Make Your MFL Department Stand Out.

Private Joke ® School Workshops utilise the game to reframe languages as exciting, creative, and relevant. Loved by teachers and students alike, they are playful, passionate, and proven to enhance risk-taking in even the most reluctant learners.

Play Private Joke ®

Why?

  • Declining Participation: Modern foreign language uptake is at a historic low.
  • Confidence Gaps: Many students fear making mistakes and struggle to take risks in language use.
  • Perceived Usefulness: In a digital world, students forget that the most valuable skills in a 21st century workplace will be creativity, empathy & resilience.
  • Curriculum & Resource Gaps: Teacher shortages, and lack of continuity between primary and secondary education reduce exposure to languages.

How?

  • Engagement & Confidence: Students laugh, play, and feel safe to experiment with language.
  • Creativity & Risk-Taking: Inventing words encourages flexible thinking and reduces fear of mistakes.
  • Cultural Awareness: Exploring multiple languages & untranslatable words fosters empathy and global understanding.
  • Small Workshop

    • 50-60 mins.
    • Individual classes: Secondary (Years 7-13).
    • Available in French, English (EAL) & Spanish.
    • Focus: Speaking with confidence, vocabulary, phonics & cultural curiosity.
  • Big Workshop

    • 50–60 minutes.
    • Whole-school or year-group delivery.
    • Focus: Motivational & Inspirational. Inspiring languages for 21st century careers. Features all languages. Effective for (MFL) GCSE / A Level Options.
  • Teacher CPD

    • 60-180 minutes.
    • Remotely delivered around the world. 🌎
    • Focus: Private Joke's unique pedagogy & how to leverage the game for maximum effect: PHONICS, increasing speaking with confidence, and motivation.
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What Teachers Say!

It was great to have Olive in to deliver a workshop that encouraged the students to think about the structure of French words in a meaningful way and which they thoroughly enjoyed. The game even made it to Paris on our school trip later that week. A huge thank you to Olive for getting the students to focus on why they are learning a language. - Georgina Speller, Director of Sixth Form / Assistant Headteacher, West London Free School (2026)

One of the quietest students in my German class completely transformed, he got completely into it and turned into the entertainer round the table. That was great to watch! Overall all of the older students were fully engaged. - Julia Rowe, MFL Teacher, Southmoor Academy (2024)

As the game progressed, I watched in amazement at the creativity displayed by my pupils. They delved into the depths of their imagination, concocting words that would make even the most advanced linguist chuckle. What struck me most was the level of engagement from every single student. Everyone was actively participating, eager to contribute their unique word creations. Even the quieter students, who usually preferred to blend into the background, found their voices in this game. It was a joy to witness their confidence grow with each word they invented and explained. -
Marie Allirot, French Teacher, Bede's Prep School (2024)

📅 How to Book a Workshop

Book a 15-minute discovery call to:
✅ Find out how PJ workshops work
✅ Share your needs & goals
✅ Get a tailored proposal within 24 hours