2025 – 2026 Highlights: Modern Foreign Languages

It has been another successful and exciting year for Modern Languages at Channing, with excellent results across French, German and Spanish, inspiring enrichment activities and a raft of memorable trips. Once again, all students in Year 10 and above have benefited from specialist speaking support from our Modern Languages Assistants, Ms Schweizer (French), Ms Peters (German) and Ms Hernandorena-Lazkano (Spanish), each of whom brought extraordinary enthusiasm for language and culture to share with our students.

So many of our students were commended in external language competitions that we cannot list them all. Special congratulations go to the global winners of the Poesiae poetry recitation competition: Julia H (Year 8 Italian), Millie W (Year 10 German) and Imogen B (Year 11 German). We also congratulate four national winners. Ruby R (Year 9) won Round 2 of the Oxford German Olympiad for her painting in the style of Paula Modersohn-Becker, accompanied by a German commentary, and was invited to an awards ceremony in the Bodleian Library. Yeva M (Year 11 French) was the joint winner of the Cambridge Language Collective’s Junior Competition with her analytical essay on Saint-Exupéry’s Le Petit Prince. Mariia S (Year 10) won Oxford University’s Flash Fiction Competition for her two thought-provoking stories in German, while Millie W (Year 10) received the Anthea Bell Prize for her sensitive translation of Mascha Kaléko’s Bescheidene Anfrage (Level 3 German). In the same competition, organised by The Queen’s College, Oxford, Siana C (Year 12 Spanish) and Audrey N (Year 9 French) were highly commended for their translations.

To celebrate success more regularly, we introduced half-termly Rewards Breakfasts for our most Fearless Linguists. Students from different year groups come together to celebrate with authentic treats, share their experiences of language learning and receive a Fearless Linguist certificate. These events have proved both popular and motivating. Thank you to Mrs Steinberg for the idea!

Languages for all

We were delighted to welcome three linguist alumnae back to Channing last September: Lili, Alix and Sophia. After meeting students interested in studying languages at university, they spoke at a wonderful European Day of Languages assembly, sharing their experiences of studying French and Business at Leeds University, German and History at Edinburgh, and Spanish and Italian at Cambridge, as well as highlights of their year abroad.

Mr Meier gave a fascinating talk entitled How Grimm are German Märchen (Fairy Tales)? The answer, it turns out, is: very! Originally far more gruesome than many realise, these stories have been heavily sanitised over time to make them more child-friendly. Meanwhile, counting in a foreign language while hula-hooping proved enormously popular, demonstrating just how versatile linguists can be.

Innately multicultural

Keen linguists from Years 10–13 visited the Swiss Embassy for an insightful talk by Dr Lutz-Peter Berg, Head of Science and Innovation. He explained the Embassy’s role in connecting Swiss entrepreneurs with UK finance and trading partners, as well as what Swiss neutrality means in practice. Students also quizzed a multilingual intern who hopes to pursue a career in diplomacy.

Now an annual event following our status as one of the UK’s first European Parliament Ambassador Schools, the Europe Day tongue-twister challenge continues to be extraordinarily popular. Who could resist the challenge of mastering these and earning a delicious Channing cupcake?

Un chasseur sachant chasser sait chasser sans son chien.

Zwischen zwei Zwetschgenbäumen zwitschern zwei zwitschernde Schwalben.

Pancha plancha con cuatro planchas. ¿Con cuántas planchas plancha Pancha?

Spires inspire

Three Year 11 students were invited to visit the Languages Department at Girton College, Cambridge, while 24 talented linguists from Years 9 and 12 travelled to Oxford University to discover what studying Modern and Medieval Languages at university is really like. Singing an old German and Latin version of In dulci jubilo in a crypt with Professor Lähnemann, meeting Dr Tim Farrant (French) and current students at Pembroke College, and hearing from Professor Geraldine Hazbun (Spanish) at St Anne’s College made for an inspiring day, which concluded with a creative translation workshop at The Queen’s College.

