January 2018

Dear Parent/Guardian

I am delighted to inform you that your daughter/son has been successful in gaining a place in the MFL ‘Have Your Say’ competition for young linguists, now in its twenty-ninth year.

The aim of the competition is for students to compete in pairs, and to learn, adapt and perform, without notes, several dialogues supplied in advance, in front of an audience of students, teachers and judges from other schools. All entries will be judged on pronunciation, creativity and fluency, with the winning pairs in each section going through to the regional final, to be held on 16th May 2018 at The Thomas Lord Audley School, Colchester.

The dialogues provided for Years 7-9 will be open ended and students will be expected to provide their own conclusion of approximately 4 lines. Year 10 students will be expected to write a dialogue (maximum 14 lines) based on one of two outcomes provided, using at least 8 phrases from those given. In the final, all competitors will perform their original dialogue plus an additional language task, suitable for their age. We will of course complete lots of practice with these tasks at school, thus ensuring that youngsters are as prepared as well as possible for the competition.

I will shortly receive the first dialogue for pairs to be working on and as soon as the attached permission slips are returned, I will be able to share these with the youngsters. Their individual dialogue will then be performed and judged at the preliminary round, due to be held at The Colne Community School, Brightlingsea on Tuesday 13th March, between 4.30 – 6.30pm. Transport via minibus will be arranged to take competitors to and from Colne Community School in time for a 4.30pm start, therefore please could I ask for your cooperation in collecting your daughter/son from Thomas Gainsborough School when we return at approximately 7.15pm.

I’m very excited to be able to launch this competition with your daughter/son. Please pass on their congratulations from me. Should you have any questions about the competition, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Yours sincerely

Mrs H Frid

Trust Lead Practitioner

Modern Foreign Languages

%----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Please complete and return to Mrs H Frid by Monday 5th February 2018

I give permission for my daughter/son…………………………………………………………Tutor …………..

To perform in the ‘Have Your Say’ competition on Tuesday 13th March 2018 and I agree to collect her/him from Thomas Gainsborough School at 7.15pm

Signed Parent/Carer…………………………………………………………………..Date…………………………