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AC A D E M I C
7
Modern Foreign Languages Showcase
Lucas Yates, RE
Last term, in July, I participated in one of the highlights of
my year. I’d always loved languages, and I seemed to pick them
up quickly as well. So, when I heard that there was to be a
languages showcase, I was very happy. I come from mixed family
of English (on my dad’s side) and Brazilian (on my mum’s side).
To complicate matters further, both my parents also lived in
Israel, therefore, when they don’t want to be overheard,
Hebrew is spoken at home.Although they don’t yet realize it,
I have become very acquainted with this language by now.
I learned to understand Portuguese from a very young age.
My mother would speak the language throughout the house,
and I would respond, but only in English. So, it was no surprise
that I would grow to love languages; I’d grown up in a
household surrounded by them.
When my Spanish teacher offered me the opportunity of
performing something, in the MFL Showcase I decided to do a
Spanish poem.When the day came, I was riddled with nerves.
Not because I wasn’t looking forward to it, just because I had to
recite it front of a huge audience of my fellow pupils.
The whole experience was a light-hearted celebration of language
learning at Bancroft’s.The atmosphere on the day was lively and
happy, and there was a wave of excitement in the air as well as a
healthy respect for the upcoming performances.The Great Hall
was packed with children who, although happy for the upcoming
events, were more excited about missing periods 7 and 8.The first
act we experienced was the Removes singing
The Market Song
in
Spanish. It was very funny and got a laugh out of everyone.This
performance was followed by many others including the Removes
singing
Old Town Road
in German, a song that made the crowd go
wild, and then the Thirds singing the theme song from German
Sesame Stree
t. I was included in that song with the rest of my class
and we had a blast.Then, there came me.
As the announcer called my name, nerves raced around my
stomach. I stood up, took a deep breath, and walked up to
the podium. I adjusted the microphone, stood up straight, and
performed my poem.When I had finished and the crowd
applauded, relief rushed throughout my body. Being in front of
so many people was nerve racking, but at the same time I was
filled with a feeling of accomplishment. After a couple more acts,
we came to the finale:
Komm gib mir deine Hand
or, in English,
I
Wanna HoldYour Hand
by the Beatles. It was led by the Removes,
but everyone was encouraged to join in as the lyrics were in the
programme. It was a joyous moment as the whole school shook
with the sound of one German Song sung by so many pupils on a
rainy school day afternoon.
I loved the Languages Showcase. It really boosted the School’s
love and interest for languages and was a great opportunity
for everyone, new and experienced. I can’t wait for this year’s
showcase and I hope I have the honour of performing in it once
again. I honestly can’t wait.
The languages showcase
really boosted the
School’s love and
interest for languages.
L U C A S