BACA celebrates European day of languages

- Francesca Hooks, Modern Foreign Languages Teacher, BACA

To celebrate European day of languages the Modern Foreign languages department encouraged the whole Academy to embrace their knowledge of foreign vocabulary. Students voted for the teacher who made the most effort to speak foreign languages throughout the day on Monday 27^th September and were encouraged themselves to try out any words they had learned or spoke at home.

Over 150 students submitted a nomination form, mentioning around 30 different teachers who had particularly made an impression with their language skills. With the MFL department excluded from nominations, the competition was fierce, with representation across the departments within the academy.

Sadly there can only be one winner and this year’s teacher with the most nominations was Dr Emma Edwards (Science teacher) from Volks school, closely followed by Claire Webster (Lead teacher of ICT and Work Skills teacher) from Roddick. Third place went to Ricky Hodgson (Head of Catering) from Gunnell, fourth to Hannah Lewes (Science teacher) from Volks and fifth place was awarded to Phil Williamson (PE teacher and head of Employability Skills) from Gunnell. Gunnell school teachers received the most nominations overall as well as being the school that voted in the biggest numbers.

Student winners included Paige Heather and David Suchodolinsky from Gunnell school, Toni-Lea Brown and Ashlee Reldus from Roddick school and Carys Cox from Volks school.

Aloyse Gascoigne, lead teacher of MFL had this to say on the event, ‘I am extremely proud and impressed at the way staff and students have launched themselves into celebrating European day of Languages. Ms Hogg greeted the staff in a foreign language during briefing and I have heard words from all over the world spoken around the academy by staff and students alike’.

The 27^th September, World Tourism Day, was also marked by BACA staff and students completing an International Language Audit in tutor time to gain a deeper understanding of languages that have been learned, countries that have been visited, languages spoken at home and interest in learning new languages. A quiz on Europe was also undertaken to deepen the students’ knowledge on all things European. The results of the audit will enable students and staff to form linguistic mentoring relationships between new and existing members of the BACA community.