The Scottish Funding Council is calling for a national debate on why and how we learn foreign languages after publishing a report into the supply and demand of modern language courses in colleges and universities.
Read more on this from Scottish Funding Council
Covering three major European languages (French, German and Italian), for the primary and secondary sector. Courses abroad give teachers the opportunity to brush up on their language skills while developing new teaching techniques and refreshing their knowledge of the country’s society and culture.
Teachers can apply for funding through the British Council to cover the cost of the course fees. June funding deadlines are approaching for three courses abroad: Vive La France a Besancon, Italiano alla Fiorentina and German for the primary school.
The Scotsman reports on a new code of conduct from the General Teaching Council for Scotland (GTCS) which advises against friendly relationships with pupils using social networking or mobile phone technology.
Read the Scotsman article online.
British Council Scotland reports that teachers have the chance to add an international dimension to their school curriculum with a free introductory course being offered by DFID Global School Partnerships (DGSP).
The online course, Introduction to Global School Partnerships, provides an outline of the principles and practices of global dimension learning partnerships between schools in the UK and schools in Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean. It can be accessed from anywhere in the world with internet availability.
Discover more and how to participate from the British Council Learning website
The Independent reports that ‘Teenagers studying for their French GCSE exams will soon be tested on their oral skills during visits to shops or market places while on foreign exchange trips. They will be tested on their speaking and comprehension skills as they purchase goods in a French street market or converse with the family with whom they are staying for the trip.’
Read more about this story from The Independent Education site
Nominations are now open for this year’s Star Awards, recognising the success, triumph and achievement of the best in Scottish education and training.
SQA want to reward excellence by individuals and centres alike, across all sectors of education and training – schools, colleges, training providers and businesses. This SQA Star Awards Ceremony is the most prestigious way to recognise and reward excellence throughout education.
Read about the categories and how to nominate on the Star Awards website
Pursuit of Excellence – 6/7 June 2008
Scottish CILT has extended the closing date of their June conference until Friday, May 23 but accommodation will be limited so if you are intending to book, please get your applications in soon. Full details and forms can be downloaded from the Scottish CILT website.
EU Member States’ students can try their hand at translation in the second edition of “Juvenes Translatores” (young translators) contest.
Encouraged by the enthusiasm of, and positive feedback from the participants in the first contest, organised in 2007–2008, the Commission decided to organise it again. All EU schools will be invited to register between 1 September and 20 October 2008 for a contest to be held on 27 November 2008.
More information from the Juvenes Translatores website
The Scottish Funding Council (SFC) has just published its revised report on Modern Languages in Scotland: Supply and demand in post-school education.
Read more on the report on the Scottish CiLT news page
You can download the full report from the (SFC) website.
Following highly successful group study visits last year, LTS is organising new group visits to Ontario, Canada, and to Santa Cruz, USA.
Both will take place from Monday 13 to Friday 17 October 2008.
More details for the visits and the application forms are available from the International Education website.
The closing date for applications for both visits is Thursday 26 June 2008.
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