Learners sample Continental cuisine to mark European links

Dishes from a host of Continental cuisines were on offer to mark links with Europe.

Pizza to brioche, tortilla and Welsh cakes were on the lunch-time menu at Ysgol Emrys ap Iwan as part of its European Extravaganza.

The activities were organised by the school’s modern language teacher Sian Dolben who hailed the event a great success.

She said: “Our European Day of Languages event was a big hit with learners and it’s certainly something we are looking forward to recreating and expanding on next year.

“Many learners turned up and the face painting was hugely popular, with big queues of learners wanting to have various European flags painted onto their faces.

“We had different stalls serving a range of European foods such as Italian pizza, mozzarella pockets, authentic Italian biscuits, Spanish tortilla, non-alcoholic sangria, French brioche, pain au chocolate, croissants, baguettes, brie and, of course, Welsh cakes and Welsh-themed cup-cakes.

“Learners clearly enjoyed sampling all the different foods and drinks we had on offer. We also had music played by members of the school band, which added to the great party atmosphere.”

She added: “We also had a green screen photo booth where learners could have friendship photos taken apparently in different countries – which was also very popular.

“Many members of staff and helpers dressed up in European fancy dress and the school hall and canteen was decorated with different European flags too.

“As part of the celebrations during lessons learners took part in European quizzes, had language taster sessions and listened to songs in different languages.

“We also ran a poster competition for learners in Years 7-9 to design a poster promoting language learning and we have had some fantastic entries. The winner will receive a hamper of European foods.

“We also ran another competition during our European Extravaganza event in the hall where learners had to guess the number of sweets in a jar - but in Swedish! “

Year 11 Ysgol Emrys ap Iwan learners Hannah Prescott, Kia Darlington and Jemma Chapman, all agreed the European Day of Languages event had been amazing.

Dressed in a Spanish flamenco dancer’s outfit, Kia said: “I’ve really enjoyed it and it’s been good sampling all the different food on offer. It’s also been good hearing so many different European languages.”

Hannah said: “It’s been really good and something different. The face painting was a great idea and I’ve liked trying the different foods.”

Jemma added: “I have really enjoyed it. It’s been really well organised and a lot of fun. The different foods have been good and just hearing so many different languages was amazing.”

Ysgol Emrys ap Iwan head teacher Lee Cummins said the European Day of Languages was an important event and a good introduction to other cultures for learners.

He said: “Sian Dolben has worked really hard putting the event together and there is no doubt learners gained a lot from what was a fun but also an educational event.

“It’s important that we have fun together as well as working hard academically. Our school motto is Dare to Achieve and I want to see all our learners working hard and doing their very best every day.”

He added: “I also want to see the very best teaching and events such as the European Day of Languages is an opportunity to show our learners a little bit of the world outside of their North Wales home.”