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About the European Award for Languages | 2006 winners |
Clare Stead, E-learning Consultant talks about the Where we live project and the impact of their Award.
We applied for the European Award for Languages as a way of celebrating the success of the Where we live project. During this project early language learners participated in challenging and exciting activities. These successfully linked language learning with other areas of the curriculum, particularly ICT and Geography. The students involved in the project communicated with each other in two languages (French and English). The primary and secondary schools involved were located in two countries; three regions in France and two local authorities in the UK.
We were delighted to be given this prestigious European Award for Languages
for Primary and Secondary phase. Nationally, transition in language learning
between Key Stages 2 and 3 is an area which is being worked on at all
levels. We were thrilled to be able to submit our bilateral, ICT, cross-curricular
project. We felt it exemplified a tested way of delivering language learning
opportunities across the curriculum in a creative way.
'Winning the European Award for Languages gave status to the lead that the International Learning and Research Centre is taking'
In addition, it supported the early language learning that is currently taking place in the local network of primary schools. This way of working reinforced the benefits of cross curricular projects which include primary languages. Non-specialist teachers were able to place language learning at the centre of a cross-curricular project. Winning the European Award for Languages gave status to the lead that the International Learning and Research Centre is taking in designing and piloting innovative language learning projects that are replicable by others, in both national and international settings.
'Students were thrilled to have their work recognised at national level'
On hearing of the success of the Where we live project the students commented
that they were thrilled to have their work recognised at national level.
The project enabled the students to see a real reason to communicate in
another language.
‘I realised there were real children in France and I can talk
about where we live with them in French’. George - Year 3
The teachers were delighted that the work that their children had created was looked at in such detail by the Award judges. They were extremely pleased that the project they had undertaken would be utilised in a wider context and would help to shape good practice in other settings.
One teacher commented; ‘I feel that I have been shown the way to plan a cross-curricular project which gives a meaningful place to language learning in the primary curriculum. I can see the benefit of having a real audience for children when communicating in another language’. – Emma
Another teacher stated that, ‘Being involved in the Where we live project has enabled me to realise how one does not need to have a huge knowledge of a second language in order to confidently incorporate language learning effectively into the primary classroom’ – David
Since the completion of the project, the Languages Consultant and AST (MFL) has presented the Where we live project at a CILT national conference for ASTs and at a NACELL Regional Support Group. We have also given a presentation to headteachers, key teachers for language learning, secondary MFL colleagues and Citizenship colleagues and AST (MFL) colleagues from two local authorities.
'We will continue to disseminate the project's work through our
national and international partner networks'
The Where we live project methodology has been successfully emulated by teachers working with their children on partner school link projects. We are presenting the Where we live project as part of a primary languages cross-curricular focus for the Wiltshire NACELL Regional Support Group meeting in January 2007.We will continue to disseminate the project’s work through our national and international partner networks.
We are currently seeking funding for a project building on the methodology and network created by Where we live that will look at different aspects of sustainability. This new project will utilise the knowledge of the initial project teachers and integrate new colleagues thus furthering the impact of the learning.
I would encourage others to apply for the European Award for Languages to give recognition and status to the innovative practice that is already taking place in our schools and classrooms and to enable this practice to reach a wider audience.
Clare Stead
International Learning
and Research Centre
01454 868 029
clare.stead@internationallearning.org.uk
