Liverpool: New language ambassadors at Academy of St Francis of Assisi

ASFA's language ambassadors (L-R) Nicole, Jakub, Mohamed and David

Four Year 11 students from The Academy of St Francis of Assisi (ASFA) in LIverpool have been selected to become language ambassadors this new academic year. The students will offer students in Years 7 and 8, whose first language isn't English, any additional support they may need when it comes to speaking, reading and writing in English.

The initiative first started in 2019 and has gone from strength to strength ever since. Over 40 different languages are spoken in the academy and staff work tirelessly to ensure everyone's native tongue is represented in the school community.

This year's language ambassadors include Jakub who speaks Polish, Nicole who speaks Portuguese, David who speaks Italian, and Mohamed who is originally from Ethiopia and speaks Afar, Swedish and also understands Amharic.

With the help of the academy's language acquisition coordinator, Amanda Gamble, the language ambassadors will work closely with students to overcome language barriers by hosting fortnightly reading clubs, translating school work and also attending events that their fellow peers may require assistance with.

The ambassadors first task was providing additional support to prospective students and families at the academy's open evening that took place on Monday 26 September. They wore badges with the languages they can each speak so that visitors could approach them for help.

Amanda Gamble said: "We are very fortunate to have another group of confident and proactive language ambassadors this year. It is important that EAL (English as an additional language) students have other students they can go to for support in school. This programme is just one of many ways we create an inclusive community for students."

Headteacher, Jo Leech, who joined The Academy of St Francis of Assisi at the start of September, is proud to see an initiative such as this in a school. She said: "The language ambassadors are a key part of school life here at the academy and the support they offer to both staff and students is remarkable. I look forward to working with them over the next year."

Part of All Saints Multi Academy Trust, The Academy of St Francis of Assisi is a coeducational joint-denomination Roman Catholic and Church of England academy in Kensington, Liverpool. Its mission is to be 'a diverse learning community that enables all individuals to achieve.