Westgate School raise more than £200 for charity on European Day of Modern Languages

Students at Westgate School in Cippenham raised more than £200 for the Alzheimer’s Society as they celebrated the European Day of Languages earlier this month.

A bake sale was held in aid of the dementia charity accompanied by a raffle featuring a cake adorned with the Indian flag as first prize.

Lessons were specially adapted to mark the occasions and students also attended assemblies which highlighted the link between learning languages and dementia.

Research in the Frontiers in Neuroscience journal, among other publications, has suggested speaking more than one language could delay dementia symptoms.

Head of modern foreign languages, Nadia Siddiqui, said the day had been a ‘roaring success’.

She added: “It was a great day to celebrate not only languages and their various benefits but culture, diversity, kindness and tolerance within our community.”

Head of music, Ms Francis, led an interactive musical workshop based on Malian tribes use of Djembes for communication.

Maths classes saw problems solved with numbers from different languages and in English, students examined the Gothic alphabet.

A colourful fashion show, organised by intervention co-ordinator, Mrs Ahmed, also showcased the traditional attire of countries from Poland to Pakistan.

Students hit the catwalk alongside the beat of popular international songs and rounded off the display with a speech in their mother tongue.

Mrs Siddiqui thanked the school’s language ambassadors who she said, had ‘worked tirelessly behind the scenes’ and did a ‘fabulous job’ to promote the event.