S1 French Town visit May 2026

Bringing Language Learning to Life in North Berwick

Our S1 French pupils recently took their learning beyond the classroom and into the heart of North Berwick, putting their knowledge of towns, places and directions into real-life practice.

Working in groups, pupils explored the local area and created short videos introducing different places in the town centre. Using the French they have been learning in class, they described where places are, gave directions and used key prepositions to explain location – all while navigating a familiar environment in a new language.

This outdoor learning experience allows pupils to see the purpose of language learning in a meaningful, real-world context. Rather than simply practising vocabulary on paper, they are using French to communicate, collaborate and engage with their surroundings, helping to build both confidence and independence.

It is also a particularly memorable experience for our pupils. Being out in the community, working with friends and creating their own videos makes the learning feel authentic and exciting. Many pupils continue to talk about this experience in later years, recalling it as a highlight of their time in S1 and as a moment when language learning truly “clicked”.

By embedding learning in real-life contexts, we aim to inspire a lasting enthusiasm for languages and help our pupils recognise the value of communication beyond the classroom.

A memorable and impactful learning experience for our pupils

We walked down to the bike shop after we had all been accounted for, we split up into our groups and headed to our destinations. We used our phones or our chromebooks to film us talking about our shops that we chose in French. Everything went according to plan with the help of our scripts that we had made beforehand. We had about 20 minutes to film which was just enough time and we were allowed to buy things as long as we got the work done. When our time was up, we went back to the bike shop and we all walked back to school together.

Thank you for the opportunity Miss Smith. It was really fun to write this and also thank you and Miss Breslin for taking us there. :)

By Aisha Hanif

As part of our final topic in S1 French, 'Ma Ville' (or 'My Town'), we were asked to make a guide video for tourists visiting North Berwick. This meant being involved in all stages of making the film - in our groups we decided what we wanted to show, wrote scripts, and then spent a lesson in North Berwick filming in various shops and locations. An allocated person from the group then edited the video in time for the French lesson the next day when we all watched the videos we had made. We found this an exciting and fun way to practice the writing and speaking of the vocabulary we had learnt during this topic, experiment using technology to help us learn and also a great way to show our ability to complete a task independently.

By Emilia Wilkinson 1C2

NBHS RED Carpet 2026

In S2 French, we created a mini catwalk with some red fabric in class, this was because we learnt about the Festival De Cannes! During the catwalk we described each other in french, we called each other ‘beau!’, ‘démodé!’, ‘moche!’ or any other terms that we could use to compliment each other. It was great to use real vocabulary in the language instead of just saying phrases, which made it very memorable.

Festival De Cannes takes place every May and showcases new films from around the world, highlighting how cinema connects with culture, fashion and language. It helps promote films, directors and the global film industry.

It is also a meeting place for filmmakers, actors and industry professionals. Many célébrités attend and dress up in magnifique clothes and costumes to walk the red carpet!

Learning about all of this is fun, hands-on and makes French feel vivant! Perfect if you want to learn French the way that people actually see it.

By Emily Hoddinott

Edinburgh College

In the last few weeks, a group from the N5 French class went to Edinburgh college in Granton for a French-themed cooking trip. When we got there, we were shown through to the kitchen where we were given a brief explanation of different kinds of chocolate. We made chocolate tarts and small ganache-filled chocolates. We also had a go at piping chocolate for decoration. This trip was a lovely experience and if I could go again I definitely would. My favourite part of this trip was piping the chocolate to decorate the tarts (although I did enjoy eating the chocolate too!).

By Lottie Bradley 4F

Glasgow University

As part of their Portfolio studies this year focussing on the Mexican novel Como Agua Para Chocolate by Laura Esquivel and its film adaptation by Alfonso Arau, the Advanced Higher Spanish class recently took a trip to the University of Glasgow to meet with Dr Nathanial Gardner, Professor of Hispanic Studies. Dr Gardner, who is an expert on both the book and film versions of Como Agua Para Chocolate, delivered a talk to our students followed by a Q&A session to assist them with their portfolio writing. Our students were very privileged to have been offered this opportunity and, not only was it immensely beneficial for aiding their understanding of the book and the film, but they were also excited to meet with Dr Gardner who is a successful novelist in his own right. After their University of Glasgow visit, our students enjoyed a tapas lunch in Café Andaluz in Glasgow’s west end.

