Community Languages - Professional Development & Training
On this page we list professional development and training opportunities across the UK for teachers and tutors of community languages, offered by CILT and the Comenius Network and other institutions. Please let us know if you will be hosting an event and we will be pleased to add details.
You will also find information on the annual national conference for community languages education, held by CILT in collaboration with partners. You can read a report on the 2007 conference, together with plenary presentations, and find out initial details for our 2008 conference in Sheffield.
CILT and Comenius eventsAnnual national conference
Other events
Events log archive 2007-08
Accredited courses
CILT and Comenius Network events
Regional Training Days for Community Languages Teachers
Our Languages, in partnership with the CILT Comenius network, is offering 8 full-day regional training days to provide upskilling in pedagogy for all community languages teachers in both the complementary/supplementary and mainstream school sectors. The topics of plenaries will be chosen from a list which includes creativity, developing schemes of work, assessment for learning, teaching with PowerPoint and promoting thinking skills. Every event will also host a workshop on obtaining QTS and a presentation on Asset Languages. Information on speakers can be found on the Our Languages website. These training days are FREE to participants. Registration is required.
East - Cambridge Programme and registration form (doc 440KB)
Wednesday 3 September 2008, Comenius East, Anglia Ruskin University, East Road, Cambridge CB1 1PT
Contact: Sarah Schechter sarah.schechter@anglia.ac.uk
Yorkshire and the Humber - Leeds Programme and registration form (doc 376KB)
Monday 8 September 2008, Leeds Trinity & All Saints, Brownberrie Lane, Horsforth, Leeds LS18 5HD
Contact: Sara Sellars s.sellars@leedstrinity.ac.uk mail 0113 283 7226
South East - Southampton Programme and registration form (doc 356KB)
Wednesday 10 September 2008, Hilton Southampton,
Bracken Place, Southampton SO16 3RB Contact: Zena Martyn z.i.martyn@soton.ac.uk
South West - Bristol Programme and registration form (doc 182KB)
Wednesday 17 September 2008, University of the West of England, Coldharbour Lane, Bristol BS16 1QY
Contact: Irene Wilkie irene.wilkie@uwe.ac.uk
East Midlands - Leicester Programme and registration form (doc 258KB)
Saturday 20 September 2008, The Peepul Centre, Orchardson Avenue, Leicester LE4 6DP Contact: Lyn Palmer lpalmer@comeniusem.org.uk 01509 416990
North East - Spennymoor Programme and registration information (pdf 143KB)
Saturday 27 September 2008, Durham Leadership Centre Enterprise Lane, Spennymoor DL16 6YP
Contact: Ondra Nicholson ondra.nicholson@durham.gov.uk
North West - Manchester Programme and registration form (doc 217KB)
Tuesday 30 September 2008, Hilton Deansgate, 303 Deansgate, Manchester M3 4LQ
Contact: Maria Carnota-Marco maria.carnota-marco@cumbria.ac.uk 01524 384488
West Midlands - Birmingham Programme and registration form (doc 587KB)
Saturday 4 October 2008, Moseley School, College Road, Moseley, Birmingham B13 9LR
Contact: Rona Heald rona_heald@birmingham.gov.uk
Community Language Network Seminars
Held at CILT, the
National Centre for Languages, hosted by Comenius London.
These termly seminars offered by Comenius London are designed for all those involved in the teaching
of community languages, either in mainstream or supplementary schools.
If you are interested in community languages
in schools we urge you to come to these free twilight events. There will be an up-date on relevant and current issues, a workshop session
and an opportunity to get to know colleagues in the field over refreshments.
Wednesday 26 November 2008, 16.45 - 19.30 Free
Session title: Using Dual Language books Key Speaker: Dr Raymonde Sneddon, University of East London
Wednesday 25 February 2008, 16.45 - 19.30 Free
Session title: tbc Key Speaker: tbc
To register please email your name and contact phone number to eriona.brading@cilt.org.uk Tel: 020 7395 0846.
