Scottish Languages Review – Issue 19 is now available on the Scottish CILT website - Please note new website address (Scottish CILT are now based at the University of Strathclyde):
The Scotsman reports: Scottish qualifications have been given another boost as the project element of the new baccalaureate, in schools from August, has been rated as the equivalent of half an Advanced Higher by Ucas.
Read the Scotsman article online
http://news.scotsman.com/education/Boost-for-Scottish-education-as.5412177.jp
More on the Languages baccalaureate from Scottish CILT.
Report of the Scottish Government’s conference on the Scots language held at the University of Stirling on 9 February 2009, which includes the conference agenda, slides from the main presentations, notes from the breakout discussion groups, a copy of the provision reporting form and a list of attendees.
The Herald reports: One in eight of all school children in Scotland’s largest city does not speak English as a first language, new figures show.
Read more on this article: http://www.theherald.co.uk/news/news/display.var.2512964.0.English_not_first_language_for_one_in_eight_Glasgow_pupils.php
The UK has just issued its third report on its implementation of the Council of Europe’s European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages.
Read more from Eurolang website
http://www.eurolang.net/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=3181&Itemid=0
How Gàidhlig is doing
Scottish Gaelic has made progress with the new Gaelic TV channel, and Bòrd na Gàidhlig have announced their new language plan for Highland Council. However, despite strong Scottish governmental support, overall there’s still the lack of adequate provision of relatively easy to achieve items such as bilingual signage, and the language plans, required by the Gaelic language act, need to be adopted by all the councils in Scotland. The TV channel is also hamstrung from not being available through as a regular terrestrial channel on Freeview, the UK standard provider.
Find the full report on the Council of Europe website http://www.coe.int/t/dg4/education/minlang/Report/
As a public organisation Learning and Teaching Scotland is required by the Gaelic Language (Scotland) Act 2005 to produce a Gaelic Language Plan. LTS recognises the unique and essential contribution of Gaelic to the rich and diverse cultural life of Scotland. The draft Gaelic Language Plan sets out clearly how LTS will use and support the use of Gaelic in the delivery of its services, working closely with Scottish Government, Bòrd na Gàidhlig and other key partners and stakeholders.
www.LTScotland.org.uk/aboutlts/whatwedo/draftgaeliclanguageplan/index.asp
The Primary Languages website is a national gateway to advice, information, support and training for primary languages teaching and learning. The site is owned and operated by CILT, the National Centre for Languages, the government’s recognised centre of expertise on languages.
The Department of Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) is looking for advice from teachers about how Chinese language, history and culture can be more widely taught to children and young people in the UK.
To share your views please complete the following survey:
Fiona Hyslop, Scottish Government Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning, and Keith Brown, Minister for Schools and Skills, formally launched the Curriculum for Excellence guidance on Thursday 2 April in Stirling.
The reforms are intended to raise standards by improving learning and teaching with literacy and numeracy a key focus. They will help our young people to become:
Curriculum for Excellence - http://www.ltscotland.org.uk/curriculumforexcellence/index.asp
Experiences and outcomes for Modern languages - http://www.ltscotland.org.uk/curriculumforexcellence/languages/modernlanguages/index.asp
Experiences and outcomes - http://www.ltscotland.org.uk/curriculumforexcellence/experiencesandoutcomes/index.asp
The HMIE publication, The Child at the Centre, is now available in Gaelic on the HMIE website, as are also the following HMIE publications.
How Good is our School – part 3 (in Gaelic) http://www.hmie.gov.uk/documents/publication/atgsm3.html
How Good is our School – The Journey to Excellence (parts 1 and 2) http://www.hmie.gov.uk/documents/publication/hgiosatgsm4.html
Blog feed