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Fifteen outstanding language initiatives are to receive an EU award for their innovative approach to developing language skills in the UK. The judges were particularly impressed by the high levels of creativity in projects involving young language learners, the effective partnerships formed with local businesses and the innovative strategies to engage with hard-to-reach adult learners.
Primary Thinking and learning through fairy tales and fables Northumberland Local Authority, Northumberland Children in Northumberland primary schools are being told all their favourite traditional tales in a foreign language, narrated by native speakers. They are then set the challenge of understanding and translating the tales into English. Language(s): French, German, Italian and Spanish Tamil Primary Language and Family Learning Project Downderry Primary School, Bromley, Kent This project effectively uses the language skills of the school’s parents to foster language learning and social integration within the school. Through group workshops the children develop Tamil while parents develop their English and IT skills. Language(s): Tamil - English RotherVision 2007 Rotherham Children and Young Peoples Services (Rotherham School Effectiveness Service), Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council Eight primary schools across Rotherham have been involved in an exciting Eurovision Song Contest style event imaginatively combining language, popular culture music and dance. Language(s): French and Spanish - plus any language being taught in school. Secondary Audacity and Kar2ouche St Aidan’s Catholic School, Language College and 6th Form Centre, Sunderland This initiative is based on the student’s love of music and uses the confrontational dialogues in rap music to encourage students to learn French. Teaching topics are adapted by students themselves into “rap music” arguments between two voices with opposites views on an issue. Language(s): French - can be used for any other foreign Language Lingo4Life Education Business Partnership, North Tyneside Lingo4Life is a multi-faceted initiative that has developed a range of lively and fun ways to sensitise pupils to the idea that learning a language is not only interesting and enjoyable, it is also closely related to their job prospects after school. Language(s): Russian, Japanese, Italian, Dutch, French, Spanish, German, Persian, and Greek. Languages Film Project Llanishen High School, Cardiff As an extra- curricular activity the pupils have been writing and producing films in foreign languages to promote enthusiasm for language learning. They have also set up their own TV station, which pupils run themselves as a company. Language(s): French, German, Welsh, Italian, Russian, and Korean. Crossing cultures: A modern languages programme for gifted and talented youth The University of Hull, Hull The crossing cultures project has expanded the knowledge and enthusiasm of students with an existing high level of language skills. It has developed and shared effective teaching practices and provided interesting and challenging new perspectives on the study of languages. Language(s): French, German, Italian, Spanish and Russian (face-to-face and online programme) - Arabic, Chinese, Dutch, Japanese, Portuguese and Swedish (face-to-face events only). Cape St Gilda’s performing arts project Cape Cornwall School, Cornwall For four years Cape Cornwall School has been running a French Exchange programme with a creative difference. Each year staff and pupils at their school collaborate with pupils from a school in Brittany to prepare a show based around a common theme. Language(s): French Making Languages our Business Torquay Boys’ Grammar School, Torquay The Making Languages our Business project has forged successful collaboration between three sectors: secondary schools, universities and local businesses. This has produced a series of fun one-day events which have emphasised the importance of languages in the world of business. Language(s): Spanish, French, German and Chinese Cogner au Plafond (Bashing on the Ceiling) Questors Youth Theatre, Ealing This specially-written play performed in French by British teenagers used the context of the 2005 riots in France to explore social issues faced by urban youth. It gave both the performers and a wide audience the opportunity to practice their French and empathise with the cultural context. Language(s): French - English Higher education/Adult learning Guthan nan Eilean: Island voices Sabhal Mor Ostaig, Isle of Skye This Scottish project involves the creation of video and audio materials to form an oral archive reflecting the lives of a bilingual Hebridean community. The videos comprise of short, informative documentaries on key issues in community and business life. Language(s): Scottish Gaelic - English for speakers of other languages Truck Speak Canterbury Christ Church University, Canterbury This project has provided a useful resource for truck drivers who find themselves needing languages on their travels. It aims to improve their communication, language skills and competencies through work linked vocational training. Language(s): French, German, Italian, Spanish, Bulgarian, Dutch, Polish, and Hungarian Language diversification and Initial Teacher Education: a flexible PGCE in Arabic, Mandarin, Panjabi and Urdu. Goldsmiths College, London This PGCE in Community Languages has made a significant contribution to broadening the language curriculum available to young people in the UK. It provides high quality initial teacher education for specialists in Arabic, Mandarin, Panjabi and Urdu. Language(s): Arabic, Mandarin, Punjabi and Urdu. All Ages Easy Spanish Playbusters, Glasgow Easy Spanish provides a family learning experience