Welcome to the sixth edition of Netword Languages Direct, the ezine for teachers who work in adult and further education.

Adult education news

New Language Standards
Thanks to those of you across the UK who have contributed to the consultation. The new standards will be submitted to UKCES on March 31st. Key changes:

• They are simpler and clearer
• They are equally usable for all signed and spoken languages
• Social aspects of language and communication have been strengthened

Which qualifications for September?
Only qualifications on the QCF will be eligible for public funding. This will mean:
ABC, NOCN, Signature or NVQ (ready for September - see below). Check for details on the NDAQ website by selecting QCF in your qualifications search. 

New NVQ for September
Edexcel, OCR and Signature are developing new NVQ language qualifications based on the new UK Occupational Language Standards. They will be on the QCF and ready for teaching in September, with the four skills available as separate or joint qualifications. The content of the new standards is similar to the old, so your assignments may need tweaks but not a re-write!
Which languages? All those currently in NVQ and in CBLC (which won't continue).

CILT NVQ Centre
Are you thinking about offering NVQ languages?
Do you have students on vocational courses who could study a language module?
Are you looking for  portfolio-building course for your adult  language learners?

• Advice and guidance on how to set up NVQ language courses and the new 2010 National Language Standards
• Training for assessors and internal verifiers tailored to languages NVQs
• Access to a team of specialist linguist assessors and internal verifiers who can provide assessment and IV services
• NVQ accreditation for Adult and Further Education students using paper-based or e-portfolios
• Training courses to bring you up to speed on the latest developments in 2010. 

June 18th 2010, July 2nd 2010. 
Apply at the CILT events page.

Quali-T
Would you like to be part of a European (Grundtvig) project about quality in adult language learning? If so, please ask your learners to complete this survey and complete the teachers' version yourself. The surveys are being completed by language learners and teachers  in seven different  countries. The overall aim of the project  is to compare provision and quality  procedures and to develop recommendations. We will keep you informed, and you may be interested in getting involved at the next meeting in London in late September.
Contact Helen Astley  for more information.

Upcoming event

A Level language Teachers' Conference
Wednesday 30th June
SOAS, London

A great opportunity for those who teach and advise teachers of languages. The conference includes tips on how to motivate and inspire, updates from your exam boards and teaching ideas as well as information on languages at HE and the new Diploma in Languages and International Communication.

For further information please see the event page.