Equally inspiring was a visit from Channing alumna Dr Lauren Ingram, named one of the 2024 InspiringFifty Top 50 Women in Tech. Interviewed by our A Level linguists, she spoke candidly about her journey from studying Linguistics with French to roles in marketing at Meta and Amazon before going on to found The Next Big Thing, a consultancy helping women break into AI and emerging technologies.

Clubs aplenty

A cornucopia of opportunities awaits students who love languages, with the latest addition being Italian Club, courtesy of Signora Rozières.

French Debating

Students attended our weekly French Debating Club, where they tackled a wide range of thought-provoking motions. Debates challenged students to think critically and articulate complex ideas in French, with topics including Il faut s’ennuyer (“You have to get bored”), La France doit suivre l’exemple de l’Angleterre et quitter l’Europe (“France must follow England’s example and leave Europe”), and La performance justifie tout dans le sport (“Performance justifies everything in sport”).

French Book Club Partnership with Paris

Our Year 12 students took part in an exciting book club partnership with Lycée Albert de Mun in Nogent-sur-Marne, established by Senior School Librarian Ms Ramsden and facilitated by Mrs Zuluaga de la Cruz. Students read three books, including Bondoux’s Le Temps des Miracles, before creating book trailers, posters and displays inspired by their reading. They also took part in written and spoken exchanges with their French counterparts, including through Padlet, discussing their interpretations of the texts.

German

Students danced along to Nena’s 99 Luftballons (and many more classics) while enjoying delicious country-themed cupcakes. Members of the German Book Club took on Cornelia Funke’s Tintenherz—an ambitious novel that many will be finishing over the summer. Year 11 students also benefited from a dedicated Grammar Club.

Our German Fun Club, run in partnership with St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School and Channing Junior School, continued to flourish. Pupils learnt how to introduce themselves, talk about colours, numbers and pets, while enjoying activities such as cookie-making. The verdict from Junior School participants was overwhelmingly positive: “I loved making cookies” and “I really enjoy coming every week.”

A special mention goes to Tate B (Year 7), whose leadership of the German Fun Club has been outstanding, and to Frau Peters, whose enthusiasm and commitment were instrumental in making many of these clubs possible. In her role as a UK-German Cultural Ambassador, Frau Peters also masterminded a Steckbrief project with Year 8 Germanists, enabling them to introduce themselves to German partner students using the language they had learnt throughout the year.

Spanish Debating

In A Level Spanish, students debated the motion “Spain’s migratory situation and policy is an example for other European countries” as part of their study of immigration. Drawing on Spain’s new immigration law, introduced in May 2025, students developed persuasive arguments before responding spontaneously to one another in Spanish, significantly strengthening both their confidence and oral fluency.

Au revoir, Auf Wiedersehen, Adiós

This summer we say goodbye to Mr Waring. As a teacher of French, German and Spanish, former Head of Department and former Head of Year 8, he has made an enormous contribution to Modern Foreign Languages at Channing, and we are deeply grateful for everything he has done for the department and its students. We wish him every success and happiness in his new role.

MFL Trips

European Parliament Ambassador Scheme Trip to Strasbourg

In December, Year 10–12 students enjoyed an enriching trip to Strasbourg as part of the European Parliament Ambassador School (EPAS) programme. As an EPAS school, Channing was invited to take part in the prestigious Euroscola event. During their visit, students explored one of Europe’s largest Christmas markets, sampled traditional Alsatian food and visited the magnificent Strasbourg Cathedral, following language lessons and a relaxing boat tour through the city.

The highlight of the trip was undoubtedly visiting the European Parliament, where Channing students debated and exchanged ideas with young people from across Europe in both English and the languages they study at school. They heard from the Vice-President of the European Parliament and discussed important contemporary issues including cybersecurity and women’s rights. It was an inspiring opportunity to experience European democracy first-hand while meeting students from many different countries and cultures.

