The tension was running at an all time high for the year 11 students in school this week, for the dreaded French, German and Spanish orals had come all too soon round that extremely sharp corner. The pressure of having to learn numerous questions relating to family, school, health, social activities, and the media was almost too much to handle. Tenses, cases, and adjectives are huge struggle when it comes to that twelve minute fear inducing exam.

It’s crazy to believe how much we struggle speaking for only a few minutes in a foreign language for one exam. For students who don’t take a language onto further levels, this is the last time many will ever have to touch a word of the frightening foreign dialect. But now imagine just how many people from all over the world are using practically perfect English; an extreme antithesis to this countries’ ability of communication with others abroad. Are we supposed to go on holiday and think that we can get by just being able to say “hello!” and “Where are the toilets?”

With extremely strong links with other countries, it’s time to buckle down and actually learn some decent and vital conversation topics. It is so important to make the effort to try and communicate in a foreign language, as it increases our confidence, mental skills, and looks exceptionally good on job applications!!

So good luck, bonne chance and viel Glück!!