Promoting languages in schools: How to raise your MFL profile

Our MFL Consultant and former head of languages, Sohelie shares how to boost the MFL profile in your school to get students excited about language learning. 

Modern Foreign Languages (MFL) are more vital than ever in our interconnected world, yet they often take a back seat in school priorities.  

Raising the profile of MFL requires creativity, collaboration, and consistent visibility. 

Here are 8 impactful ways that you can empower your school communities. These strategies boost students’ engagement and highlight the long-term value of language learning in students’ academic and personal lives. 

1. Share a Blog Post – Encourage Language Learning through Reading 

You can start by creating a class blog or using your school’s existing platform. Post weekly or fortnightly content that includes student-written pieces, cultural spotlights, grammar tips, and recommendations for books, films, and music in the target language.

Encourage students to comment, submit their writing, or share blogs they’ve discovered.

Some excellent language learning blogs for inspiration:

• FluentU Language Learning Blog
• This Is School
• The Language Gym
• Love Learning Languages
• Omniglot – The Online Encyclopedia of Writing Systems and Languages

By reading these blogs, students can develop independent research skills and a deeper appreciation of global cultures.

For teachers, curating blog posts related to language careers, famous polyglots, or travel adventures adds another layer of inspiration. Highlight blog content on classroom displays or even incorporate it into homework to increase exposure of high quality languages education.

2. Create a Partnership with International Schools

Forming partnerships with international schools is an enriching way to give language learning a real-world context.

These collaborations allow students to engage directly with peers abroad who speak the language as their mother tongue, making their education more meaningful and exciting.

The benefits are:

• Real-life language skills practice through writing letters, video messages, or email exchanges
• Increased cultural awareness and empathy
• Opportunities to collaborate on global projects or celebrate international events together

You could even schedule regular video calls or online cultural quizzes. Not only does this improve language skills, but it also fosters global citizenship.

If funding and logistics allow, these partnerships could eventually grow into school exchange visits, providing unforgettable experiences for students.

3. Whole School Assemblies – Spotlight the Value of Languages

Whole school assemblies offer a unique opportunity to advocate for language learning in front of the whole school. Modern foreign languages teachers can use this platform to break stereotypes, share student success stories, and ignite curiosity.

Here are some engaging ideas:

• Start with a quiz to spark discussions. You could ask questions like: How many countries speak French or Spanish? Or which is the most widely spoken language?
• Include performances: students could recite poems, sing a popular song in the target language, or perform a short sketch
• Share real-life stories of alumni or famous figures who’ve used languages in their careers, from footballers to diplomats
• Present “A Day in the Life” segments featuring students using languages outside school, whether translating for family, working in a bilingual setting, or travelling

The goal is to leave students excited and motivated about learning languages.

4. Get Involved in the European Day of Languages

The European Day of Languages, celebrated annually on September 26, is a golden opportunity to champion language learning.

Participating in this international event can help make languages visible and celebrated across your school.

Here’s why it matters:

• It promotes linguistic diversity and awareness
• It encourages inclusivity and celebrates multiculturalism
• It creates a buzz around languages, helping to challenge negative perceptions

MFL departments can lead the celebration by hosting language-related activities like treasure hunts, trivia quizzes, international dress days, or a “language passport” challenge.

Invite other departments to get involved, for example, have a PE lesson using commands in French or Spanish, or a maths class solving problems in a foreign language.

You can find more activity ideas and inspiration in our blog post European Day of Languages: 40 Activities For Every Subject for classroom-friendly ideas suitable for varying key stages.

Getting involved in this day makes MFL visible and shows students that learning a language can be enjoyable and deeply connected to identity and culture.

5. Theme Days – Bring Languages to Life

Theme days are an excellent way to immerse students in the culture of their target language. These days can be structured around national holidays, festivals, or broad cultural themes and are a fantastic way to link language learning with other curriculum areas.

Examples include:

Themed days can involve dress-up competitions, scavenger hunts, or film screenings in the target language. Coordinate with departments like drama or music for performances or host international food tastings during lunchtime.

These days are fun and memorable while encouraging students to use the language authentically and see its relevance in daily life.

For students choosing their gcse subjects, theme days can be a gentle, exciting way to pique interest and build confidence in modern foreign languages.

6. Share Posters Around the School

Here are some ideas for posters you can create to encourage students to study languages:

• “Why Learn a Language?” with career pathways and famous multilingual figures.
• “Word of the Week” or “Phrase of the Day” displays.
• Maps showing countries that speak the target languages.
• Multilingual greetings and fun facts about different languages.
• Inspirational quotes in different languages with English translations.
• Cultural festivals– focussing on a variety of festivals, carnivals, and religious traditions

Create interactive posters with QR codes linking to pronunciation videos or cultural videos. You can also showcase student work like language poems, cultural reports, or project posters to promote pride and ownership.

Over time, these visual reminders help normalise language learning and keep it on students’ radar. Update displays regularly to maintain engagement and align with key events like exams, holidays, or international days.

