Modern Languages Blog

New Edition - Scottish Languages Review

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):

http://www.strath.ac.uk/scilt/slr/iss/2009/19/

Scottish baccalaureate gets thumbs up

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.

Milestone as Scotland gets first teachers of Chinese

The first probationer teachers expected to achieve full registration in Chinese Mandarin were celebrated at an event hosted by the General Teaching Council for Scotland on 19 June.

China has the third largest economy in the world and Scotland’s pupils are being encouraged to learn Chinese Mandarin so they can compete in the rapidly changing business world. The language is one of the top three spoken around the globe and the teaching of it in schools is becoming increasingly popular.

The Scotsman: Milestone as Scotland gets first teachers of Chinese

GTCS article: Congratulations - award for first teachers registered to teach Mandarin

Scottish Government’s conference on the Scots language report

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.

http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2009/06/08164441/0

Glow Meets Scottish CILT for CPD event

Last Monday, Scottish CILT hosted the first virtual event for languages teachers through Glow - Scotland’s national school intranet. They invited practitioners from the primary and secondary sectors to share their experiences of interdisciplinary work and had examples from each sector as the focus of the event.
Scottish CILT hosted the first ever national virtual event for languages teachers on Monday, 15 June. The meeting took place from 4pm until 5.45pm in the Scottish CILT group on Glow, Scotland’s national schools intranet, via Glow Meet, the built –in videoconferencing facility on Glow.

Speakers had been identified from primary and secondary schools. They showed presentations on approaches to interdisciplinary work that they had been involved with in their schools and participating teachers commented and asked questions either through the chat facility or ‘on air.”

17 participants tuned in to the event; there was no cost and people could join from either their home or school computer. The event was well received, and many participants indicated that they would be very interested in future similar events.

‘I thought that the conference was fantastic. It was normally the kind of thing you would have to attend an inservice event to be part of, usually entailing giving up a Saturday!’

‘I thought the content was excellent. It was really uplifting to see all that good practice and certainly it has inspired me! I really liked the fact that you could interact with the presenters and ask questions, as often there isn’t time for this when attending an inservice event. I was also impressed by how easy it was to use the technology once we got started and I think that using Glow to share good practice and disseminate ideas should help us to make the changes demanded by CfE.’

‘I would really like the chance to take part in more of these type of conferences as I thought it was a very positive way to enhance my CPD folder.’

‘I enjoyed the CPD session, there is no question that this will soon be the way to run CPD events. Congratulations on your vision!’

The event was recorded and will be made available on the Scottish CILT Glow group.
As a means of reaching a national audience, providing cost – free CPD, and providing teachers with a means to engage with us via the glow group, there is nothing to compare with the convenience and easy manageability of Glow Meet.

We intend to build on this success and run regular, similar events in the future. We will most likely incorporate a monthly session along similar lines into our existing events calendar. If you have any suggestions for themes to develop further teacher CPD in this format, please don’t hesitate to get in touch: Catriona Oates. Looking forward to seeing you on Glow soon!

Find out more about Glow.

Edinburgh International Film Festival open

This year’s EIFF programme features over 130 features from 33 countries, including the latest works from all-time festival favourites like Steven Soderbergh (The Girlfriend Experience), David Mackenzie (Spread) and Shane Meadows (presenting the World Premiere of Le Donk plus Five Day Features, a special event outlining his plan for low-budget filmmaking).

For further information and full programme details, please visit http://www.edfilmfest.org.uk

CILT launches new LAFTAs

CILT, the National Centre for Languages has just launched the next Languages and Film Talent Awards (LAFTAs) competition, which offers the perfect chance for you to test your creativity and have some fun with languages.
The LAFTAs is a national competition inviting 13-21 year olds to make short films about the importance of languages.

Find out more and how to enter the competition from:

http://www.languageswork.org.uk/laftas/

Jules Verne programme

The French Ministry of Education has launched a mobility programme for primary and secondary teachers called Jules Verne.

Up to 300 teachers throughout France will spend the year 2009-2010 in a school abroad. The programme, of which a full description in English is attached, is entirely funded by the French Ministry of Education.

Word file: Jules Verne programme

French teachers may already have sent applications to Scottish schools. However, Local Authorities are welcome to let me know by 22 June 2009, if they have schools willing to host a French teacher, to the following address: education@ifecosse.org.uk

Modern languages virtual conference via Glow - 15 June

Scottish CILT would like to invite you to take part in the first ever national virtual event for languages teachers: Languages and Interdisciplinary Approaches, on Monday 15th June at 4pm.

Two practitioners, one primary and one secondary will share theirs and their learners’ experiences. Corinne Anderson, from Balfron High School will talk about the Europe week experience she devised for S2, and Wilma Gordon, from Mid Calder Primary School will explain how a link to a French school provided the vehicle for an ambitious collaboration resulting in bilingual novels and films in her P7 class.

All you need to take part is your Glow log in and a computer – try it from home if you can! However, you must be a member of the Scottish CILT group (National Groups – Modern Languages – Scottish CILT) to take part in the conference.

Please join our group and email asap to let us know that you would like to take part in the event.
Email catriona.oates@strath.ac.uk or mandy.reemanclark@strath.ac.uk to register.

http://www.strath.ac.uk/scilt/

French summer courses

Alliance Française de Glasgow offers courses for beginners and advanced students. Find out more from their website:

http://www.afglasgow.org.uk/spip.php?article331

Alliance Française also release a podcast in French for learners of French available online
http://www.afglasgow.org.uk/spip.php?article332