European day of Languages

On Friday 26th September, North Berwick High School's Modern Languages Department celebrated European Day of Languages by inviting external speakers to share their positive language-learning experiences with our S3 cohort. Taylor Adams, pupil support worker at North Berwick High School, Dominique Harvey, co-founder of local company Seabass Vinyl, and David Binns, Director of Operations at Sanako UK inspired our budding linguists by enlightening them with stories of how learning languages has helped to enhance both their professional and personal lives. The event was well-received by pupils, who were keen to engage with the speakers by asking insightful questions at the end. We hope this event has helped to convince pupils of the importance of multilingualism in school and beyond.

2025 Annual French café experience

Just before the Easter holidays, the Modern Languages Department hosted a delightful French breakfast for our S1 pupils, giving them the chance to put their language skills into action. Before the event, students created their own French breakfast menus and practised ordering food and drinks in French.

With French music playing in the background, pupils confidently ordered pains au chocolat, croissants, apple juice, and orange juice—all in French! There were smiles all around as they enjoyed a taste of French culture.

Well done to all our S1 pupils for embracing the challenge so enthusiastically—c’était délicieux!

What did we think of the café ?

“I like the croissants and pain au chocolat and I enjoyed the topic because we got to learn about food.” Kyle

“Today I really enjoyed the French Cafe experience and really enjoyed learning French foods and drinks. It was also fun to order the food and drinks.” Cian

“I really enjoyed the food topic because I am going to Paris this summer and it really helped improve my French!!The cafe was my favourite part because we aren’t usually allowed to eat in class! Thanks so much.” Phoebe

“I loved the food and making the menu. ” Teya

“The French cafe was really fun because it was a nice break from the lessons, which have a stricter structure” Megan

“The cafe was really good with very nice food and drinks.” Skye

“I really liked how we had proper French food and drinks, made menus to use and I also like how you set it up” Sally

“The food was good.I really enjoyed it.The chillest French lesson ever!We should do this more often.” Kaden

“The French café was really nice,I really enjoyed speaking French. The food was so good! Definitely recommend doing it every year/month!” Harmony

“I loved this topic, I think it would be very helpful if I went to France again. I LOVED the French cafe. The food was great.” Flora

“I think that this topic has been fun and it reminds me of going on holiday to France.” Izzy

“I loved it and it was really nice to learn about French food and have fun with my friends.” Ailsa

“I loved the French cafe. It was a great idea and it was fun to eat and drink with my friends.” Josh

“The French cafe was good food. It was so good I felt like I was in France. This is the best thing we’ve done in French.” Tom

“It was a good topic because it would help if you were going to France and getting food from somewhere” Teddy

“I really loved the French cafe because it was fun and it also taught me how to order food in French.” Ivy

“I really enjoyed the cafe and speaking French to order. I love the food that we had today as well.” Finlay

“I enjoyed everything about the subject and the French café. I liked how we ordered in French for practice so it was educational but fun as we got food and fruit juice.” Gracie

“ I really enjoyed the cafe/food subject we did in French. My favorite part of the subject was making the menus” Emma

“It was good and yummy and I really enjoyed it.” Aleksandra

“Very tasty good foods, apple juice was yummy.” Leah

“The French breakfast was very enjoyable.” Robb

“It was a nice experience with French speaking and food.” Connie

“It was yummy!” Amy

“The food was scrumptious.” Jess Duncan

“I loved it, it was very fun to sit with my friends and chat while eating the French breakfast, and Fraser and Alexander did very good with the waiter-ing-anating-ing” Riley

“I really enjoyed the French breakfast, especially the pain au chocolat and apple juice, it was great to just have a chat instead of copying down sentences and just to get a break.” Heath

“I thought the french breakfast was great I also liked being a waiter” Alexander

“I thought that the breakfast was yummy, I loved the croissants! Hope I have it again.” Morgan

“I think the French Breakfast was a wonderful treat and pushed our limits of speaking French.” Iona

“I liked the french breakfast it was really good and fun I hope we get to do more stuff like it.” Fraser

“I think that one of the best things about the french breakfast (aside from the food) was the ambience. There was a really nice setup and a very pleasant, relaxed feel to the whole thing. Thank you.” Elise

“I really enjoyed the breakfast because I liked how we had lots of food and drink because it was delicious. I also liked the music in the background.” Brodie Wilson

“I thought it was really good definitely worth it.” Max

“I found the french breakfast really fun and delicious.I also really enjoyed ordering ourselves!” Katie

European Day of Languages

S3 Languages event

This week, the Modern Languages Department celebrated the European Day of Languages, held annually on September 26th.

