Students who invest in a language during the critical middle and high school years boost their prospects for success whether they aspire to pursue higher education or to enter the workforce upon graduation. Learning another language is an accomplishment of which you can and should be proud! Not only will it help you to develop intellectually and emotionally, but it will make you a better communicator, empower you to reach your goals, and boost your self-esteem.
At Summerhill College, we encourage learners to broaden their horizons and establish more meaningful interpersonal relationships through the art of communication.
Increase the number of people you can communicate with through our Summerhill College Second Language Options.
AFRIKAANS
- In the Foundation year, the basics are taught. This is built on in the subsequent years.
- IEB: Afrikaans is taught with the Independent Examinations Board of South Africa’s requirements in mind and is compulsory up to Grade 12 Level
- Cambridge Syllabus: IGCSE and AS level Afrikaans is offered. It is compulsory up to IGCSE2 level.
- Poetry, Prose and Language form the basis of the syllabus.
- Learning Afrikaans can help you to use the language with confidence and to express your emotions
ISIZULU
- There are many reasons for studying Zulu, including personal interest in southern African cultures, research interests and fulfilment of foreign language requirements. In addition, Zulu has great political, cultural, historical and social importance in southern Africa.
- Zulu spread throughout large areas of southern Africa and the language served as a tool for unifying the many ethnic groups found there.
- Another advantage of studying Zulu is that it forms the basis for understanding the other Nguni languages. If you can speak Zulu, you can invariably understand Swati, Ndebele and Xhosa.
- In the future, students who are hoping to be part of any South African workplace will benefit from knowing at least one indigenous language. They will earn respect and find it easier to communicate with all the people they will come across and deal with in their daily business.
- It is even more vital for those who are interested in travelling and working internationally. When one calls oneself proudly South African, one is somewhat expected to be able to share their knowledge of an indigenous language; it does not create a good impression if one does not know how to speak at least one indigenous language of the country where one was born and raised.
FRENCH
- Beyond the intellectual benefits, knowledge of a foreign language such as French, facilitates travel, enhances career opportunities, and enables one to learn more about different peoples and cultures.
- Students that completed a French immersion program abroad have better their chances of finding a job, whether abroad or at home. The ability to speak French is a great advantage on the international job market because it opens doors to French companies like L’Oreal, Renault, Auchan, Chanel, Cartier and many more. It is also important to note that French is the official language in many international organizations such as the International Olympic Committee, United Nations, FIFA and UNESCO.
- French as a foreign language is the second most frequently taught language in the world after English.
- The International Organization of Francophonie has 51 member states and governments. Of these, 28 countries have French as an official language. French is the only language other than English spoken on five continents. French and English are the only two global languages. (Alliance Française de Cincinnati)
- French is only offered as part of the Cambridge syllabus up to the AS2 Level. It is compulsory, if chosen, up to IGCSE2 level.
