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The College of North East London
Context
The College of North East London (CONEL) is a large general further education institution based in Haringey in London. It is the London hub of one of CILT’s national 14 to 19 language learning networks, collaborating with Enfield and Waltham Forest College to spread the teaching of applied languages. As part of this development they have developed a Scheme of Work and related resources specific to teaching a language in the context of Health and Social Care. To view the resources, go to the Vocational Languages Resource Bank.
The college also provides language learning within a work-based setting for Metroline Bus staff and Sainsbury's shelf-stackers.
View some of the good practice described below in the case study »
How the programme is organised
- To launch the vocational courses, CONEL introduced taster courses in 2006-2007. Two 15 hour courses (ABC Entry 2 Award in Speaking and Listening) were delivered in the summer term using the newly-developed resources. One 15 hour course (ABC Entry 2 Award in Speaking and Listening) was delivered at Waltham Forest College alongside a Travel and Tourism course. ABC FAQs.
- Following the success of the taster courses, CONEL expanded the introduction of languages to various vocational areas in 2007-2008 and is now delivering languages alongside business (9 courses), science (2 courses) and early years education (2 courses). Now that the language course has more hours attached to it, students are working towards NOCN units. NOCN FAQs.
- Enfield College delivers a year-long Spanish course alongside their level 3 Travel and Tourism, with 25 learners.
- The language element is compulsory.
- Students learn for 1 ½ hours per week throughout the whole year.
- Courses are funded out of core-funding.
- The language courses for Metroline Buses and Sainsbury's run by CONEL were set up via the Trade Union learning representatives. Courses are delivered in the workplace which makes it easier for employees to attend.
Results/effect
- 41 students gained the ABC qualification as part of the taster course, a 100% success rate. Whilst there was initial resistance to the language element from some students, they soon began to enjoy the course and appreciate the opportunity to gain an extra qualification.
- Around 260 new learners are taking a language who would otherwise not have done so.
- Languages now have a more positive profile within the colleges involved, as the value of languages as an important skill in today’s economy and world is better understood.
- Learners who had the opportunity to do a language expressed interest in continuing if given the opportunity.
- Watch the video clip as teachers describe the effects of including a language in a range of different vocational courses.
Future developments
The college intends to include Polish within the new 14 to 19 Construction Diploma, which will begin in September 2008. The success of the courses is put down to good teaching within contexts relevant to the needs and interests of the learners. The college recognises that teaching languages in an applied context is the way forward in preparation for the new Diplomas and that having language skills makes employees more competitive in the global market. Read Isabella Moore’s column for FE News on the positive aspects of including languages in Diplomas.
Author: Torcato Coutino, Curriculum Manager for Languages, CONEL
Signposting |
If you are interested in developing languages within the Diplomas, please contact Sharon Czudak, Language Teaching Adviser 14 to 19 at CILT, the National Centre for Languages: sharon.czudak@cilt.org.uk or telephone on 020 7395 2502 Read about vocational languages at CONEL in QIA 14-19 News Spring '08 (pdf, 1.23MB) |
