Languages No Limits event highlights how learning a language opens a world of opportunity

Later, an impressive panel of guest speakers inspired the huge audience with their accounts of how learning languages had transformed their careers. The panel included:

• Will Tucker OH, who studied French at HCS before becoming a skiing instructor and commentator in Switzerland
• Mark Classick, an army liaison officer based in Paris, whose career was transformed by learning Spanish, French and Arabic
• Will Finn, a former brand manager at Johnson & Johnson, who has lived and worked across all regions of the world
• Flora Glass OH, who studied languages at HCS, then took a gap year as an au pair in France, before studying languages at university
• Emma Maxted, who has worked for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and a variety of UK and foreign government departments, and is now involved in defence and security operations in the UK and abroad
• Becky McKay OH, who studied French at HCS and spent a year as an au pair in France after studying Law at university. She is now a graduate project manager for French firm Ipsos
• Professional polyglot Chris Hughes MBE, who speaks 20 languages and has worked in teaching, journalism, government, translation and interpreting
• Dr Marc Shweissinger from the University of Cardiff, who specialises in teaching and researching in the field of modern German literature and language as well as translation studies

Among the audience were pupils from the Bishop of Hereford’s Bluecoat School, Aylestone School, Earl Mortimer College, Hereford Academy and Hereford Sixth Form College.

Event organiser and HCS Head of Modern Languages Mrs Nathalie Teale commented: “The aim of Languages No Limits is to inspire and enthuse the next generation of linguists and I think that we achieved that with last night’s event. Our guest speakers brought their amazing journeys with languages to life and helped pupils from HCS, Bishops, Aylestone, The Hereford Academy, Earl Mortimer and Hereford Sixth Form College to see how many varied routes and life-changing opportunities can come from having a second or third MFL. As guest speaker Will Finn (ex-CEO of Johnson & Johnson) said, having a second language is your single biggest advantage over everyone else in today’s competitive jobs market. With languages, there really are no limits to your future success.”

One Bishops parent commented on Facebook: “Wow, some really inspiring speakers! Great evening with Hereford Cathedral School – thank you!”

After the event, HCS Headmaster Dr Michael Gray tweeted: “Great to see so many young people from various schools listening to such a prestigious set of speakers about the importance of speaking a second language.”