated at a special ‘Evening of Excellence’ hosted by Medina College to recognise outstanding achievements in Modern Foreign Languages.
Held on Wednesday 23rd April, the event was the first of its kind for the school’s French department, offering students the rare opportunity to perform and present their language skills in front of parents, carers and members of the wider community.
The school’s French teacher, Hannah Brear, organised the event to highlight the hard work and high standards of local learners. The department boasts some of the best results in the country, with 44% of last year’s Year 11 students achieving a Level 9 in French – compared to the national average of around 10%.
Students took to the stage to deliver 1 to 3-minute speeches in French on topics of their choice, ranging from environmental issues and the French music industry to immigration from the Maghreb region and even crimes of passion. They then answered questions from Clara, the school’s foreign language assistant, before enjoying refreshments as a panel of native French speakers from Paris deliberated on the presentations.
Guest speaker Captain Mark Walker OBE delivered a passionate address on the enduring value of learning languages, saying:
“Technology is incredible. Translation apps, AI, and instant messaging can certainly make life easier – but technology alone can never replace the human connection that language creates.
“It might translate words, but it can’t translate trust, empathy, cultural understanding, or genuine relationships. These are qualities uniquely built by people willing to learn each other’s languages and customs.”
The evening ended with every participant receiving a certificate, with a winner from each year group receiving a special award.
Reflecting on the event, Mrs Brear said:
“The rainbow of emotions felt by me and everyone in the room – nervousness, pride, excitement – was clear. Mostly, I was quite simply inspired and motivated to keep doing what I do, which is a great feeling after 25 years of teaching.
“It truly was an evening of excellence, and I am extremely grateful to our inspirational guest speaker, Captain Mark Walker OBE, our judges from Paris, and our French assistante, Clara.
“Thanks and huge congratulations to all our incredible students for taking this opportunity to step outside your comfort zone, celebrate your achievements and make me the proudest French teacher on the planet.”
Bonjour