Friday 6th February 2026
What an honour it was to be invited to serve as one of the judges at this year’s Love Languages competition - an annual celebration open to all schools, generously held at City of London Freemen’s School.
I spent the day surrounded by enthusiastic language teachers and learners from Years 5 to 8, and I left absolutely buzzing with renewed missionary zeal. If ever there were a perfect formula for giving learners - and their teachers - a tangible, joyful purpose for language learning, this is it. It is fully inclusive, endlessly creative, and really uplifting.
A competition with purpose and heart
Each year, schools enter groups of students who create a
performance around a shared theme. Last year’s theme was food and drink;
this year, it was fashion. The brief is gloriously open: music, drama,
dance, comedy, storytelling - anything goes, as long as languages are at the
heart of it.
One of the loveliest aspects is that pupils are both performers and audience. Teachers set a wonderfully positive tone, reminding everyone that taking part is what matters most. Anyone who makes it to the stage is already a winner in my eyes: they have created something from scratch, rehearsed, learned lines, collaborated, problem‑solved, and - judging by the smiles - had a thoroughly good time doing it.
And what a variety we enjoyed.
- Choosing
the perfect outfit for the Oscars, complete with a very dapper fashion
designer in suit and bow tie.
- A
fashion show through the ages, beginning with a hilariously expressive
Stone Age man who managed to tell us he was chaud and brun —
and the transition to each age was punctuated by audience chanting a
refrain
- A
designer seeking looks for a spring/summer collection to feature in Paris
Match. (Spoiler: the pigeon‑inspired outfit triumphed!)
- An
international conference debating the perfect uniform, cleverly
weaving multiple languages together with a natural role for translators.
- A
Spanish fashion show featuring some truly mouth‑watering costumes.
- A
catastrophic last‑minute shopping trip before going on holiday -chaos,
comedy, and linguistic confusion galore.
- A
fashion show disrupted by mixed‑up language instructions, ultimately
resolved in a joyful dance together.
- A
debate on school uniform, transformed into a dramatic demonstration of
the different viewpoints - from “Non à l’uniforme, ne soyez pas conforme!”
(a wonderfully authentic use of the imperative) to a sensible compromis
that conveniently rhymed with vendredi -- the chosen non-uniform
day!
- Models
from three different countries proudly presenting the qualities of
their national fashion, ending with a celebration of difference.
- A
shopping scenario featuring increasingly disgruntled customers
speaking a range of languages to an increasingly frazzled monolingual
German shop assistant - until translators swooped in to save the day.
- And finally, a rousing performance of “Fliegerlied”, complete with animal costumes, dancing, and a delighted audience singing along with the famous la la la la laaaaa…
The costumes and props were fabulous - all inventive, colourful, and clearly crafted with care.
A school that welcomes you in
City of Freemen’s School deserves huge thanks for organising
everything with such warmth and professionalism. From refreshments (including
some very tasty cookies) to beautifully designed programmes, prizes, and even
themed outfits, every detail was thoughtfully prepared. Their charming Sixth
Form guides ensured we judges never lost our way.
The staff are keen to share their expertise so that similar
competitions can flourish elsewhere - and I sincerely hope they do.
Of course, choosing winners was extremely difficult. The
good news is that everyone went home with a certificate and some form of reward
- and rightly so. The courage, creativity, and linguistic flair on display were
extraordinary.
I had the pleasure of judging alongside Mr Jim Davis, who has supported the competition for many years. It is always inspiring to have a 'real live' (!) example of someone who has used languages beyond the classroom — in his case, German opening doors to a banking career that took him to Germany, France, and Austria. His delightful summaries of each performance highlighted what he especially appreciated, and added a lovely touch of theatre of his own.
A legacy to be proud of
A special moment came with the awarding of the Hankin Cup,
presented by Mrs Sarah Hankin, former Head of Languages and the founder of the
competition. She must feel immensely proud of what her vision has grown into: a
celebration of languages that is happy and inclusive. (And she would love to have more entries from state schools please!)
Why this matters
What struck me most was the sheer joy of hearing so many
languages spoken with confidence, humour, and purpose. This competition isn’t
about perfection; it’s about communication - getting a message across in
whatever language you have, in a way that engages others. And every group
achieved that beautifully.
So let me stress this: if you take part, it can only be a positive experience, whether or not you take home a cup. You will have created something meaningful, shared it with others, and discovered the power of languages to connect, entertain, and inspire.
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