Wellingtonians are expected to put their all into the study of each language, and are encouraged to study two languages at all times. Third Form pupils choose two from French, German, Mandarin, Russian and Spanish, all of which can be taken through to GCSE, A Level and IB Diploma.
We offer a high degree of flexibility to cater for individual needs and interests. Private classes with visiting tutors for native speakers of other languages can be arranged and we regularly have pupils studying Italian, Dutch, Hebrew, Norwegian, Swedish, Arabic and Japanese in this way. Native, bi-lingual or fluent speakers of French, German, Mandarin, Russian and Spanish study these languages off-timetable both to enable them to progress at an appropriate pace and also to open up further language options inside the formal curriculum.
As well as having a number of language assistants in-College to aid with the speaking and listening skills of our pupils, regular cultural and language-immersion trips are arranged to overseas locations in Europe and Asia.
With over 80% of the world not speaking English and only 6% using it as their first language, the benefits of be able to speak at least one foreign language is phenomenal: whole swathes of foreign cultures open themselves up, revealing experiences and moments of genuine amazement. We therefore encourage all pupils to learn a language and be inspired by the breadth of the world.
