The last few weeks before half term were filled with a range of MFL activities for students across College. From films to fashion, awards to exchange trips, keep reading to learn more.
On Thursday 10th October, we went to the Parabola Arts Centre with seven other schools for a Spanish Film Study Day.
First, we listened to a talk from Mr Moya and Mrs Mooney about Pedro Almodóvar, his success in the film industry, the more controversial topics his movies discuss and also the ‘Almodóvar Girls’.
Afterwards we watched the first film Volver, by Pedro Almodóvar. It follows Raimunda, a woman living in Madrid who confronts her family’s secrets after the death of her mother. We watched the film without English subtitles, so sometimes it was a little difficult to follow; but it helped to consolidate our knowledge of the film’s plot and vocab for our exam.
After each film, we would talk with the people around us about the key themes and characters. One of the most interesting themes we spoke about in Volver was the theme of colours and their use not only to represent the character’s feelings but also set the tone of the scene.
Later, we watched the second film called María llena eres de gracia which our class had not seen before. We loved the story that follows María, a Colombian teenager, who works as a drug mule between Colombia and the USA. She faces risks that lead her to question her life and her search for dignity. Although we weren’t studying it, it covered some interesting topics and after we were able to practice our use of the subjunctive.
Overall, it was a brilliant day that allowed us to expand our knowledge of Spanish films and discuss key themes with others who share the same passion for the topic.
Evie, SFC2
This October, Cheltenham Ladies' College welcomed 12 students and their two teachers from Maria Ward-Schule in Germany for the 14th year of the school’s student exchange programme.
The week was filled with exciting activities and opportunities for cultural exchange, giving the German visitors a taste of life in the UK and the chance to practice their language skills.
One of the highlights of the week was the visit to Sudeley Castle, where the students enjoyed a day of history and exploration in the beautiful sunshine. The group also attended The Times and Sunday Times Cheltenham Literature Festival, where they met the inspiring Rebecca Achieng Ajulu-Bushell, a remarkable woman who shared her journey and left a lasting impression on the students.
The farewell event at Hollywood Bowl was a fun and lively way to end the week, as students bonded over games and celebrated the friendships they had made. Over the weekend the German students stayed in the boarding houses with their exchange partners, giving them a deeper insight into life at school in the UK.
Throughout the week, the exchange students built lasting connections, developed an intercultural understanding, and greatly improved their language skills. This wonderfully enriching exchange is a cherished tradition at Cheltenham Ladies' College and has once again proven to be a fantastic success, leaving both the visitors and their hosts with unforgettable memories.
Students from Maria Ward-Schule School visited our school, giving us the incredible opportunity to experience the culture, language, and daily life of German students. This immersive exchange not only helped us improve our language skills but also allowed us to form lasting friendships. The school activities CLC provided, along with the fun moments we shared hanging out in the evenings, made the experience truly unforgettable and helped broaden our understanding of the world. - Jasmine, LC3
Mrs Salge-Dexter, Head of German
Cheltenham Ladies' College recently hosted an exciting event, Flair for International Fashion, organised by Business Language Champions and the MFL department. The event brought together 154 pupils from College’s UC4 year group and four visiting local schools to take part in a fun and challenging day of fashion, creativity, and language skills.
In small groups, students were tasked with designing a pair of jeans and pitching their ideas to a judging panel…but with a twist!
The pitch had to be delivered in two foreign languages, testing not only their creativity but also their language abilities. The day emphasised the importance of teamwork, patience, and the ability to think on their feet. Each group conducted market research, ensuring their design ideas were well thought out, while the jeans worn on the day added to the fun and immersion.
The event was further enriched by an inspiring keynote talk from Ania Sadkowska, Assistant Professor in International Fashion at Coventry University, who shared insights from the world of fashion and the importance of language learning, leaving students inspired for the future.
The atmosphere was filled with laughter and hard work. The students demonstrated their impressive linguistic and creative skills and many commented on the enriching experience:
- Designing the jeans was so much fun.
- I loved meeting new people and making new friends.
- I just thought it was all amazing.
Overall, the event was a wonderful combination of language learning, fashion design, and team-building. It left the students with lasting memories and new skills.
Mrs Salge-Dexter, Head of German
In June, I was lucky enough to participate in the Stephen Spender translation prize, where young writers were given the task of translating a poem of their choice from any language into English.
I decided to translate a poem by Francisco de Quevedo, a 17th century Spanish politician known for the creation of 'conceptismo'. The poem, titled Miré los muros de la patria mía, stood out to me because of how it was written in the context of the caricature-like vision he had of the Spanish society he lived in, and the political turmoil of his time. This inspired me, and acted as a reminder of how powerful poetry can really be.
At first, I was quite confident in my translation however I discovered how difficult it was to interpret the fluidity of the poem into English, and maintain the lyrical effect of the poem’s words. Eventually, I managed to get it done but if I have learned anything from this experience, it was definitely to keep going even if you don’t think it can be your best work. Sometimes the end result is actually worth it!
Jillian, LC3
Congratulations to Jillian for receiving a Commendation in the Stephen Spender Prize Competition.
On Monday 14th October, Dr Tondello led a workshop for UC and SFC students entitled, ‘Discovering the World of Interpreting’.
Sharing experience from her former career as an interpreter, Dr Tondello explained more about what is involved in this fascinating job, as well as encouraging students to think about the potential challenges of translation. She also outlined the differences between simultaneous and consecutive interpretation.
The session concluded with fun activities demonstrating the difficulties of accurately conveying someone else’s words - it was more difficult than anticipated, even remembering and repeating a few sentences in English!
Gemma, SFC1
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