Our Outreach Team
My name is Orla and I have worked at Warwick for the past 5 years, recently joining The School of Modern Languages and Cultures as Widening Participation Officer, where I feel I have come back to re-kindle my passion for languages! I used to be a secondary teacher of MFL, teaching French up to A’ level and I also have experience teaching Key Stage 2 pupils in my local primary school. Re-training in Careers Advice and Guidance allowed me to broaden my skills and enabled me to work as a Careers Adviser in Warwickshire Schools and then at Warwick specialising in supporting international students on The International Foundation Programme. I speak French fluently, reasonable Spanish and I am currently learning Norwegian just for fun! Learning languages has always been a big part of my life and I am passionate about encouraging all young people to see the value and enrichment they can gain from it. I look forward to working with schools to support this objective with the resources we have at SMLC, our wonderful student SMLC Ambassadors and through our Routes into Languages West Midlands programme of events and activities.
My name is Cathy and I’m the Academic Lead for our Routes into Languages and Outreach programme. I’ve worked at Warwick for nearly 25 years, as a teacher of French language, culture and literature, and I have a particular interest in helping students make the transition from school to university. I’m also interested in MFL education and policy and co-run the Warwick In Schools language teaching module (giving undergraduates a taste of secondary language teaching) with Warwick’s Centre for Teacher Education. I’m passionate about working with our students to fly the flag for languages, leading the Adopt a Class project that links year abroad students with local schools, and engaging in primary and secondary workshops promoting language learning and uptake. I’ve made a number of productive connections with local teachers and schools over the years and I’m very keen to develop these further so that the SMLC can work in collaborative partnership with schools to enthuse pupils about languages in the most productive ways!