We were thrilled to host inspiring guest speakers who offered our students a glimpse into the incredible opportunities that learning languages can unlock. From diverse and dynamic career paths to exciting global adventures, our learners were shown just how far language skills can take them!

The Guest Speakers

Daisy Chambers, former pupil and editor at Sky History Channel, shared how her early language studies have led to incredible adventures and life-changing experiences. Beginning with a lasting friendship formed during a school Spanish exchange, Daisy went on to pursue multiple university degrees that expanded her horizons both academically and personally. She credits her knowledge of languages for opening doors to opportunities she never imagined possible, including exciting career prospects, travel experiences, and even romance. Daisy's story serves as a powerful testament to the lifelong benefits of learning languages.

Former pupil Lara Frostwick, now a solicitor at HF, returned to share her exciting journey through university life and beyond. She spoke passionately about how the Erasmus programme gave her the chance to step out of her comfort zone, live abroad, and experience the world in a whole new way. During her year in Lyon—the gastronomic capital of France—Lara indulged in mouthwatering foods and soaked up local festivals, making memories to last a lifetime!

Lara emphasised how knowing another language, like French, has been invaluable not just in her work, but socially too. It’s opened up doors to new friendships, professional connections, and opportunities. Her advice? Push yourself to embrace challenges and be proud of everything you can achieve!

She also reminded us that having languages on your CV isn’t just impressive—it shows you’re open-minded, adaptable, and ready for anything!

Alice Morrison, TV presenter, writer, and adventurer, shared her incredible journey powered by languages! She speaks French, German, Arabic, and Turkish. Alice uses her Arabic every day as she now calls Morocco home. Wherever she travels, Alice makes it a point to learn at least 10 words in the local language, believing it enriches her experiences and opens doors. After all, people respond warmly when you speak to them in their own language!

Her linguistic skills have fueled some epic adventures—like running around Mount Everest, cycling from Cairo to Cape Town, and crossing the vast Moroccan desert with six camels and local guides! Alice's message was clear: learning languages can take you on the adventure of a lifetime, helping you connect with people, cultures, and places in a way that nothing else can.

Her story is a reminder that speaking multiple languages isn’t just a skill—it’s a passport to unforgettable experiences!

Suzanne Ritchie shared that from a young age, her passion for languages has opened the door to countless thrilling opportunities—both personally and professionally. Her love for languages has taken her on an exciting journey across Europe, with jobs in France, Austria, Switzerland, and Germany. These adventures led her to some truly unforgettable moments, including meeting legends like Pele and Nelson Mandela!

Suzanne's career has been as diverse as her travels: from running children's camps and working at Credit Suisse Bank to being involved with FIFA and teaching. Today, she’s a Development Officer at SCILT, inspiring others to discover the power of languages. Thanks to her linguistic skills, Suzanne has not only built an impressive career but also made lifelong friends and incredible memories along the way.

Who knew speaking a few extra languages could lead to so much fun and adventure?

Former pupil Sarah Harvey, now a Translation Project Manager at Rubric, dropped by to share her incredible journey through the world of languages. With French and Spanish under her belt, Sarah talked about the wide range of universities offering language courses and emphasised that even if languages aren’t your main subject, keeping them in your studies can open so many doors!

Her experiences living and working abroad were full of adventure, proving that language skills aren't just useful—they're life-changing! Sarah explained how knowing a second (or third!) language is a huge advantage in so many careers, and can even boost your earning potential. Plus, she shared heartwarming stories of making lifelong friends during her travels.

Sarah’s message? Learning languages isn’t just about the classroom—it’s about creating memories, friendships, and opportunities that can take you around the world!

Dominique Harvey, the French owner of Seabass Vinyls https://seabassvinyl.com/, recently spoke to our students about the pivotal role languages play in both business and travel. She highlighted how knowing both French and English enables her to connect with a wide range of people across the business world, while her knowledge of English has allowed her to explore new and exciting destinations. Dominique encouraged our pupils by reminding them that language learning is a continuous process—perfection is not required, and it's possible to grow and improve as you go.

