HOLA / SALUT FROM MFL!
MFL students have had lots of fun expanding their vocabulary, knowledge of grammar and cultural awareness though cookery, singing, travelling and even construction!

¡VIVA EL GAZPACHO!
Do you know what gazpacho is and if so, do you know how to make it?
Year 7 and 8 Spanish students are able to answer both of those questions, as in a recent remote lesson, they were taught by Mrs Palenzuela how to make this traditional Spanish soup and the evidence is below!

If you want to put your gazpacho making skills to the test please click here

YEAR 8 AND 9 VISIT CENTRAL AMERICA
Many Year 8 Spanish students would have been travelling to Spain this week on a language and cultural trip so we kept the travelling theme alive and instead of going to Valencia, we went on an exciting virtual tour of Central America. We started in Mexico where we visited Yucatán’s most famous Mayan site, Chichén Itzá and we then went to Plaza de la Constitución in Mexico City and the Frieda Kahlo museum before moving to Playa Delfines in Cancún and Oaxaca where we celebrated the Day of the Dead. We then moved onto Guatemala, Honduras, Costa Rica and Nicaragua. We now need to do this for real!

FRENCH ESCAPE ROOM & EUROVISION SONG CONTEST
Mrs Paddick’s Year 9 French students had great fun doing a recent escape room activity. Click on this link to see if you can work out the code to break out of the escape room!

Whilst the Eurovision song contest was cancelled this year, Year 9 French students did not miss out and enjoyed a Eurovision song contest lesson, which gave them the opportunity to use their reading, writing and listening skills in a fun way.

FRENCH & SPANISH SONG

One of the ways in which funds are being raised around the world to support both frontline workers and those impacted by the coronavirus is through music. French and Spanish students have been completing activities on songs released by French and Spanish celebrities artists, sportspeople and journalists to support those who are working to save people’s lives.

 

Links to both songs are below:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eY803uik2BY&feature=youtu.be https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hl3B4Ql8RtQ

EIFFEL TOWER COMPETITION

Ms Hargreaves recently coordinated an Eiffel Tower building competition and both she and Mrs Paddick were so impressed with the entries that all those who entered are receiving reward points and a prize! Students had to imagine they were Gustave Eiffel and create their own version of the Eiffel Tower using household objects. Some of their impressive creations are below!

MFL Quiz

It is no surprise that our MFL students are so competitive as their French and Spanish teachers are too! Last Thursday evening, MFL teachers battled against each other in a highly competitive language and cultural quiz. Hats off to Ms Hargreaves who organized the event and to Mrs Paddick who won it!

Key Dates in France & Spain – July 2020

France: La Fête Nationale 14th July

This month celebrates one of the most famous events in French history with celebrations of La Fête Nationale on 14th July to mark the start of the French Revolution in 1789 and the overthrowing of the French royal family to become the republic country that it is today.

Fun Facts about “La Fête Nationale”

1. This is also known as Bastille Day, as the Bastille prison was invaded on that date, but did you know that there were less than 10 prisoners in the prison at that time? The seizure of the Bastille was more a symbol of over-throwing power.

2. It was at this time that Monsieur Guillotine brought out an impressive invention – can you guess what it was?

3. The French flag is called “le tricolor” – each colour symbolizes part of the French declaration of independence – Liberté, Egalité, Fraternité meaning Liberty, Equality and Brotherhood.

4. The French national anthem is called “La Marseillaise” and is all about the French Revolution.

5. Although “Les Misérables” tells the famous French author, Victor Hugo’s tale of rebellion, the events took place at the start of the 19th Century with its fruition in the June Rebellion of 1832 and therefore is not based on the French Revolution, as many people believe.

Spain: San Fermín Festival 7th to 14th July

The Running of the Bulls occurs every July in Pamplona, Spain. Each morning at at 8am, crowds of runners traditionally dressed in white with red neck scarves and sashes await the release of six Spanish fighting bulls and six steers (neutered bulls), who race through the narrow cobbled streets to the bullring arena. Normally over 1 million spectators watch thousands of runners over the 8 days of the San Fermín Festival. Whilst the event cannot happen this year, for only the fifth time in history, the organizers have promised that San Fermín will be back next year, bigger and better than ever before.