6th October 2025

Solent Language Network Careers Event Inspires Future Linguists at Admiral Lord Nelson School

On Monday 6th October 2025, Admiral Lord Nelson School proudly hosted an inspiring Careers Event as part of our Career Fortnight, one of our key NCLE Civic Engagement Projects. The event welcomed our secondary and primary partners from across the Solent Language Network, with secondary students attending in the morning followed by primary pupils joining in the afternoon.

Among our distinguished guests was Gloria Vessey, a renowned interpreter, who shared her remarkable journey in the world of translation and international communication. We were also joined by Futbol Lingo, who delivered an engaging session highlighting how learning languages not only helps students achieve top grades but also opens doors to a wealth of global career opportunities.

Our business leaders, including representatives from the Royal Navy, Schools Into Europe, and several organisations from our local Portsmouth community, conducted mock interviews with our secondary students. This interactive session was incredibly well received students found it both challenging and rewarding, gaining valuable insight into the importance of communication, confidence, and cultural awareness in the professional world.

Amy, Year 9D:
“It was very interesting because I found out how many different career paths need languages. It was fun meeting other people and finding out about their school.”

Annabel, Year 9L:
“I think that the trip was very good. I liked finding out about languages and about how important they are in day-to-day life.”

Emily, Year 9D:
“I think that the trip was very beneficial as I got to learn how languages helped in lots of different jobs, especially ones that you wouldn't think of  like the football industry and the police.”

Marni, Year 9L:
“The trip was useful and I liked the career advice. The games were fun and I would go again. It opened more career choices.”

Teachers from both the secondary and primary sectors were equally enthusiastic about the event, praising the engaging format and real-world relevance of the activities.

Mrs Oberman, MFL Teacher:
“I personally thought that the event was a fantastic and rare opportunity for pupils to find out about numerous opportunities in different industries languages can provide. Very enjoyable and well organized. Thank you.”

The event truly demonstrated that languages are not just for the classroom they are skills that come alive in every part of our daily lives. As many students discovered, you don’t need to travel far to use your language skills; in fact, you can start right here in Portsmouth, where linguistic and cultural diversity are part of the city’s vibrant identity.

This successful event has left a lasting impression on our students and partners alike, reinforcing our shared belief that learning languages broadens horizons, builds confidence, and connects us to the wider world.

Solent Language Hub Leads:
“It was wonderful to see our young people so engaged and inspired by the opportunities that languages can bring. The event showed the power of collaboration across our schools and community and how languages connect us, not just globally, but right here in Portsmouth.”