For full details of CILT's programme of events for language teachers please visit the CILT continuing professional development pages.
Annual national conference
Community languages: Developing practice for the 21st Century is the national conference focusing on community languages education issues, held by CILT in collaboration with partners. First held in London in summer 2006, it aims to bring together teachers and managers, in mainstream and supplementary schools and in local authorities, to focus on strategic and practical issues in developing the quality and breadth of provision of community languages education. Download the report from the most recent conference below.
| Sheffield 2008 | Plenary presentations and the 2008 conference report will shortly be available on this page. |
| Leicester 2007 | 2007 conference report (pdf 2.8MB) Plenary 1: Arvind Bhatt and Angela Creese (ppt 1MB) Plenary 2: Paul Morrish (ppt 3.3MB) |
Details for the summer 2009 conference will be available in the new year on the CILT conferences and events pages.
The conference forms part of CILT's work to promote routes to Qualified Teacher Status. Routes to QTS for community languages teachers are summarised in the Qualify to teach community languages (pdf 308 KB) leaflet. Contact the CILT enquiry line or phone 020 7379 5110 if you require a hard copy.
Other events
See below details of 2008 events, in date order, offered by a range of institutions for teachers of community languages in the UK. Inclusion in this list does not imply recommendation by CILT. Please email details of any relevant events you are hosting to Claire Dugard at claire.dugard@cilt.org.uk
Galilee – A school with no walls
Tuesday 14 October 2008, 6:00 to 8:00 pm (Refreshments at 5:30), Room 109-110 Education Building, Goldsmiths, University of London, New Cross, London SE14 6NW
The Centre for Language, Culture and Learning, Educational Studies Department at Goldsmiths, University of London invites you to a Film and Talk by Aura Mor.
Further information is available from the Goldsmiths website.
Shirley Brice Heath and Courtney Cazden in Conversation
Thursday 16 October 2008, 6:00 to 8:00 pm (Refreshments at 7:30), Ian Gulland Theatre, Goldsmiths, University of London,
New Cross, London SE14 6NW
This event is hosted by The Centre for Language, Culture and Learning, Educational Studies Department at Goldsmiths, University of London. For further details please visit the Goldsmiths website.
Please also have a look at the events listings on the Our Languages website.
Events log 2007-08
Languages of the Wider World - Valuing Diversity
15-16 September 2008, School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), University of London
Organised jointly by the Subject Centre for Languages, Linguistics and Area Studies (LLAS) and the SOAS-UCL Centre for Excellence in Teaching and Learning Languages of the Wider World (LWW-CETL), this conference will bring together teachers, researchers, educational developers and policy makers to discuss practical and strategic issues relating to languages of the wider world in UK higher education. For further information, to register for the event, or to submit a paper, visit the LLAS website.
5-day course to support Community Language teachers entering Initial Teacher Education (ITE)
17 June - 11 July, 2008, CILT, the National Centre for Languages
CILT and London Metropolitan University are running a free course, supported by the TDA and open to teachers in both the mainstream and complementary/supplementary school sectors who are entering a PCGE, GTP or SCITT course. Only 35 places available, so book soon! For more information see the draft programme or call 020 7395 0833. To apply please complete an application form and return it to Sarah Cartwright at CILT.
Day 1 Tuesday, 17 June, 10:00 - 16:00*
Day 2 Thursday, 26 June, 10:00 - 16:00
Day 3 Tuesday, 1 July, 10:00 - 16:00
Day 4 Wednesday, 2 July, 10:00 - 16:00
Day 5 Friday, 11 July, 10:00 - 16:00
* Day 1 aimed at new applicants to ITE only; Days 2-5 are for new ITE applicants and those candidates beginning an ITE course in September 2008.
