A Week of Languages, Culture and Creativity at Wallace High School 2026!

From French croissants and crêpes to flamenco-inspired art and a whole-school quiz, European Day of Languages brought a world of culture and creativity to Wallace High School this September.

European Day of Languages

The Modern Languages Department pulled out all the stops to celebrate European Day of Languages, with a packed programme of activities giving pupils across the school the chance to explore new cultures, put their language skills into practice and discover that learning a language can be every bit as enjoyable as it is rewarding.

From the moment the celebrations began, classrooms were buzzing with music, food, games and creative challenges, each offering a taste of life beyond our own borders.

Opportunities for Key Stage 3

Our Year 8 pupils enjoyed a little slice of France, tucking into croissants and juice while completing a fun French-themed worksheet. Meanwhile, Year 9 German pupils immersed themselves in German culture, collaborating with the Computing Department to design their own tourist websites showcasing Germany. They also embraced the festive spirit by creating colourful Karneval masks.

Year 10 Spanish pupils brought plenty of rhythm and colour to the celebrations, exploring the vibrant worlds of flamenco and salsa through music and dance before unleashing their creativity in the form of flamenco-inspired artwork. Year 11 pupils put their language knowledge and teamwork to the test with language quizzes and an exciting game of The Traitors, celebrating how far they have come on their language-learning journey.

Year 13 Languages and Food

There was no shortage of international flavour for our older pupils either! Our Year 13 students swapped the classroom for the kitchen in a fantastic crêpe-making session with the Food and Nutrition Department. Combining French language skills with cultural knowledge – and enjoying a delicious reward for their efforts – proved to be a recipe for success!

The competitive spirit continued with our whole-school European Day of Languages Quiz, which brought together pupils from Years 9–14. With prizes up for grabs, participants put their knowledge of languages, countries and cultures to the test, with our highest scorers earning well-deserved recognition.

Junior Languages Club

Our enthusiastic Junior Languages Club members were also keen to join in. Exploring French culture, they designed their own Eiffel Tower dream catchers, combining artistic flair with an appreciation of one of France’s most iconic landmarks. Their colourful creations now brighten up our Modern Languages classrooms, providing a lasting reminder of the celebrations.

For those keen to experience French culture on screen, an early-lunch screening of the much-loved French film Les Choristes offered another opportunity to enjoy the language beyond the textbook.

The celebrations culminated in our European Day of Languages assembly, where Head of Department Mrs Schumann highlighted the importance and enjoyment of learning languages, encouraging pupils to recognise the exciting opportunities that language skills can unlock.

Reflections

Head of Department, Carolyn Schumann commented, “At Wallace High School, we know that learning a language is about so much more than vocabulary and grammar. It is about opening doors, broadening horizons, building connections and seeing the world from different perspectives. This year’s European Day of Languages celebrations were a wonderful reminder that, while we may speak different languages, our curiosity, creativity and enthusiasm for learning bring us together”.

A huge thank you goes to all our Modern Languages staff, colleagues across the school and, of course, our pupils, whose enthusiasm and participation helped make the celebrations such a success.

You can find out more about life at Wallace High School via https://www.instagram.com/wallacehighlisburn

Learn more about where Modern Languages can take you at Wallace by accessing the article below:

Barcelona 2026: An Unforgettable Spanish Adventure