7. Invite Guest Speakers – Real-World Language Use

• University lecturers who can talk about studying languages in higher education – universities have outreach programmes to do exactly that, so get in touch with them directly
• Former students who now work in international companies or have studied abroad
• Local professionals (e.g., translators, diplomats, journalists, or hospitality workers)
• Parents or community members who speak multiple languages

These talks can be held in class, during assemblies, or as lunchtime seminars. Pair them with Q&A sessions so students can explore topics like how to study abroad, bilingual career opportunities, or the challenges and rewards of being multilingual.

Speakers often bring real-world insights and enthusiasm that reignite interest in MFL.

They also serve as role models, helping students see that learning a language can be the gateway to a global future, professionally and personally.

8. Support EAL Children – Celebrate Multilingualism

Strategies to support and celebrate EAL students:

• Host “Language Hero” days where EAL students share stories about their first language and culture
• Encourage them to help teach their classmates a few phrases or write bilingual signs throughout your school
• Include their languages in posters, assemblies, or reading corners
• Pair EAL students with language buddies or mentors who can help bridge linguistic and cultural gaps

Not only does this create a more inclusive environment, but it also helps all students understand the richness of linguistic diversity. It sends the message that being multilingual is a strength and something to be proud of, not hidden.

By highlighting the benefits of bilingualism, you reinforce the message that languages—whether learned at home or in school—deserve to be valued, supported, and celebrated.

Why Languages Should Be Promoted in Schools

Promoting language teaching is about more than encouraging students to pick an extra subject—it’s about shaping globally minded individuals equipped with essential life skills. When languages are well-promoted, the whole school community benefits because:

• Students are more likely to appreciate different cultures
• Cross-curricular learning becomes more seamless
• Students who speak English as an additional language (EAL) feel seen, valued, and included

Language learning has the potential to improve academic performance across multiple subjects, enhance empathy and understanding, and open doors to exciting careers and travel opportunities.

Lets delve into why MFL deserves a more prominent place to help create a broad and balanced curriculum.

Supports Learning in Other Subjects

• Grammar and syntax: Understanding sentence structures in another language deepens students’ understanding of their own language. This can benefit English lessons, improving grammar, punctuation, and vocabulary.
• Memory and retention: Language learning exercises the brain’s memory functions, enhancing the ability to retain and recall information—an essential skill across all subjects.
• Analytical thinking: Decoding unfamiliar vocabulary and grammar rules helps students develop logical reasoning and problem-solving skills.

In subjects like history, geography, and religious studies, learning a language allows students to explore source materials, historical texts, and cultural contexts more deeply.

In STEM subjects, multilingual students often find it easier to engage with international case studies and collaborative research projects.

Promoting MFL, therefore, has a ripple effect, raising attainment across the curriculum.

Better Job Prospects

In an increasingly global job market, speaking a second (or third!) language is a standout skill. Employers across industries like finance, law, healthcare, technology, tourism, diplomacy, are actively seeking candidates who can communicate across cultures and borders.

Some advantages of language learning for career development include:

• Increased employability: Language skills make candidates more attractive in international companies, NGOs, and government roles.
• Higher earning potential: Studies have shown that multilingual employees often receive higher salaries, especially in industries like international business and finance.
• Career flexibility: With language skills, students can work abroad, relocate more easily, or take on bilingual roles in domestic settings.

By learning languages in schools, educators equip students with a competitive edge that will serve them in university applications, apprenticeships, and the workforce. Guest speakers or alumni who use languages in their careers can be a powerful way to make these connections tangible for students.

Appreciation for Different Cultures

Language is more than a set of rules—it’s the gateway to culture. When students study a language, they’re not just learning how to ask for directions or pass an exam; they’re exploring new ways of thinking, interacting, and seeing the world.

Here’s some of the benefits of language learning for students and schools:

This cultural appreciation also creates a welcoming space for EAL students, who may feel more understood and respected when their languages and traditions are recognised and celebrated.

Schools become more harmonious and cohesive when cultural diversity is treated as an asset, not a barrier.

These opportunities offer:

• Personal growth: Living or studying abroad fosters independence, resilience, and adaptability.
• Professional development: Students who have international experience are often viewed as more resourceful and globally aware by future employers.
• Lifelong experiences: From internships in Paris to volunteer work in Latin America, language skills unlock meaningful, life-changing adventures.

Students who understand the travel and study opportunities that come with language skills are more likely to stay engaged and committed.

Promoting these opportunities through assemblies, newsletters, and MFL department websites can help students (and parents) see the bigger picture of what language learning can offer.

To conclude… 

Raising the profile of Modern Foreign Languages in schools is a vital mission for educators today.

By integrating language learning into the wider circle of a broad and balanced curriculum – through blog posts, assemblies, international partnerships, and cultural celebrations. MFL teachers can help students see the power and potential of languages.

More than just a subject, languages offer a toolkit for life: they improve academic performance, enhance employability, deepen cultural understanding, and open doors to global adventures. In a diverse and interconnected world, these are no longer optional skills – they are essential.

Whether it’s supporting EAL learners, sparking an interest in French poetry, or connecting with a classroom halfway across the world, every effort to promote languages contributes to a richer, more inclusive, and future-ready school community.

Let’s make learning languages not just visible, but vibrant – an exciting part of every student’s journey.

Join our FREE CPD event where Sohelie will be sharing a session about raising the profile of languages in your school.