A Staff Language Learning Initiative to Promote Conversation and Understanding QUEEN ETHELBURGA’S

QE has long had a team of International Liaison Officers who use their fluency in several languages to support with student, parent or guardian language barriers. The team are wellreceived and always on-hand for the duration of each international family’s involvement with the school from initial enquiry and tour right through to the student’s journey as an alumnus.

In January, the Collegiate decided to take its student and parent communication a step further and launched a set of beginner language courses in Thai, Mandarin and Cantonese for student-facing staff who would like to converse with students in their native language and learn more about the cultures of their students The courses are delivered by nativespeaking staff on campus and have been well-attended and popular, with enthusiastic students who like to share their culture joining the classes to help staff practice speaking.

Teacher of the Beginner’s Mandarin Course, Mrs. Wang, explained, ‘As the content of the course is tailored to classroom and boarding environments, teachers and boarding staff are taught phrases, questions and answers that promote daily conversation. The staff have been very enthusiastic and are making excellent progress. It is great to hear how they are using and practising their Mandarin outside of the class.’

Teacher of Science, Ms. Dale, said of the Mandarin course she is studying, ‘It has been great to learn and practise Mandarin alongside colleagues from a range of different areas within QE. Mrs. Wang has been a fantastic teacher and has prepared a thoughtful course to help supplement my lessons with useful educational phrases. The best part of the process has been putting it into practice in my lessons. Greeting students as they enter the classroom and being able to praise their work and effort in Mandarin adds something extra to my teaching and to my relationship with our Chinese international students. I’m enjoying learning from them, especially as they help improve my pronunciation, and conversing with them in Mandarin.’

Head of College, Mr. Turner, says ‘It has been a joy this term to overhear conversations between staff and pupils in Thai, Mandarin and Cantonese. Both staff and students are clearly enjoying the sharing of culture and vocabulary, as well as the different dynamic of the pupils instructing the teachers. It is a great addition to all the other initiatives we have for making international students feel more at home.’

To learn more about QE’s embracive community, visit www.qe.org