26/9/24

What did we think of the Languages event?

“I really enjoyed the talks and it made me realise I want to take Spanish all through the rest of my school years and also at uni and hopefully do a semester in Spain.” Isla Lennock

“I liked the speakers and now I want to learn lots of languages.” Freya Buchanan

“I liked the talk, it inspired me and it was really fun.” Poppy Smith

“I thought they were both really good because Sarah was talking about the benefits of languages and what you can do with it where as Daisy talked about where you can go with languages and what you can do with it.” Daniel McLachlin

“It was interesting to see all people’s stories and they made me think about how useful it they could be later on in life.” Theo Bowie

“I think that you could actually get a job in another county because of learning a new language!” Finlay Mackay

“I didn't think about the social aspect that languages can offer as well as being able to work abroad. Daisy's presentation was my favourite as it was very interesting.” Blair Donachie

“I think it was quite cool how everyone got to go on so many trips abroad and how many jobs they were able to get because they spoke fluent languages” Kyle Sievwright

“We didn’t realise how much languages can help you in any field of work and how they open so many opportunities.” Anna Gries and Isabella Hartt

“I never thought languages could help you get closer to football and FIFA. Getting the chance to meet someone like Pele I thought was only possible if you're connected via actual football.” James Swan

“I realised from Daisy’s presentation that languages help you travel to cool places and knowing the native languages means you’ll be a lot more accepted into communities” Maia Ellis

“I thought the speakers were very good. And I think that Daisy certainly changed my mind a lot about languages. I really enjoyed it!” Sophia Gardyne

“They made me want to take more languages and travel around the world.” Isla Chisolm

Heriot Watt Multilingual debate

This week 11 of our S3 pupils were lucky enough to be selected to attend the Heriot Watt Multilingual Debate.

Topic of Debate: “This House believes that artificial intelligence could become a threat to our societies and way of life.”

Heriot-Watt University's Multilingual Debate is an annual event that showcases the interpreting skills of undergraduate students on our Languages (Interpreting and Translating) degree programme, as well as the developing professional skills of postgraduate students on our MSc Interpreting and Translating programmes.

The event takes the form of a formal debate with two multilingual teams arguing for and against a motion of topical interest in a range of languages. The teams deliver their views in their various native languages (French, German, Spanish, English, Arabic, Chinese, British Sign Language (BSL)).

30/5/24

What did we think of the debate?

I thought the debate was really interesting and good. In particular I liked the point they were making and I though it was really cool how they were speaking and translating so many different languages! - Rosemary

I liked listening in to the person speaking in French and having the English following to fill in the bits I didn’t understand. - Charlotte

I enjoyed the day out and listening to the debate in all the different languages. - Amber

It was a really fun experience and I would recommend it to anyone. It was very interesting to hear the interpreters and the language being spoken and hearing how the debaters responded to questions and it was great that there was audience participation. - Lottie

It was a really interesting experience when flicking through all the different languages and being able to hear them all speak about the same thing. I found the topic really and up to date with the modern day advancements and they made a good choice. Overall I would recommend going if you have the opportunity even if you’re not taking a language next year! - Zoe

I really enjoyed the trip. It was a really up to date topic they were debating on. It was also really interesting and I would like to go back! - Finlay

I really enjoyed the debate and found it fascinating hearing different opinions in different languages. I am now interested in doing interpreting in university. - Mia

I thought the Multilingual Debate was a great opportunity to experience and was good to listen to others translating in their chosen language. I really enjoyed it and found it very interesting and such a good opportunity worth it! - Keira

I really enjoyed the Multilingual Debate because it was interesting and technologically advanced. I think it is a great thing to do for future years. - Harry

I really enjoyed my day! It was interesting to hear all the different languages and how some words compare to words in English. The topic of the debate is also something I am interested in! - Leah

I loved the event in its entirety but was so impressed with how the translators could adapt to the demands and handle the pressure of translating so quickly. The topic being discussed was thought provoking and our pupils embraced this and added their own thoughts very maturely. - Mr Macdonald

This week we hosted a lovely French breakfast for our S1 pupils to put their skills into action with ordering food and drinks. There were smiles all around.

29/4/24

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