Open Day for refugee professionals wanting to work in the education sector in the UK
10 July 2008,10am - 3pm,
Refugees into Jobs, 3 - 7 Lincoln Parade, Preston Road, Middlesex HA9 8UA
This free information day is open for all refugees in London who have a background in teaching or would like to work in the education sector in the UK. There will be an opportunity to find out information about returning to teaching, training to teach and accessing services that can support you into work. For more information and to register please contact Fahira Mulamehic on 0208 908 4433 or fahira.mulamehic@brent.gov.uk
Drama - tools and techniques for classroom teaching
8 July 2008, 9:30 - 16:00, London
Sally Lawrence, Drama and Education Practitioner, Outloud Productions will facilitate this workshop which will offer some practical tools and techniques on how to teach other subjects effectively through the use of drama. You will use drama exercises to explore English, maths,
languages and
history. For booking information please see the NRC's Summer training programme.
Motivation and engagement: Raising attainment at GCSE Urdu
Monday 7 July 2008, 9.30 – 15.30, King Edward VII School, Sheffield, Glossop Road, New Building
This event organised by the Association for Language Learning (ALL) follows two highly successful Regional Urdu Days in previous years, which have provided teachers of Urdu with networking opportunities and a platform for sharing best practice. The cost is £ 50 (individual members of ALL), £ 75 (group members of ALL), £ 120 (non-members) or £ 10 (teachers in community language schools with ALL membership). For speaker and programme information or to register please contact Eva Lamb at evalamb@hotmail.com or visit the ALL Events section.
ICT workshops for teachers of community languages
10 May - 5 July, 2008
Goldsmiths, University of London
These ICT workshops include hands-on sessions on PowerPoint and interactive whiteboard tools, as well as a 'bring and share' slot for colleagues to show examples of work they have created and used in classes. For guidance on setting up functionality for Arabic, Chinese, Bengali, Gujarati, Panjabi, Tamil and Urdu on home/school computers go to www.languages.devisland.net/community. A fee of £15 per participant will be charged (lunch not provided).
For information or to book a place, email Laura Cattell or phone 020 7919 7114.
Arabic: Saturday 10 May, 9.30 - 16.00
Urdu/Panjabi: Saturday 7 June, 9.30 - 16.00
All languages: Saturday 5 July, 9.30 - 16.00
Effective lesson planning
1 July 2008, 9.30am to 4pm, London
This course is brought to you by the National Resource Centre for Supplementary Education and is facilitated by Sandra Teacher, Extended Services Consultant at ContinYou. Easy-to-use planning models will be explained, and as a result of this course you will be able to adapt plans effectively for your own teaching circumstances. The course will look at the challenges and benefits of planning, what an effective lesson plan includes and planning models that you can use in your classroom. For booking information please see the NRC's Summer training programme.
Comenius East Midlands Community Languages Conference
Saturday 28 June 2008, 9.30am – 3.30pm, The Peepul Centre, Leicester
Following the success of our conference for teachers of bilingual learners in November 2007 we are pleased to invite teachers, tutors and managers of community languages in all sectors of education to this FREE conference.
Workshop sessions will include working towards your quality framework award for complementary/ supplementary schools, interactive teaching activities using the Curriculum Guides, and progressing with speaking: hands on opportunities to try out activities which support progress in Speaking Skills.
For further information contact Gill West on 01509 416990 or gwest@comeniusem.org.uk or visit the Comenius East Midlands website.
Introduction to the British education system
26 June 2008, 9.30am to 4pm, London
Dr Tozun Issa from London Metropolitan University will lead this course from the National Resource Centre for Supplementary Education. The course introduces the national curriculum, and explains its requirements across all key stages and assessment for language learning on reading, writing, speaking and listening. For booking information please see the NRC's Summer training programme.
Moving forward: Supporting refugee teachers
Tuesday 24 June 2008, Leeds
This free conference, taking place just after Refugee Week is aimed at refugee and other teachers, employers and advisors, senior management in schools, headteachers, CPD coordinators, school governors, local authority staff, school workforce advisors, teacher trainers, and those with an interest in the topic. Please see the Refugees into Teaching website for more information.
