On a dark, dreary night in mid-February, the only promise of light on the horizon was the MFL Department’s 2025 Careers with Languages evening. The hall was a-flutter when everyone arrived, cups of tea and coffee in hand, taking refuge from the dull banality of a winter evening and all set to bask in the glow of the joy that comes from loving languages.
Teachers from the Department turned out in force and were joined by a host of language lovers, comprising parents and pupils from Year 9 to Year 13 and a number of eloquent speakers, including former pupils, parents of SHS pupils and our Director of Sixth Form, Jon Owen. Alicia, Charlotte and Poppy (alumnae from 2015, 2019 and 2022 respectively), arrived and immediately remarked upon how much they felt at home in the familiar surroundings of the SAR main hall. Our speakers presented on a variety of topics including gems such as ‘The importance of studying languages at university’; ‘The joys of spending a year abroad’ and ‘How languages equip us with transferable skills that can be used in a myriad of future careers’. Exciting stuff!
Mr Jon Owen kicked off the proceedings and talked about the value of studying languages at university, explaining that there is a 33% chance of gaining admission to Oxbridge to study Languages, as opposed to 7% if you are hoping to study Economics. He gave examples of offers from different Universities, highlighting some successful Medicine and Vet School applications that had included a highly-prized modern language.
The MFL team was filled with pride and admiration when listening to Poppy, Alicia and Charlotte as they shared everything that they have gained from their study of Languages. In each instance, our former pupils reflected with poise upon the joy of connecting with people, finding new friendships, the simultaneous challenge and absolute relish of being immersed in a foreign culture and the skills and confidence that they have gained through their language studies. They emphasised that studying MFL is not simply about grammar and vocabulary, it is so much more about the life skills that are gained. They regaled us with tales of their “year abroad” spent in Paris, Barcelona, Aix-en-Provence and Lille.
Since graduation, Alicia has also completed a PHD in Linguistics at New York University and so it was with delight that Ms Keers was able to introduce Dr Mason to the audience!
Jamie Munro, a parent at Surbiton High and one of the Local Governing Body, spoke fondly of his year abroad and how much it had formed him as a person. His gentle humour was well received by the audience as he reflected on the experiences he survived in Lille, having originally turned turn down the opportunity to spend a year in Réunion, an overseas department in the Indian Ocean! His absolute love of all things French was plain to see and it is exciting that this is renewed and shared with his family each time they visit their second home in the South of France.
Without fail, each of the speakers said that the year abroad was the absolute pinnacle of their language-learning journey. The evening concluded with a presentation from parent Susanna Pfeiffer who originally studied German and then went on to spend two years in Japan, subsequently doing a master’s in international relations with Asia Pacific. Susanna explained that she has been driven by the transferable skills that her language studies taught her. Curiosity, and understanding different cultures and approaches have been key to her success in managing people and stakeholders in her career since graduation. The buzz in the hall at the end of the night was palpable and there was a note of regret that we had to leave each other to return to the demands of the real world.
A most sincere thank you to everyone who contributed to this wonderful event; to the MFL teachers, to Mrs Kavita Patel for her support, to Mr Jon Wright for stitching together all the presentations, to our wonderful speakers and, of course, to the receptive, enthusiastic pupils and parents who came along and shared the love – what a special bunch of people you are.
MFL #notjustalanguagemoreofalifechoice!!
Written by Geillis Paul, Head of MFL
Categories: Senior School Sixth Form