Combining language learning with authentic cultural experiences, the visit gave students the confidence to use their language skills in real-life situations while discovering the history, traditions and political significance of Strasbourg. Our thanks go to Mrs Steinberg, Mrs Zuluaga de la Cruz and Ms Gomez for organising such an unforgettable and enriching experience.

Year 8 Normandy

During Enrichment Week, our Year 8 French students enjoyed a fantastic four-day visit to Criel-sur-Mer, combining language learning with cultural experiences and plenty of memorable adventures.

Highlights included discovering how chocolate is made at Les Chocolats de Beussent (with plenty of tasting along the way!), taking part in a French scavenger hunt around the château where they were staying, and spending a day at Collège Louis Jouvet, where students joined lessons in subjects including English, French, Music and History. They also enjoyed spectacular views from the Le Tréport Funicular and visited a local goat farm, where they met newborn kids before sampling delicious goat’s cheese.

A visit to the bustling market in Rouen challenged students to buy their own lunch in French using just five euros, greatly boosting both their confidence and fluency. The afternoon included visits to the Joan of Arc Museum and Rouen Cathedral, followed by shopping and dinner at a local restaurant.

The trip concluded with a visit to L’Escargotière du Choquel, where students not only discovered the surprising skincare benefits of snails but also bravely sampled this famous French delicacy.

Many thanks to Ms Romero Wiltshire, Ms Garrill and Mr Waring for making the trip such an enjoyable and memorable experience.

Summer in Berlin

The German Department was delighted to join the History Department once again for its post-examination visit to Berlin. Year 10 students spent three fascinating days exploring the history, culture and identity of Germany’s once-divided capital.

The programme combined visits to iconic landmarks such as the Brandenburg Gate and the Reichstag with thought-provoking experiences at the Stasi Museum, the Topography of Terror, the Jewish Museum, the East Side Gallery and the Sachsenhausen Memorial. Students also climbed the Humboldthain Flak Tower and explored life in former East Germany at the interactive DDR Museum.

One evening was spent at the magnificent Staatsoper, where Mozart’s Die Entführung aus dem Serail, interspersed with topical comedy by Bülent Ceylan, provided a memorable cultural highlight.

Our Germanists also gained fascinating personal insights into Germany’s divided past through conversations with Channing grandparents Mr and Mrs Buehler from West Berlin and conductor Wolfgang Katschner, who lived and worked in the former GDR. These discussions, accompanied by a delicious brunch featuring Buletten and Rote Grütze, brought history vividly to life.

Congratulations to all our students for their curiosity, maturity and enthusiastic engagement throughout the trip. Our thanks go to Ms Feeney for organising the visit, Mr Raine for leading it and sharing his extensive historical expertise, and to Ms Kung and Mr Pelton for accompanying the group.

Advent in Munich

Our intrepid Year 9 German learners strengthened both their language skills and their appreciation of German culture during a magical winter visit to Munich.

Alongside German lessons and visits to the city’s enchanting Christmas markets, students met their pen pals from St Anna Gymnasium at the Deutsches Museum, Europe’s largest science and technology museum. After touring the school together, enjoying afternoon treats and joining spontaneous circle games, it was wonderful to see how quickly friendships developed across languages and cultures.

The programme offered something for everyone. Students interested in history explored the NS Documentation Centre, while art enthusiasts searched for masterpieces by Cranach the Elder, Albrecht Dürer and Caspar David Friedrich in the Alte Pinakothek. Football fans relished the opportunity to step inside FC Bayern Munich’s changing room at the Allianz Arena, where Harry Kane’s collection of football boots caused particular excitement.

For many, however, the highlight of the trip was visiting King Ludwig II’s spectacular castles, Schloss Neuschwanstein and Schloss Linderhof. Fresh snowfall completed the fairy-tale scenery, creating unforgettable memories for everyone involved.

Our sincere thanks go to a wonderful group of linguists for their enthusiasm and participation, and to Frau Loosli and Frau Peters for accompanying the trip.

