Whether for cultural and business reasons, the ability to communicate competently in at least one foreign language offers huge opportunities to boys. Our aim is that all Dulwich boys should achieve a high level of competency in at least one, and sometimes two, three or four languages.
In addition to classroom teaching, the department offers a wide range of activities that further develop boys’ appreciation and enjoyment of languages. We run 20 MFL trips to China, France, Germany, Italy and Spain, and offer school-based co-curricular activities that include: ‘Aviation Française’ in the Junior School, the ‘European Culture Society’ and school-wide celebrations of the European Day of Languages such as the ‘Dulwich Passport to Languages’. Large numbers of boys also choose to participate in language competitions outside the College. These include the Stephen Spender Prize, Ruta del quetzal, the HSBC/British Council Chinese Speaking Competition, the UK-German Connection, the UK Linguistics Olympiad, the South East London Schools French debating competition and the EU young translators’ competition. In recent competitions, George Stanbury won the UK German Connection Summer Scholarship Essay Prize, Thomas Franchi was awarded second place in the Stephen Spender Award (U14) and Gidon Gautel was a finalist in the advanced category of the HSBC/ British Council Chinese Speaking Competition. More than 50 Alleynians take part in the annual UK Linguistics Olympiad and Harry Goodhew was awarded a Gold Medal in the competition in 2013 and 2014 and represented the UK in the International
Year 7 Hispanic culture day, with pupils from City Heights and Dulwich Prep London.
The excursion to China is just one of 20 MFL trips available.
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