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):
Learning and Teaching Scotland’s Connected magazine is now available online.
This issue includes a feature article on the schools that have been involved in trialling the draft experiences and outcomes for Curriculum for Excellence.
Elsewhere in the magazine we focus on early years. In the wake of the Scottish Government’s Early Years Framework, we explore the key changes and introduce the LTS Early Years team.
Also in the magazine we reflect on how the experience of teaching differs now from that of 20 years ago.
The Scottish Centre for Information on Language Teaching and Research (Scottish CILT) has recently created a wiki especially for Modern languages in Scotland.
The aim is to create a unique knowledge base for teachers in Scotland. You can easily add your own ideas to topics that already exist or share your own ideas on a brand new topic. Please visit the Scottish Cilt wiki for more information.
The latest edition of the Scottish CILT newsletter is now available to download.
If you are interested in submitting an article for the next newsletter please get in touch with Mandy Reeman-Clark.
The autumn 2008 edition of the Scottish Languages Review.
Includes the following articles:
Susan Bremner: Some thoughts on teaching a mixed-ability class
Daniela Fomiatti: Cultural Behaviour of European Tour Groups in Scotland
Christine MacGregor: Accelerating the Access 3 French course
Petra McLay: German in Scottish education – school teachers’ perspectives
SCIAF is giving a voice to the young people of the conflict-torn Democratic Republic of Congo in a new and innovative modern languages resource for Scottish secondary schools launched today (Wednesday 12 November).
The new resource Citizens of the World – Life in the DRC (Citoyens Du Monde – La Vie en RDC) is has been specially designed to support Curriculum for Excellence. It comprises a web-based video wall of young Congolese talking about their lives, an interactive blog enabling young Scottish students to ask questions and hold discussions with a young person in the Congo, and a teachers’ pack including background, lesson ideas, factsheets and a DVD.
£9.95 is being charged by SCIAF to help recover the costs of production.
The new resource can be obtained by schools by emailing youth@sciaf.org.uk or by calling SCIAF direct on telephone: 0141 354 5555.
Last year Scholastic launched La Petite Presse, a 12-page magazine for pupils of Primary French aged 7-11. The magazine is issued four times a year and each magazine comes with a CD-ROM containing interactive games and activities, suitable for either individual or whiteboard use, along with word-for-word audio of the entire magazine content. Each issue also comes with a separate set of comprehensive teacher’s notes.
They recently carried out an online survey with teachers from across the UK and found many teachers had not heard of the magazine, They are keen to raise awareness of La Petite Presse, and would be happy to send 5 free copies (with the CD-ROM and Teacher’s Notes) of this year’s issue 1 to any schools who email them at: hcunningham@marygalsgowmags.co.uk .
In return they would appreciate knowing what you, your colleagues (and their pupils) think of the magazine, and to find out which other resources they use.
One last thing: if any schools would be interested in having a talk from one of the editors of La Petite Presse on teaching French at Primary, this is something they could also look at arranging.
Following on from the Improving Scottish Education (ISE) report (February 2006) HMIE evaluated attainment in social subjects, physical education and modern languages in a representative sample of primary schools across Scottish education authorities. Inspections took place between May 2006 and June 2007. The sample classes included pupils at the early, middle and upper stages of each school. Schools benefited from constructive oral feedback and pointers for improvement during the one day inspection.
These inspections of pupils’ attainment in modern languages took place in the context of primary school staff giving increased consideration to the principles of Curriculum for Excellence. By stimulating debate about attainment and learning and teaching, the visits and this report aim to challenge those involved in teaching modern languages to review the extent to which current practice is successfully promoting the four capacities in young learners.
Read the HMIE report Developing the four capacities through modern languages: focusing on successful learners in primary schools.
At the beginning of June 2008, the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills, Fiona Hyslop, announced the introduction of a Scottish Science Baccalaureate and a Scottish Language Baccalaureate for pupils in the fifth and sixth years of secondary education.
SQA is now working closely with colleagues in the Scottish Government and key stakeholders to take this important development forward. The Baccalaureate will be available to centres in August 2009 with first certification in August 2010.
The following letter has been distributed to all centres with more details PDF file: Baccalaureate Letter August 2008 .
Read the Scottish Government news release from June
Araboh.com was founded to increase access to buying Arabic language books for educators, parents and learners living outside the Arab world. Where it may be difficult to find a good variety of educational and leisure books.
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