As part of the ‘London Festival of Language 2026’, three speakers from across London share their own language journeys: the languages they’ve learned, the places to which they have travelled, the people they’ve met, the skills that learning languages have brought them and how they use languages in their work.
This was a lively, uplifting online session designed to help pupils see the real possibilities that languages open up and to encourage them to continue their language studies to GCSE level and beyond!
Teachers registered, prepared pupils with a pupil booklet, and projected the session ‘live’ in classrooms, having the opportunity to interact with the speakers.
You can replicate this experience!
- Download the pupil booklet
- Show the video to your classes in chunks
- Give time for discussion with the class.
- E mail us with any reactions / questions and we will try to respond!
Organised by the British Council in partnership with London: City of Languages.
Chapter list:
- 00:00 – Welcome & schools joining Classes from across the UK join live; pupils introduce themselves in the chat.
- 02:24 – Opening remarks – Vicki Gough (British Council) London City of Languages, why languages matter for diplomacy, the economy, culture and personal opportunities; explanation of the format and Q&A.
- 04:30 – Speaker 1 – David Lelliott (Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office) David’s language journey from school French and German to Arabic and Spanish, and how languages shaped his diplomatic career in Iraq, Qatar, Mexico, El Salvador, India, South Sudan and more. Themes: using languages to connect with people; heritage languages; why fluency isn’t essential; “have a go” and embrace mistakes.
- 17:31 – Pause for questions to David One‑minute reflection for pupils to think of questions and add them to the chat.
- 19:00 – Speaker 2 – Ailsa (Cabinet Office) Elsa’s path from a comprehensive school in Gateshead to university, a year abroad, work in Switzerland, banking roles in London and Paris, and later teaching French and German. Themes: languages as a unique selling point; building confidence and resilience; real‑world benefits (travel, work abroad, career progression); perseverance.
- 35:05 – Speaker 3 – Gabriel (Teacher) Gabriel speaks as a classroom teacher about studying languages, teaching them, and the impact languages have on pupils’ futures and everyday school life. Themes: what language learning looks like in school; how teachers use languages in and beyond the classroom; encouragement to keep going to GCSE and beyond.