Language skills can prove to be very important

Pupils learn how to boost their chances

Young people from Duncanrig Secondary had the opportunity to get involved with local businesses and see how language skills can boost their career options.

At an event held in the school, S3 and S4 students heard from a range of local business leaders who view language skills as key to the growth and success of their companies.

It aimed to encourage pupils to continue with their language studies into the senior phase of their secondary education and beyond school.

Louise Lenihan, acting principal teacher of modern languages, said: “Our students have been working intensively on an employability unit in languages, and the Industry Day was the perfect opportunity for them to put their learning and skills into practice in real-life scenarios.

“Learners were motivated by seeing the relevance of their language skills to their future employment.”

One pupil commented afterwards: “The event made me realise how important communication skills are in the workplace.

“Learning languages can help build your confidence, and improve your problem-solving skills.

“I enjoyed making the video, learning new French words in a fun environment and getting to work in a team with people from my class.”

Kara Nisbett, director of Articulate Language Camps, one of the businesses attending, said: “We thoroughly enjoyed our day with the pupils at Duncanrig.

“The marketing campaigns they developed were highly creative and entertaining.”

The event was organised by Duncanrig’s modern languages department with support from SCILT, Scotland’s National Centre for Languages, based at Strathclyde University.

Companies attending included SCILT, Strathclyde University and Articulate Language Camps.

Fhiona Mackay, director of SCILT said: “Events such as these are a really important way of providing young people with high-quality careers advice delivered by the business people themselves and of demonstrating to them the value of language skills in our increasingly globalised world.”

Learning languages can help build your confidence...