Integration and Achievement in a Multilingual Europe: Languages for Learning and Life
18-19 June 2008, University of Leeds
This seminar aims to provide a forum where researchers, policymakers and practitioners can come
together to discuss how discourses of integration interact with linguistic and cultural
practices in multilingual communities and schools in different European countries. The delegate fee is £50 (£35 concessions). For more information or to book a place please visit the BAAL website.
Community Language Network Seminars held at CILT, the
National Centre for Languages, hosted by Comenius London.
Session 1: It makes you think! Developing thinking skills
Wednesday 7 November 2007, 16.45 - 19.30
Session 2: Practical activities for the primary languages classroom
Wednesday 27 February 2008 16.45 - 19.30
Session 3: Learning First - A look at behaviour management strategies
Wednesday 21 May 2008 16.45 - 19.30
AS/A Level Panjabi day
Saturday 26 April 2008, Jennie Lee Centre, Lichfield Road, Wolverhampton, WV11 3HT
This free event from Wolverhampton City Council is for students and their teachers. Contact Naresh Chandla for more information: naresh.chandla@wolverhampton.gov.uk
The 14th UKFCS Teachers Training Conference
5-6 April 2008, the University of Reading
This year's conference for teachers of Chinese, with the theme of interactive teaching and learning, will include sessions on drama, ICT, teaching GCSE / A Level and Asset Languages, songs, games and crafts and collaboration between Chinese community and mainstream schools. To enquire, email education@ukfcs.info or look at the News page on the UKFCS website for programme and booking information.
Empowering Pupils in a City
of Multiple Languages and Identities
Friday 14 March 2008, Redbridge Teachers’ Centre, Melbourne Rd, Ilford
A conference in partnership with NALDIC's East London Group, this event will explore the themes of evolving languages and identities of pupils in schools; managing the changing diversity, languages and mobility of pupils;promoting community cohesion and inclusive practice in schools; and empowering pupils from ethnic minority communities to succeed. Please visit the NALDIC website for more information.
Launch of the Centre for Multilingualism
Thursday 13 March 2008, Graduate Centre, London Metropolitan University, 166 – 220 Holloway Road,
London, N7 8DB
Tozun Issa, Director of the new Centre for Multilingualism in Education at London Metropolitan University would like to invite interested colleagues to a Lecture by Professor Eve Gregory from Goldsmiths, University of London from 6.30 to 8.30pm for the launch event of this exciting initiative. To book your place, please contact Tozun on 020 7133 2399 or email t.issa@londonmet.ac.uk.
Portuguese Achievement Conference
11 March 2008, The Oval, London
This year’s ‘The sky’s the limit’ conference aims to share good practice in raising the achievement of Portuguese speaking pupils in primary and secondary schools and develop the teaching of the Portuguese language. This free one-day conference is aimed at LA representatives and colleagues in primary and secondary schools. To make a reservation, please contact Lambeth Local Authority.
Conference on the teaching of Arabic
6 March 2008, British Council, London
This free event from the British Council, CILT, SSAT and ALL for teachers of Arabic in primary and secondary schools offers a range of programme options, including local and international school partnerships, teaching strategies, making the case for Arabic and Asset Languages. For an application form, please contact the British Council.
Preparing to teach the AQA revised specifications for GCE
Modern Hebrew - 5 March, Manchester and 14 March, London
Panjabi - 10 March, Birmingham and 14 March, London
Bengali - 13 March 2008, London
AQA is offering meetings to support the revisions to these specifications, for first teaching in September 2008. The meetings are free and can be booked online or by contacting Teacher Support in Harrogate on 01423 534 385.
