16th October 2025
British Council Webinar
“Careers with Languages – Where Can Languages Take Me?”
On Thursday 16th October 2025, a group of our students took part in an inspiring British Council webinar titled “Careers with Languages – Where Can Languages Take Me?”. The event was organised by the National Consortium for Languages Education (NCLE) and the British Council and was aimed specifically at schools in Portsmouth. Pupils joined the session to hear from a panel of guest speakers who all have strong links to Portsmouth and who shared how learning languages has shaped their lives and careers.
The three speakers came from very different professional backgrounds:
- A forensic accountant,
- A Royal Navy representative, and
- A specialist who organises Language Assistants in the education sector.
Each speaker described their personal journey of learning languages, living and working abroad, and discovering new cultures. They spoke about how language skills have enhanced their careers—helping them to communicate across borders, develop cultural awareness, and access exciting opportunities both in the UK and overseas.
Students found the session engaging and thought-provoking, and many commented on how it opened their eyes to the real-world value of learning another language. They also had the opportunity to ask questions and learn first-hand how languages can play a key role in fields as varied as finance, defence, and education.
“It was inspirational – it’s not hard to achieve if you work hard and it has encouraged me to use languages in the future because I saw that other people in Portsmouth have done it and so can I!” Niamh from Admiral Lord Nelson School
This event provided a valuable reminder that languages truly open doors—to travel, to understanding other cultures, and to a wide range of future career paths.