in which the teaching of Spanish engages the whole family unit from pre-fives, to older siblings, parents and grandparents. Parents learn Spanish side by side with their child through a variety of fun activities. Language(s): Spanish Coffee Break Spanish Radio Lingua Ltd, Ayr Coffee Break Spanish has developed a highly successful approach using podcasts to introduce Spanish to learners around the world. Participants download and listen to a weekly 15-20 minute podcast during which teacher ‘Mark’ teaches student ‘Kara’. Language(s): Spanish Notes to Editors 1. CILT, the National Centre for Languages CILT, the National Centre for Languages seeks to promote a greater national capability in languages, supporting and developing multilingualism and intercultural competence in all sectors of society. CILT manages major initiatives in support of languages. It works closely with partner organisations in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland and supports language networks throughout the UK. It is a key partner in the implementation of national languages strategies and plays a significant role in languages initiatives at European level. www.cilt.org.uk 2. European Award for Languages Also known as the European Label, the Award is a Europe-wide initiative supported by the European Commission recognising projects which demonstrate an innovative, effective and replicable approach to learning languages. CILT, the National Centre for Languages is the UK co-ordinator of the initiative, which has recognised over 790 innovative projects across Europe since the end of an initial pilot phase in 1999. To be eligible for an Award projects must demonstrate: Innovative - the initiative involves a new method, approach or resource, which improves on previous provision. Effective - the project is underpinned by verifiable progress towards learner targets. Replicable - the initiative can be replicated in other contexts, with potential for development. 2007 sponsors: BBC Languages Collins Euro London Appointments (Business Language Prize) EuroTalk Interactive (Primary Education Language Prize) French Embassy (French Language Prize) Germany Embassy (German Language Prize) Heinemann Italian Embassy (Italian Language Prize) Mary Glasgow Language Trust (Mary Glasgow Award) Oxford University Press Routledge (Adult Education Prize) Spanish Embassy (Spanish Language Prize) Training and Development Agency for Schools (Initial Teacher Education Prize) Mary Glasgow Award: One of the winning projects will be selected by the Mary Glasgow Language Trust to receive its annual award, which has been increased to £2,000. Mary Glasgow founded the Mary Glasgow Language Trust after a lifetime in languages, as a teacher, HM Inspector of Schools and later as a publisher, and the work of the Trust continues in her memory. Trustees are represented on the panel of judges and their criteria are the same as those for the Award. Details of previous winners can be found at www.cilt.org.uk/eal/winners.htm. 3. European Day of Languages - 26 September The European Day of Languages provides a focus for encouraging people to: · Start learning a new language · Take part in events celebrating learning and speaking other languages · Consider the benefits that language learning brings Co-ordinated in the UK by CILT, the National Centre for Languages, the European Day of Languages has been established as an annual event by the Council of Europe. This comes as a result of the enthusiasm with which it was celebrated during 2001, the European Year of Languages, and the need to continue to develop language capability across Europe. www.cilt.org.uk/edl Press release 20 September 2007 Bromley school wins European prize for community language project An innovative language project in Downderry Primary School, Bromley has been awarded a prestigious European award. The initiative effectively engages parents to foster language learning and social integration within the school. The project works with recently arrived Tamil speaking parents who develop their English and IT skills while the children learn Tamil. The scheme has helped raise the status of Tamil to that of other languages in the school and enabled the children to develop their skills and take pride in them. It has encouraged the integration of parents into the UK educational system and social inclusion by building parents’ confidence to interact with teachers, participate in learning and join in fun school events. The European Award for Languages judges said of the project, ‘Cultural differences and language barriers have been overcome by actively involving parents in school life. The children have a real sense of pride in their culture and are excited to learn the language to communicate with relatives around the world’. Director of the Tamil Academy of Language and Art, Siva Pillai, said, ‘We are delighted to receive this award. This collaboration between Downderry Primary School, the London Borough of Lewisham and the Tamil Academy of language and Arts has been beneficial and rewarding for all involved. This is a project that enriches the life of the whole school and community. For both parents and pupils alike, the project has instilled a real sense of pride in Tamil language and culture’. Winners will receive their award at a high profile prize-giving ceremony at the Millennium Stadium, Cardiff, on 20 November 2007 and will be celebrating their success with further activities on the European Day of Languages on 26 September. The application period for the next round of awards runs from 26 September to 1 February 2008. Photographs available on request. NDS For further information contact: Simon Power Temporary Press Officer CILT, the National Centre for Languages prtemp@cilt.org.uk |
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