Sunsail, Port Solent, Wednesday 20th January 2010

Students who are currently studying modern languages were given the opportunity to meet a variety of professionals whose use of foreign languages is a crucial part of their everyday jobs.

Year 9, 10 and 11 students from Bridgemary, Henry Cort, Horndean, Miltoncross and St Edmund's secondary schools gathered at the headquarters of Sunsail Sailing Holidays in Port Solent to meet Business Ambassadors from Portsmouth EBP and learn how the languages skills they are learning can be used in a variety of  careers.

One of the Ambassadors was Nick Bennett, a Senior Litigator for Havant Borough Council, who he used his fluent Spanish and German skills in work concerning immigration and tribunal proceedings. "Whenever I work with EBP, I am constantly impressed by the young people I meet and today was no exception. I enjoy finding out what they are interested in and basically keeping in touch with the next generation who will soon be doing jobs like mine."

One of the schools who sent some of their highest achieving language students was St Edmunds Catholic School in Portsmouth.

"Our school has a diverse community consisting of children with a variety of nationalities so they understand and appreciate the importance of learning languages," explained Dr Francoise Deadman, Head of Spanish at the school. "Because they come from and work with others from such a wide range of backgrounds, our students have open minds and a keen interest in culture and language."

"This event has been enjoyable and very useful. In the new Diploma we are starting next year there is a compulsary Spanish option, so it always helps to show students what opportunities languages can provide."