QPHS magazine - Spring Term 2026 - Magazine - Page 16
INTERNATIONAL EXCHANGE
Year 8 students meet their French pen pals!
It9s been a busy and exciting term in
the MFL department, with students
enjoying fantastic opportunities to
bring their language learning to life.
On Friday 5th June, our main hall
was full of smiles and bonjours as
we welcomed 48 French students
and staff from Collège Antoine de
Saint-Exupèry in Vannes, South
Brittany to Queen9s Park High
School. As our largest international
exchange to date, the visit was a
fantastic opportunity for students to
connect, share cultures and bring
their language learning to life. we
have ever hosted!
This was going to be no ordinary
French lesson either! After months
of writing letters, our Year 8
students finally came face to face
with the pen pals they had been
getting to know from afar, turning
written words into real
conversations and new friendships.
At first I was nervous, but
everyone was so friendly and
the games made it easy to talk.
Year 8 Student
Throughout the morning, students
had the chance to meet, chat and
connect, bringing their language
learning to life in the most
memorable way.
Students kicked off with an icebreaker activity, a fun 8getting to
know you9 quiz, and a lively
treasure hunt. These activities were
designed to encourage
communication, cooperation, and
friendship across cultures and
helped everyone feel more relaxed
and confident speaking French.
Our Year 10 and 12 French
students also played a key role,
supporting the activities and making
the most of the opportunity to
practise their speaking skills ahead
of their upcoming mock exams.
It was a brilliant morning of
language learning and cultural
exchange, bringing confidence,
cultural understanding and a
reminder that learning a language
opens the door to real connections.
We finished the morning with a
heartfelt au revoir, and memories
that will last well beyond the
classroom.
