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Looking for ways to engage your learners and keep them motivated beyond Key Stage 3? |
Where to go for ideas
Most teachers would agree that lessons that motivate and engage learners in Key Stage 3 is the key to increasing uptake in Key Stage 4......
For details of innovative Key Stage 3 work going in over 3, 000 schools nationally, visit the KS3 MFL Dissemination and Development Programme pages of the CILT website.
Another possible way forward is to diversify the offer at age 14. For more information and ideas, go to the 14-19 Reshaping Languages area of the CILT website which is packed full of informative video clips, resources, case studies, information on qualifications and much more.
Below are details of initiatives that can support languages teachers in raising the profile of their subject in school and the majority is available for free!
Languages and the world of work
| The range of Languages Work materials is continuing to expand! Have you got the latest resources? The range includes posters, factsheets, postcards, presentations and activity guides. Visit the Languages Work website for activities, case studies and ideas to support you in informing your classes about the importance of languages skills in the workplace. |  |
Why study languages? website
A collection of presentations and video clips to use as a promotional tool to encourage learners to continue their language learning. Available to download from the Subject Centre website.
Work Experience
Do you need help organising placements abroad?
The Language Work Placement Toolkit is a resource which has been produced to support teachers, language learners and others involved in language work placements. The Toolkit is available to download from the CILT website or in CD format free from CILT.
To order a CD e-mail: Toolkit@cilt.org.uk.
Business Language Champions 
An exciting initiative where businesses are inspired to actively engage in partnerships with schools that are focused on language learning. RLN London, supported by Comenius London, has just completed the 07/08 programme of Business Language Champions activity in London. Partnerships have been set up in 11 boroughs between 11 business partners and 15 school / college partners and pupils from across the age range have been helped to understand the importance of languages as a practical and critical workplace skill.
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Do you need help to make links with local employers? Download our free Business Language Champion toolkit (pdf 926KB). For further details, case studies of London projects and an information pack see the RLN London website. |
Language Ambassadors
Last academic year the Comenius London Language Ambassador programme saw 77 visits from HE student ambassadors to 60 different schools across 23 London boroughs, impacting on over 400 students. For more information on this year's programme please see our flyer. If you would like a Language Ambassador to support an event or activity that you are planning at your school or college this year, please complete a visit request form or contact Kathryn Abram.
Competitions and awards for students
Chinese Speaking Competition
British Council Mandarin Chinese speaking competition for UK schools supported by the HSBC Global Education Programme. The prize is a trip to Beijing at Easter. There are two categories in the competition, one for language ability and one for performance. Both categories are open to all secondary and sixth form students in years 7-13 who are non-native speaking learners of Chinese. Regional heats in London at School of Oriental and African Studies on 15 December 2008.
Interested schools should complete the online registration form at https://survey.britishcouncil.org/wix/p8117703.aspx by 17 November 2008. If you would like more information, please contact the British Council Tel: 020 7389 4595 Email: world.links@britishcouncil.org
Canning House Essay Competition 2009
The title of the essay, to be written in Spanish or Portuguese, is: 'The Latin American I most admire'. The competition is open to all students in the United Kingdom aged between 17 and 19 years on 31st August 2009. The deadline is 9 January 2009.
1st Prize for Spanish is a cheque for £250 and a return ticket to a Latin American country of the winner's choice. For more details see the Canning House website.
European Day of Languages
The European Day of Languages (EDL), a Council of Europe initiative, is held annually on the 26 September to celebrate language and cultural diversity. The Day was first celebrated in 2001, the European Year of Languages and involves more people every year.
EDL aims to:
- To alert the public to the importance of language learning
- To increase awareness and appreciation of all languages
- To encourage lifelong language learning
CILT has launched the Celebrate, Educate, Appreciate campaign to give you the information and resources you need to convey positive messages about languages to teenagers on the European Day of Languages. For more details and to order your resources (at a small cost) visit the CILT EDL web pages.
Routes into Languages
A funded initiative to increase and widen participation in language study in HE. The London Routes into Languages consortium ‘Capital L’ will work over the next three years to deliver activities and events to engage young people in language learning.
For further information on the London programme visit the Routes into Languages website.
Sport
Football
Soccerlingua is a project to promote language learning among young football fans. The Soccerlingua website contains games and activities to make language learning fun. Resources include interactive DVDs to help children learn English, Spanish, Italian and German using the power of football.
The Arsenal Double Club is an innovative education and football programme which offers a range of subjects, together with football coaching. French, Spanish and German Languages Double Club programmes are available.
For more information on Double Club language modules, please contact Samir Singh 0207 704 4158 ssingh@arsenal.co.uk.
Olympics
The official website for Beijing 2008.
Olympic School Partnerships at Global Gateway is a school linking service for Olympic host countries.
London 2012: On Your Marks! is the first of a range of educational activities that London 2012 will be producing with its partners.
More ideas
The Key Stage 3 National Strategy on-line training module, Motivation and Participation is designed to help schools engage, motivate and challenge language learners across the secondary phase.
The Promoting Languages section of the CILT website has lots of ideas for language projects and activities.