Head Start in Japanese
Tuesday 4 March 2008, Japan Foundation London Language Centre, London
Senior managers, heads of languages, primary language coordinators and LA language advisors interested in introducing Japanese are invited to sign up to this free one-day course. course. See the JFLLC website for an application form.
EMA Conference: Working with parents and the community
Tuesday 4 March 2008, Credon Centre, Kirton Road, Plaistow, E13 9BT
This event is brought to you by the Newham Ethnic Minority Achievement Unit and is aimed at Headteachers, teachers, parents and learning mentors. Workshops will focus on involving the community and parents in current initiatives, sharing good practice and forging links with supplementary schools. Free to Newham schools and parents; £170 for others. Book online or contact Sue Henderson for more information.
Language Celebration Annual Award, 2008
Wednesday 27 February 2008 (evening), Bethnal Green Technology College, London
The Community Languages Service in Tower Hamlets will celebrate local children’s language and intercultural performance from 16.00-19.00, with refreshments served at 16.00. Colleagues are welcome to attend but are asked to reserve a place in advance by calling 0207 3646371 / 6370 / 6439 or e-mailing Jamal Uddin or Shabita Shamsad
The Three 'C's to success: Citizenship, Community Languages and Community Cohesion. Raising attainment, achievement and opportunity in our schools
Wednesday 27 February 2008, De Montfort Hall, Victoria Suite, Granville Road, Leicester LE1 7RU
Two similar sessions will each cover: citizenship; community cohesion and community languages – the three C s to success for all schools. Participants from the supplementary and maintained sectors may register for one or both sessions. Free of charge for the first 100 attendees per session. More information is listed on the Our Languages Events page.
Acknowledging achievement with Asset Languages
Monday 18 February 2008, Panjab Restaurant, Upstairs Function Room, 117 Wilmslow Road, Manchester, M14 5AP
Do you teach Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Gujarati, Mandarin or any other Community Language? Would you like to find out more about assessment? Or would you like to see some tried and tested learning materials? This is an exceptional opportunity for supplementary school teachers to share outcomes of good practice in Community Language teaching and learning. For more information on this Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan and Levenshulme High School event please visit the Our Languages Events page.
Two worlds, one aim
Tuesday 12 February 2008, Lambeth Academy, Elms Road, London SW4 9ET
The focus of this free event is to raise pupil achievement and promote community languages teaching and learning by linking the maintained and supplementary school sectors. This event is organised by Lambeth Academy and the Aayatiin Foundation for Relief and Development (AFFORD). For more information visit the Our Languages Events page.
Teaching of Urdu in Madrassas
Wednesday 6 February 2008, Woodstock Girls School, 11-15 Woodstock Road, Moseley, Birmingham B13 9BB
The aim of this free event is to raise awareness and promote a working relationship between complementary and maintained schools. This will be an opportunity to share good practice, learn about the Our Languages project, and network. For more information please see the Our Languages Events page.
Active teaching and learning: Practical ideas for the community languages classroom
2 February 2008, Jennie Lee Centre, Wolverhampton
A Comenius West Midlands, CILT and Wolverhampton City Council free event for classroom teachers of community languages in mainstream and supplementary schools, primary and secondary sectors. Participants can select from workshops on themes such as using songs, drama, PowerPoint, primary-age resources, digital video, assessment techniques and the Curriculum Guides, as well as personal advice for those considering routes to QTS. To request a booking form, email Alex Yannacopoulou or call 0121 303 8106.
Assessment in focus
Monday 28 January 2008, Levenshulme High School, Crossley Road, Manchester, M19 1FS
At this free Levenshulme High School and Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan event delegates from the maintained and supplementary school sectors will learn about the important role of assessment as a key factor for children’s attainment. Supplementary School teachers are particularly welcome. Further details can be found on the Our Languages Events page.
