Primary Foreign Languages
| Residential Course in Spain for Primary School Teachers
The course will run from 25th October until 29th October 2010 No fees. The course is funded by the Consejería de Educación. However, applicants will be requested to pay for their travel expenses to and from Santiago de Compostela (Galicia).
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The Consejería aims to provide a high quality course for teachers with limited competence in Spanish who wish to improve their competence in the Spanish language as well as in their methodological expertise, update their knowledge of Spanish culture, gather authentic teaching materials to teach Spanish to young learners and be in contact with a variety of resources to teach Spanish in Primary Schools.
Important Update from DfE regarding Langauges in Key Stage 2
The Government is considering its plans for the National Curriculum in schools. They believe that the current National Curriculum has moved far away from the concept of core knowledge and from its original purpose – to set out what all children should be taught in each subject. They therefore want to return it to its intended purpose as a core national entitlement organised around subject disciplines. In doing so, they aim to slim the National Curriculum to give schools greater freedom to build on that core entitlement to provide a rich educational experience for all their pupils, and to allow teachers to use their professional judgement to decide how to teach and to organise the curriculum. They plan to consult a wide range of academics, teachers and other interested parties to ensure that the core curriculum can compare with those of the highest performing countries in the world. They will be announcing details of that review in the autumn. The position of languages in both the primary and secondary National Curriculum will be considered as part of that Review.
The Government believes that language skills are important to the social and economic future of the country. Learning a language also helps children and young people understand the world in which they live and the different cultures of people around the world. We know that over 90% of primary schools are already offering some language teaching to their 7-11 year olds. Ministers appreciate the efforts that teachers are putting into making sure that children in primary schools are taught languages. It is thanks to their work that pupils can not only learn a language but also come to appreciate other cultures. Given its importance, primary schools that are teaching languages should continue to do so. Funding has been given to local authorities to support primary languages until March 2011. Any future funding will depend on the spending review which will report in the autumn, as well as on decisions about the status of languages within the National Curriculum.
European Day of Languages
Are you celebrating it on 26th September 2010?
Follow this link for more details and access to some great ideas and activities
Competition on the Camino de Santiago
Win a trip to Galicia
The Spanish Tourist Office and the Consejería de Educación launch a competition on the Camino de Santiago. The competition is open to primary and secondary school teaching staff in UK schools providing Spanish as a foreign language.
Entries should consist of ideas to develop school projects and activities aimed at disseminating the history, geography and cultural legacy of the “Camino de Santiago”. Entries must be submitted by the 28th of September by e-mail to mailto:info.uk@educacion.es
Primary Teacher Project
British Council Funded Courses Abroad
All Staff working at Key Stage 2 are eligible and are advised to apply before the summer holidays.
More details and changes to dates and venues for the French projects........
Smarden Children Learn Mandarin
- Brekky Mandarin Package - MP3 File
Advice to Headteachers re:
Primary Language Funding 2010 - 2011
Letter to Headteachers from Maureen Smith, Teacher Adviser for Primary Languages
Spring Day Spring Day for Europe was set up to promote learning and debate about the European Union in schools. This year the aim is to engage school communities in discussion, debates and activities related to European citizenship and fundamental rights, both pertinent to the European Year of Combating Poverty and Social Exclusion. Students' attention will also be drawn to important European issues such as social and economic cohesion, environmental issues and cultural diversity.
The Spring Day for Europe website includes a large and flexible programme of events, activities and games for primary and secondary schools.
If you would like to participate, further information and electronic registration can be found at the following website:
http://www.springday2010.net
You can also find teaching resources on the EU and citizenship produced by the European Parliament for UK schools at:
http://www.euroacademyonline.eu
WEDWEDG is the Global Education Centre for East Kent and provides training, a resource centre and projects for educational providers including nurseries, schools and universities to promote global citizenship and sustainability. We help to embed a whole school approach to the global dimension.
Kent Accreditations
Congratulaions to the following Kent schools for achieving a Kent Accreditation:
Entitlement to Learn a New Language in Key Stage 2
From January 2010 all pupils in Key Stage 2 have an entitlement to learn a new language. Findings show that young children like learning a new language, saying it is fun and exciting. There is also evidence to show that learning a new language can strengthen learning in English.
 | A pupil at Brook Primary School showing what he has learned |
| Kent Languages Transition Conference Kent held a very exciting cross phase languages transition conference at Oakwood House on 5th November 2009. 110 Kent teachers attended and Kent's specialist language colleges led discussions around future, innovative projects to improve transition and transfer between KS2 & 3 with their partner secondary and primary schools. |  |
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Building Bridges for Language Learning Link together the new programme of study for KS3 & the KS2/3 frameworks. | |
| The Learning Journey | |
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Transition resources may be purchased. Details & prices. | |
Levels - Listening
A New S of W for Key Stage 3
ICT Support for Primary Languages
Following the Lead Teachers' training day on 24th September please see materials below:-
Useful ICT websites for teachers of Primary Languages
Free resources for Clicker 5Good Practice in Intercultural Understanding
Rachael Kobylecki, lead teacher for primary languages in Thanet 1, led a partnership project in Intercultural Understanding.
