Learning languages, making connections
QE pupils explored the impact of languages and language-learning on music and cultures in a special event at North London Collegiate School.
The Modern Foreign Languages symposium hosted by QE’s partner girls’ school celebrated the power of languages, music and culture to connect people across national boundaries.
Topics ranged from the life and works of polyglot composer Franz Liszt to links between languages and statelessness in Africa.
German and French teacher Fiona McAndrew, who led the QE group, said: “The overall theme was Borders and Bridges, and I know that many of our boys found it fascinating to explore the way in which languages create connections while at the same time fostering creativity.
“Nurturing our students to become deep thinkers and compelling communicators is one of the priorities enumerated in Boundless, the QE School Plan: this symposium helped on both those fronts.”
Keynote speaker Dr Ben Schoeman – an international concert pianist, who gave a recital as part of the symposium – looked at the relationship between music and language in the life and work of composer Franz Liszt. Liszt grew up speaking many languages, with his music bringing together influences from across Europe.
Drawing on his own international career and Liszt’s life and output in the keynote session, Dr Schoeman demonstrated how music can transcend borders and bring cultures together.
Year 13’s Daniel Kollo, who is studying German, History, Maths and Economics, said: ‘‘I knew there was a connection between music and language, but never heard it discussed this way before.”
Dr Schoeman’s session was followed by breakout lectures focusing on French, German, Spanish, Mandarin, Italian and Russian.
For Year 12’s Nikhil Francine, who is currently studying towards AS-levels in Philosophy, French, History and Mathematics, the highlight was the lecture on Francophone Borders and Bridges: Statelessness and Displacement. This was led by NLCS alumna Laura Parker, who has experience working for humanitarian aid charities in Francophone Africa. “This lecture stood out for me, as it explored the theme of statelessness and the use of language in determining statelessness, and how languages break down borders,” Nikhil said.
QE linguists also enjoyed a session led by Dr Aine McMurtry, of King’s College London. During the session, entitled German Translingual Entanglements: Writing in the Contact Zone, Dr McMurtry explored contemporary literature and discussed the challenges of writing in a second language and living abroad.
Reflecting on the symposium as a whole, Nikhil added: “Learning about different cultures was fascinating because it was more of a sociological symposium on languages.
“It was very enlightening to see how languages remain very relevant across a wide range of scenarios, offering valuable ways to examine society, culture and history.”