Accrediting learning, sharing the load, sharing the success
Thursday, 24 January, European Suite, Leicester Tigers, Aylestone Road, Leicester, LE2 7TR
This free event for supplementary schools will focus on how to increase the use and uptake of accredited learning by identifying which streams of accreditation are available and how these can best be deployed to suit each organisation. More information can be found on the Our Languages Events page.
Making the most of your assets: Supplementary schools event
Tuesday 22 January 2008, Lambeth Academy, Elms Road, London SW4 9ET
The purpose of this free event is to strengthen awareness of community languages, raise the level of achievement of pupils using community languages, and foster collaboration between supplementary and maintained schools. This event is brought to you by Lambeth Academy and the Aayatiin Foundation for Relief and Development (AFFORD). For more information visit the Our Languages Events page.
Supporting teaching and learning of Urdu in Madrassas
Monday 21 January 2008, Moseley School A Language College, Wake Green Road, Birmingham
This free event from Moseley School and Masjid-e-Hamza is for maintained and supplementary school teachers. This event aims to foster collaboration between the supplementary and maintained sectors, provide support for Urdu teaching and offer opportunities for networking. For more information visit the Our Languages Events page.
Open meeting on less widely taught languages: projects and resources for teaching and learning
Tuesday 15 January 2008, University of London
This free event, organised by the Subject Centre for Languages, Linguistics and Area Studies, is open to anyone interested in less widely taught languages in higher education. Resource developers and representatives from key projects and initiatives will give short presentations about their work and discuss the challenges facing those working within LWTL in the UK. See the LLAS website for further information.
2007 Community Languages Events Log (pdf 46KB)
Accredited Courses
Please see the Qualify section for routes to Qualified Teacher Status.
Certificate in Teaching Arabic as a Foreign Language (CTAFL) SOAS Language Centre, London
A one-year part-time course for new and practising teachers of Arabic. The Language Centre at SOAS is offering a part-time Certificate course in
Teaching Arabic as a Foreign Language (CTAFL) from September 2008. It is
aimed at practising teachers and those who have no previous teaching
experience.
The course will take place on Saturdays over three terms. See the SOAS website for
further course information, timetables and information on how to apply.
Japanese Teacher Training Course - Stage I and Stage II at
SOAS Language Centre, London
This course comprises 120 hours (stage I, basic course) and 90 hours (stage II, for those who have some knowledge of the methodology) of teacher training for native Japanese and Japanese speakers of near-native fluency, covering both theoretical and practical aspects of teaching Japanese to foreign students.
See the SOAS website for further information.
Certificate in Teaching Chinese as a Foreign Language (TCAFL) at
SOAS Language Centre, London
A one-year part-time course for new and practising teachers of Chinese. This teaching certificate course is designed to meet the rapidly growing demand for trained and qualified teachers of Chinese in the UK.
See the SOAS website for further information.
The Goldsmiths College 'MA in Education' includes a
module on 'Bilingualism and Biculturalism in Education'.
To find out more please contact: Admissions, Goldsmiths College, University
of London, New Cross, London SE14 6NW. Tel: 020 7919 7060 or 020 7919
7537. Email: admissions@gold.ac.uk.
Information is also available on the Goldsmiths College website.
Working with Learners of Community Languages
Working with Learners of Community Languages is an OCN accredited training
course for any London-based mother tongue tutors run by Tower Hamlets
College at Arbour Square, Stepney, East London. There are 4 x level 3
credits available. Next course will start in November 2007. For further
information contact Jackie Gooding Tel: 020 7510 7739, email: jackie.gooding@tower.ac.uk.
Effective Management Skills in Supplementary Schools
Effective Management Skills in Supplementary Schools is an OCN accredited training
course for supplementary school co-ordinators, trustees, managers and volunteers,
the first of its kind. The 4 day course typically takes place in the autumn
term at the National Resource Centre for Supplementary Education in London.
See the NRC website for more information or contact Rachel Bond. Tel: 020
7700 8189, Fax: 020 7700 8128, email: rachel.bond@continyou.org.uk.
