In celebration of European Day of Languages tomorrow (Friday 26th September), St Margaret’s School for Girls in Aberdeen has been running a week-long programme of engaging events to highlight the importance of language learning and the wide-ranging opportunities it can unlock.
The packed programme reflects the school’s commitment to language education at a time when national figures show a concerning decline. According to a recent article in TES1, Scotland is considered a ‘linguistic powerhouse’, yet uptake in languages at National 5 level in French, German, and Spanish has declined over the past decade.
Despite this national picture, St Margaret’s School for Girls continues to prioritise language learning, with students achieving a 100% pass rate in language subjects in 2025.
Pupils took part in a special event on Wednesday 24th September, designed to showcase the diverse skills that can be developed through learning a language. As part of the day, students heard from a range of speakers who are using languages in different professional and cultural contexts, helping to bring the relevance of multilingualism to life. The event consisted of three interactive sessions where pupils looked at myths about language learning, languages in a technological world and skills which languages develop.
A major highlight of the week will be participation in the British Council’s "Where Will Languages Take Me?" webinar on Friday 26th September. This national event will introduce students to real-world stories of how languages can open doors to global careers and intercultural experiences and inspire secondary pupils to continue studying languages, or to choose language as an option.
Leading the celebrations are the school’s very own Language Ambassadors, a pupil-led leadership programme that is championing language learning across the school. Throughout the week, they organised a series of fun and interactive activities including:
- A whole-school assembly to kick off the celebrations
- A form-time quiz testing pupils’ linguistic knowledge
- A creative bake-off competition with an international twist
- A “Design a Mascot” competition for the language department
- A school-wide scavenger hunt promoting cultural curiosity
- Spanish taster lessons for younger pupils in the junior school
Karen Williamson, Head of Modern Languages at St Margaret’s School for Girls, said: "European Day of Languages is a fantastic opportunity to celebrate the power of language learning beyond the classroom. This week’s activities are all about showing our pupils that languages aren’t just about vocabulary and grammar - they’re about connection, culture, and opportunity. From hearing inspiring stories of real-world careers to engaging in creative and collaborative challenges, we hope every student comes away with a deeper appreciation of the doors that languages can open. It’s especially exciting to see our Language Ambassadors leading the charge. They’re a brilliant example of how young people can champion multilingualism in fun, meaningful ways."
Language Ambassador and S4 student, Millie Leighton, said: “I am currently studying National 5 French, and I think that learning a language is very interesting and useful for the future. I decided to be a language ambassador this year because I want to encourage as many people as possible to take a language. I find it fascinating how even learning a few words or phrases can help you connect with people from a variety of countries, and I believe that learning a language opens up many opportunities, allows you to explore different cultures and helps you to better understand your own language!”
The European Day of Languages, celebrated annually on September 26th, aims to promote the rich linguistic and cultural heritage of Europe and to encourage lifelong language learning in and out of school.