Expertise in the teaching and learning of community languages in the UK has developed over many decades, particularly within communities themselves. There are some characteristics of teaching community language profile learners which differ from the purely foreign language classroom, in both subtle and obvious ways.

Teachers will need to differentiate, for example, for the mixed experience of learners as well as differences in aptitude. Teaching may actively use bilingual methods to offer both support and challenge, with the added benefit of developing literacy and oracy in English (particularly where English is an additional or second language). Where a language has a non-Roman script, learners’ receptive and productive skills in using letters or characters need to be developed, both the shapes and their application.

With the advent of the Internet and a number of nationally funded initiatives, a significant range of free resources, support and guidance are now widely and easily available. Colleagues can read case studies, watch video clips of classroom practice, download teaching resources, undertake professional development courses, sign up for news services and join networks of teachers. Click on the links to the left to find out what is available to support teachers of community languages across the education and workplace sectors.