Modern Languages Blog

Turismo Valencia has just launched an exciting competition  for 14-18 year-old students of Spanish in the UK. Three students will win a football course run by Valencia FC Foundation in early July with the chance to meet team players and train alongside their promising youngsters.

To take part in the competition you should enrol on the Destination Valencia website and create an advert for the city of Valencia - the proposal must be in Spanish and is limited to one entry per student. For more information email Manuel Balaguer Carmona  asesoriaedimburgo.uk@educacion.es 

http://www.destinovalencia.com/uk09/destino-valencia.php?

Mi Vida Loca wins a Bafta for interactive innovation and now have a TV version on BBC 2 - 23 and 24 June, 4am - don’t forget to set the record button.

New - a Touch of Russian Download phrases, try tongue-twisters, discover fascinating facts about Russian and help write the script for the new Russian Soap opera.

Languages on TV - BBC TWO Learning Zone

Languages programmes on the Learning Zone resume on 23rd June. They’ on TV overnight so you’ll need to set your video the evening before:
Mi Vida Loca (Part 1) (23 Jun 04:00-05:00) Mi Vida Loca (Part 2) (23 Jun 05:00-06:00)

Mi Vida Loca (Drama in English) (24 Jun 04:00-05:00), Mi Vida Loca (Drama in Spanish) (24 Jun 05:00-06:00)    

Ma France 1 & 2 (25 Jun 04:00-06:00), Ma France 3 & 4 (26 Jun 04:00-06:00)

Italianissimo 1-8 (30 Jun 04:00-06:00), Italianissimo 9-16 (01 July 04:00-06:00), Italianissimo 17-20 (02 July 04:00-06:00)

Check out the Tutors’ pages - a guide to BBC resources by topic and grammar point.  This newly-launched one-stop-shop lists our materials for eating out, travel, adjectives, verbs and more.

Also the TV pages withiun this section which include details of BBC and online programmes and includes transcripts:  French TV ; Spanish TV ; German TV ; Italian TV

http://www.bbc.co.uk/languages/tutors/index.shtml?

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.

http://www.primarylanguages.org.uk/primary_languages.aspx?

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

Languages programmes on the Learning Zone are now on a break until 22nd June but the following Schools programmes will be broadcast in April:
Tues 31st March, 04:00 - GCSE Bitesize revision - French 1
Wed 1st April, 04:00 - GCSE Bitesize revision - French 2
Thurs 2nd April, 04:00 - GCSE Bitesize revision - German
Fri 3rd April, 04:00 - GCSE Bitesize revision - Spanish

Languages on TV - BBC TWO Learning Zone - new format
Languages programmes are on TV overnight so you’ll need to set your video the evening before.

Ma France 1 & 2 (17 Feb 04:00-06:00), Ma France 3 & 4 (18 Feb 04:00-06:00)
Talk Spanish 1-6 (19 Feb 04:00-05:30) and Eurografters: Spain (05:30-06:00)
Talk French 1-6 (20 Feb 04:00-05:30) and Eurografters: France (05:30-06:00)
Talk Italian 1-6 (24 Feb 04:00-05:30) and Eurografters: Italy (05:30-06:00)
Talk German 1-6 (25 Feb 04:00-05:30) and Eurografters: Germany (05:30-06:00)
Talk Greek 1-6 (26 Feb 04:00-06:00)
Talk Portuguese 1-6 (27 Feb 04:00-05:30) and Brazil Inside Out (05:30-06:00)

Go to the BBC website to download the full schedule.

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.

Download November newsletter

http://www.scilt.stir.ac.uk/news/?id=119&cat=1?

Ma France Vodcasts

We’ve improved the quality of the videos in our mini French language lessons and added a new functionality so you can add them to your blog or your class website. The up-to-date language that you’ll learn will help you deal with topics such as directions, ordering food and house-buying

New - Mi Vida Loca taster video and email tips

Have you tried this new thrilling video drama yet? Immerse yourself in the interactive mystery and pick up some essential Spanish along the way. Now with new email tips - learn in 12 weeks!

A Touch of Polish Challenge

Thanks to everyone who participated in voting for the storyline of Polish ex-pat Bogdan and English divorcee Sarah. If you haven’t already tried the challenge, guess the meaning of the sentences you hear and pick up some Polish

New - Learning Pages / Learning Zone Clips

Check out the brand new Learning pages for online learning, support and advice for adult learners and parents, along with classroom resources for teachers, who may also find the new Learning Zone Broadband Class Clips useful.