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Languages department
Building confident communicators with cultural awareness and a love of literature, through English, French, Kiswahili and local languages.
- Departments
- Science
- Languages
- Mathematics
- Humanities
- Business
- 5 Subjects
- 4 Languages taught
- O and A Levels taught
- National Public speaking champions
About the department
The power of words
Words that inform, persuade and inspire.
The Languages Department fosters effective communication, critical thinking and cultural understanding. Our teaching develops reading, writing, speaking and listening across every language we offer.
Through literature, debate, public speaking and creative writing, students gain the confidence to express themselves clearly and eloquently in any setting, from the classroom to the national stage.
Where it can lead
Future pathways
- Law and advocacy
- Journalism and media
- Teaching and academia
- Diplomacy and international relations
- Translation and interpretation
- Writing, publishing and communications
What we teach
Subjects offered
Taught at O-Level and A-Level, with speaking and writing practised in every class.
English Language
Grammar, composition, comprehension and effective communication.
Literature in English
Prose, poetry and drama, with critical reading and analysis.
French
Grammar, conversation and the cultures of the French-speaking world.
Kiswahili
East Africa’s common language, studied in its rich cultural context.
Local language
Reading, writing and appreciation of our own language and heritage.
Beyond the classroom
Voices on the national stage
Debate and public speaking give our students the confidence to lead. They have competed and won at national and international level.
- National Public Speaking Champion Leila, a Holy Cross Lake View student, took the national title.
- Pan African Debate Championship Our debaters competed at the championship in South Africa.
- UCC National Public Speaking Championship 2025 Students competed among the best speakers in the country.
Find your voice with us
Applications are open for Senior One and Senior Five. Apply online or ask our admissions team anything.