Winter in Vienna

This brand-new trip was an outstanding success. Year 10 Germanists were fortunate to spend a week in Vienna on a cultural and linguistic adventure generously sponsored by the Austrian Ministry of Education’s Wienaktion programme.

Nine guided tours, all conducted in German, were led by knowledgeable and engaging experts, including Friedensreich Hundertwasser’s former private secretary. From the world’s largest emerald to the story of the iconic Empress Sisi and Klimt’s magnificent Beethoven Frieze, students explored Vienna’s extraordinary palaces, churches and museums while deepening both their language skills and understanding of Austrian history. On occasion, the German was so advanced that I found myself translating to ensure no fascinating detail was missed.

Evenings were devoted to entertainment, including Wicked 2 in German at the cinema and no fewer than three theatre visits. Performances of Die Fledermaus, the ballet Kallirhoe—accompanied by the Vienna Philharmonic at the Staatsoper—and a superb production of Das Phantom der Oper at the Raimund Theater proved just as memorable as the rides at the Prater, Europe’s oldest amusement park. Despite snow and sub-zero temperatures, our fearless linguists embraced every experience, even learning to waltz before rewarding themselves with Schnitzel and Kaiserschmarrn.

Students coped brilliantly with full immersion in both the German language and Austrian culture. Our sincere thanks go to the organisers of the remarkable Wienaktion programme and to Frau Loosli for accompanying the trip.

Enrichment in Aachen

During Enrichment Week, our Year 8 German learners travelled to Aachen for a memorable week of language, culture and hands-on experiences.

After getting their bearings with a town-centre scavenger hunt, sampling the local speciality Printen and creating artwork at the Karlsbrunnen fountain, students enjoyed a traditional German meal before watching a film in German at the beautiful art-deco Eden Palast cinema.

A guided tour of Aachen Cathedral, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the resting place of Charlemagne, offered fascinating insights into European history. Our archaeologist guide, who had excavated the nearby Roman Baths, vividly brought the city’s past to life. Cultural exploration was balanced with relaxation at the Carolus Thermen spa, where students appreciated cooling off in pools of varying temperatures during the summer heat.

Whether brushing animals on a local farm, creating advertisements during a theatre workshop, learning traditional milling and bread-making techniques or preparing a delicious three-course meal at a cookery school, every activity took place entirely in German. Students embraced the challenge with enthusiasm and thoroughly enjoyed putting their language skills into practice in authentic settings.

It was an absolute pleasure to organise this trip. Every student made a tremendous effort with their German and engaged brilliantly with one another and with our hosts throughout the week. Special thanks once again to Frau Loosli for accompanying the visit.

Year 8 Trip to Cádiz

During Enrichment Week, our Year 8 Spanish students travelled to El Puerto de Santa María for four unforgettable days, immersing themselves in Spanish language, culture and everyday life beneath glorious Andalusian sunshine.

After strolling past the historic bullring, students enjoyed churros con chocolate before exploring the fascinating Castillo de San Marcos. A padel lesson conducted entirely in Spanish and an afternoon on the beach playing volleyball and football with our guide were followed by pizza overlooking the sea.

A ferry crossing to Cádiz introduced students to the city’s magnificent cathedral, bustling market and the remarkable Torre Tavira, where the famous camera obscura offered spectacular views across the city. Shopping opportunities, ordering ice cream in Spanish and a delicious tapas dinner provided plenty of opportunities to practise language skills in authentic situations.

The final day brought more unforgettable experiences, from cooking traditional paella and taking part in a lively flamenco workshop to writing postcards home in Spanish before sitting down to enjoy the meal they had prepared together.

Our sincere thanks go to Mrs Steinberg, Mrs Zuluaga de la Cruz, Ms Gomez, Ms Jiménez, Ms Sequeira, Mr Davies and Mr Raschke for making the trip such a memorable experience. Our students embraced every opportunity to discover Spanish culture, speak as much Spanish as possible and, perhaps most importantly, become just that little bit 10% braver in Spain.