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. This year’s European Award for Languages winners cover a diverse range of projects, include over 25 languages and span a variety of age groups from primary school pupils to adult learners. They include a Eurovision Song Contest-style event, a series of Spanish language podcasts and a collection of learning cards and CDs aimed at truck drivers. Many of the projects effectively create an appealing context for language learning, whether it is a bilingual theatre performance or the formation of a working film studio. 

Several of the projects involve whole family units and foster social inclusion through group learning. These include Tamil-speaking parents holding language events with their primary school children and a Spanish course for families in the East End of Glasgow.

Brian Page, Chair of the judging panel, said, ‘Once again our winners show how success in languages can make a lasting difference to the lives of learners. They fully deserve this European accolade as their work can serve as an inspiring model for others’.  Chief Executive of CILT, the National Centre for Languages, Isabella Moore announcing the winners in the run up to the European Day of Languages on 26 September said, ‘These projects have creatively engaged people of all ages in language learning. All the winners should be proud of their hard work and imagination in contributing to the development of language skills in the UK’. Winners will receive their award from 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.  

European Award for Languages 2007 – Winners

Photographs and logos are available on request. 

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 Kar2oucheSt Aidan’s Catholic School, Language College and 6^th 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 Lingo4LifeEducation Business Partnership, North TynesideLingo4Life 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 ProjectLlanishen High School, CardiffAs 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, HullThe 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 projectCape Cornwall School, CornwallFor 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 BusinessTorquay Boys’ Grammar School, TorquayThe 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, EalingThis 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 SpeakCanterbury Christ Church University, CanterburyThis 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, LondonThis 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, GlasgowEasy 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 SpanishRadio Lingua Ltd, AyrCoffee 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

For further information contact:

Simon Power

Temporary Press Officer

CILT, the National Centre for Languages

prtemp@cilt.org.uk

020 7395 0850

Categories: Uncategorized