French and Spanish Sixth Form Day at Manchester Metropolitan University
Some of our year 12 and year 13 A Level Spanish and French students spent a day at Manchester Metropolitan University as part of the French-Spanish Sixth Form day organized by the Faculty of Languages. Students immersed themselves in a dynamic programme of workshops and lectures designed to inspire and prepare them for future language study.
From the outset, students experienced university-style lectures in the Geoffrey Manton Building, choosing between a varieties of specialist sessions led by university academics. Spanish students explored topics such as "Lengua y cultura: arte", analysed Spanish film, and tackled grammar essentials—working on concepts like ser and estar with expert guidance. A featured French activity from the Sixth Form Lecture Day was a university-led workshop titled “French society in film,” delivered by an academic specialist. Students examined cultural issues, social themes and cinematic techniques found in contemporary French films, practising film analysis skills vital for advanced language study. These workshops serve a vital role, not only bridging the gap between school and university learning, but cultivating independent thinking and academic curiosity in a lecture theatre environment.
The day culminated with a visit to El Rincon de Rafa, Manchester’s longest-standing tapas restaurant—an institution serving Spanish cuisine for over 30 years and regularly acclaimed as a city “hidden gem”. In this authentic, family-run establishment, students sampled traditional tapas amidst the warmth and atmosphere reminiscent of a classic Spanish bar, making for a memorable close to the academic day. The restaurant’s dedication to genuine Spanish flavours and its long-standing reputation offered students a vivid and delicious taste of Spain in the heart of Manchester, an opportunity to experience first-hand the culture they had spent the day exploring in the classroom.
- Carla Winchester, Head of Languages, Year 13 Tutor