Dragons in Europe - Chinese New Year Workshops
Dragons in Europe specialise in teaching Mandarin Chinese in primary schools across the UK.
Chinese New Year Workshops are one hour sessions which cater for 5 - 12 year olds. They are a mixture of Chinese language and culture and sessions cost £95 for up to 30 children.
Centre d'Hardelot
Do you know what is available at the Hardelot Centre in France? Check out the website.
Shared teacher resources for delivering the TDA Upskilling Course
Please note that the materials are in a password protected zip file. If you wish to have access to the resources please contact Maureen Smith for the password.
Help with Pronunciation for Non-specialist Language Teachers Click the logo for more details.
What French Can Shrek Teach Us?
A primary languages lead teacher project
Sally Erkul, Warden House CP School, Deal, Kent
“I grew up watching TV and seeing films in English; we were used to hearing it from an early age, it was just there”.
So answered Dutch friend Yvonne to my enquiry as to why she and seemingly all Dutch people speak excellent English. Logical if you think about it: listen to it, absorb its sounds and patterns, speak it, then learn to read and write it later at school. Just the way we do with our own native language. Of course we know this is how we learn languages, but could the right conditions for language acquisition be re-created in the primary classroom using authentic, natural material? How far would a class of 32 Year 5’s be able to develop their confidence in French and their language learning skills? More.......
St Peter's Celebrate Europe Day
St Peter's RC Primary School in Sittingbourne celebrated Europe Day with a number of different activities with a European flavour. Click the photograph to see a presentation of this exciting day.
The National Languages Strategy
The National Languages Strategy for England sets out the Government's commitment to increasing the nation's languages capability, and a vision of languages as "a life long skill - to be used in business and pleasure, to open up avenues of communication and exploration, and to promote, encourage and instil a broader cultural understanding".
Key Stage 2 Framework for languages
The Department for Education and Skills launched the Key Stage 2 Framework for Languages on 27th October. The Framework is the cornerstone of the National Languages Strategy and has an aim that by 2010 all primary school children aged 7-11 will have the opportunity to learn another language in school time.
Every child should have the opportunity throughout key stage 2 to study a foreign language and develop their interest in the culture of other nations. They should have access to high quality teaching and learning opportunities, making use of native speakers and e-learning. By age 11 they should have the opportunity to reach a recognized level of competence on the Common European Framework and for that achievement to be recognised through a national scheme.
Visit DCSF standards site to download a copy
How to support the three different groups of children identified in the Key Stage 2 Framework for Languages with different learning needs. More......
What should I be teaching and for how many minutes a week?
The Key Stage 2 Framework for Languages is the official document governing how MFL is to be implemented in schools. By 2010 you should be aiming for 1 hour per week of quality teaching and learning. Try to get at least 30 minutes MFL timetabled for the next academic year.
The development of a national recognition scheme for languages – the Languages Ladder – is one of three overarching objectives of the National Languages Strategy The scheme is designed to endorse achievement in language skills at all levels of competence for all ages in a wide range of languages.
European Commission's Public Consultation on Multilingualism
According to this research carried out by the European Commision to solicit citizens' views and expectations regarding language policy, an early start is the best way to promote the learning of languages. Find out more.....
Early Primary Partial Immersion Programme (EPPI)
The first Early primary Partial Immersion Programme in the UK is judged an "outstanding success". Read the final report....
Partnerships with Schools Abroad
Would you like to set up a partnership with a school abroad? You could find e-mail pals for your class, take part in videoconferencing or even set up a reciprocal trip.
Emma Watson may be available to help with finding a school to work with. She can be contacted at Kent International Development Unit.
Alternatively:-
The British Council have just launched a project to assist schools to find partner schools in France.
Elanguages starts with just using a message board and sharing news and simple phrases with other schools.
Schools can also be referred to other agencies that offer penpal type links via e-mail and also work with eTwinning to recommend French Primary Schools.
Teachers: Help can be given to find partner schools anywhere in the world. Once a partner school is found, help can be given with communications issues, project ideas, funding & CPD. Contact Liz Hitchcock (see below).
Headteachers: International work attracts funding for demonstratable outcomes including ECM, standards, language strategy, literacy, inclusion, EAL, global dimension and T & G. Contact Liz Hitchcock to discuss how this could benefit your school.
Liz Hitchcock
editor@globalgateway.org
Education Science & Society
British Council
10 Spring Gardens
London SW1A 2BN
Tel. No. 020 7389 4817
Funded by DCSF, managed by The British Council
The DCSF Global Gateway is the official resource for internationalism in education, funded by the Department for Children, School & Families and managed by the British Council. More.....
The training zone for teaching and learning languages at Key Stage 2. New support and guidance now available.
Visit the Primary Language Training Zone.