“I have really loved immersing myself in a different culture in terms of the country’s music, literature, film and current events. Learning French has taught me to think very intentionally about how meanings and intentions are communicated between people. The teachers are so lovely and supportive and really care about each student, making university applications and preparation so much less stressful.

In French, we read the novel ‘No et Moi’. It’s a story about homeless young people in France and the adversity they face. Furthermore, we study social issues such as immigration in France, integration of the Muslim community in a secular world, the impact of tourism and, of course, France under occupation and the impact and effects of that. The reconstruction period is also very interesting. Students from the University of Manchester came into College in Year 12 to inspire us to study a beginner’s subject at university, alongside our main subject, such as Arabic, Portuguese or Italian. It was great to experience another subject and to see the differences and similarities between them. Within the Modern Foreign Languages department, Spanish and German students also experience similar fulfilling activities related to their subjects.”