Modern Languages students recently took to the stage in a series of impressive performances as part of the annual Modern Languages Drama Festival. Delivering productions in a wide range of languages, the festival provided students with a unique opportunity to bring language learning to life while also developing a wide range of transferable career and employability skills.
In addition to performances in Sheffield, the students in this year’s French play also travelled to Bristol to showcase their hard work to new audiences. For many participants, the experience was as much about personal growth as it was about language practice.
Second-year Economics and Modern Languages student Inga Kuliabina, who performed in the French play Victor, ou les enfants au pouvoir, reflected on the experience:
"Taking part not only improved my French but also helped me build self-confidence and work with a fantastic team of friends and tutors."
For the German play participant Bianca Sevidal (Digital Media and Society), the festival offered unexpected opportunities:
"I initially joined the tech team but ended up acting with just two days’ notice. It pushed me out of my comfort zone and turned out to be one of the highlights of my year."
In the Spanish double-bill, first-year Linguistics and Modern Languages student Harri Kasperowicz directed for the first time:
"It was a collective effort that taught me a huge amount about theatre and teamwork. I’m hugely proud of what we put together."
Lily Thacker, a second-year student studying Dutch, German, and Philosophy, found the close-knit community that produced the Dutch play gave her the confidence to take her language skills to the next level:
"We really had become a small family. The Dutch play was so unbelievably helpful in improving my Dutch and my speaking confidence."
The Modern Languages Drama Festival continues to be a highlight of the academic year, offering students an enjoyable and creative way to deepen their language skills while developing vital soft skills such as resilience, teamwork, adaptability, and communication – all of which will serve them well in their future careers.
Read each of the student testimonies in full here.
