Modern Languages Blog

The Independent: From now on Scottish Gaelic speakers can write directly to EU bodies in their mother tongue if they wish and receive a reply in that language. Scottish ministers can also speak Scottish Gaelic in meetings with other EU ministers and regional representatives.

The deal was sealed in a Memorandum of Understanding signed in Brussels yesterday by the UK’s EU ambassador, Sir Kim Darroch, and by Donald Henderson, Scotland’s EU director.

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/scots-gaelic-becomes-an-eu-language-1799290.html

The Language Network for Quality Assurance (LanQua) is a three-year project (October 2007-September 2010) funded by the Commission of the European Communities Lifelong Learning Erasmus Network programme.

Project aims

LanQua aims to build on emerging European networks concerned with languages, bringing a wide range of providers and stakeholders together to produce a European quality benchmark for the area of languages, which will enable institutions and stakeholders to assure and enhance the quality of provision in higher education.

Project outcomes

LanQua is producing a Toolkit: a European Quality Benchmark, a series of relevant case studies and a set of recommendations for assurance and enhancement of quality in languages and related studies.

http://www.lanqua.eu/index.html

Do you have pupils aged 16 to 19 with an interest in UK-German youth relations and activities? The application process for the UK-German Youth Council 2009-2010 is now open!

The Youth Council provides members with an opportunity to develop communication, intercultural and project-planning skills, together with young people from Germany.

Find out more

http://www.ukgermanconnection.org/microsites/?location_id=783

From CILT:

UK winners of this year’s European Award for Languages have shown that language teachers are increasingly looking outside of the language department for ways to motivate young learners. Winning projects made innovative cross-curricular links with departments including Drama, geography, history and citizenship to show students the relevance of languages to all aspects of life. Read more…

Euro-Ecole is a French teachers’ association based in Nantes. For the last 20 years, they have matched french classes with european ones (children from 8 to 12 years old). They are always looking for new schools to develop this partnership.

This project is to give an opportunity for primary school children in Europe to meet and to know and understand each other through school exchanges.

For more information, please vistite Euro-Ecole’s website: www.euro-ecole.org

A team at Millburn Academy in Inverness has won the UK level of the ‘Charlemagne Youth Prize’.

Read more on the LTS International education blog

 http://ltsblogs.org.uk/internationaleducation/2009/03/25/europe-and-the-charlemagne-youth-prize/

EU Multilingualism Commissioner was in London today (2 April) for the launch of an innovative project combining foreign-language learning and football training run by Arsenal football club.

This year’s edition of the English Premiership club’s ‘Double Club’  initiative, which the EU executive described as an “innovative project aimed at schoolchildren, combining language learning with football training,” sees youngsters from London and the surrounding area attend language courses of six to eight weeks, followed by football sessions.

Lessons are inspired by football and Arsenal-related themes, and are supported by contributions from the club’s French, Spanish and German-speaking players in their native languages. 

The success of Arsenal’s Double Club’ project has already seen several other Premiership clubs adopt similar schemes.

English Premiership club Arsenal first launched its ‘Double Club’ initiative in 1998. Since then, it has helped over 2,000 students from 80 schools in London and south-east England to learn German, French and Spanish. The EU executive is particularly keen to boost language-learning in the UK amid fears that the European institutions will likely face an acute shortage of English interpreters by 2015.

http://www.euractiv.com/en/culture/orban-launches-arsenal-languages-scheme/article-180929

The Spanish Education Office is launching a contest open to all primary and secondary schools in Scotland to give recognition to those schools that excel in the promotion and provision of the teaching of Spanish within the school. Entries must be submitted by the headship team or modern languages coordinators before April 20 2009. All the information about prizes and criteria to be awarded can be seen on The Consejería web page:

http://www.mepsyd.es/exterior/uk/es/consej/es/promocion/concursos.shtml

Spring Day for Europe is an annual programme that is open to schools in Europe and elsewhere in the world.

Teachers are encouraged to book days in their calendar to involve students in activities that focus on European themes. Spring Day enables young citizens to express their views and make their voices heard in Europe.  

The programme supports many school subjects and offers opportunities for teachers and students to experience both cultural and practical aspects of creativity and innovation.

Spring Day for Europe runs this year from 25 March to 9 May 2009. Schools of all types are welcome to register, from pre-primary to sixth form and FE colleges. Spring Day is also open to classes from organisations responsible for extra-curricular activities whose goals are to develop and strengthen skills related to the school curriculum.

For further information in the UK, contact ukspringday@googlemail.com

Spring Day for Europe 2009

Voxbone has been chosen by language Learning specialist Learnosity to connect language students around the world with their teachers and each other. Through its global IP network, Voxbone enables Learnosity’s students to share their native fluencies and accents for the cost of local calls. 

Find out more about Voxbone and Learnosity

http://www.checkpoint-elearning.com/article/6480.html