Rokeby School in Canning Town holds European day of languages with Exeter University professors

Rokeby School threw caution to the Brexit wind and held a European day of languages.

Lecturers from Exeter University's modern languages department held language and culture workshops. Picture: Ken Mears - Credit: Archant

Last week, the Canning Town school invited lecturers from Exeter University and Newham’s cabinet member for education, Julianne Marriott, to speak to students about the importance of languages for the school’s languages week.

They held a multi-language assembly, cultural workshops, and took part in a discussion on the similarities between dialects.

Councillor Julianne Marriott, said: “It was great to see all the students really engaged in the multi-language assembly which demonstrated how many of the words commonly used in English originate in French, Italian, Greek or Arabic.

“Students also told me how holding a philosophy class in their own language, rather than English, helped them express their thoughts and debating skills.”

Lecturers from Exeter University's modern languages department held language and culture workshops. Picture: Ken Mears - Credit: Archant

In their philosophy lessons, Rokeby pupils who aren’t native English speakers are allowed to have classes in their own language, so the barrier of trying to translate in a class of native speakers is removed.