Language teachers wanted to motivate their learners, particularly the boys and get them confident to express their opinions in real conversations in another language. The result is Group talk which sees groups of young people enthusiastically participating in animated debates in another language.

The project, which focuses on developing pupils’ ability to interact more effectively in the target language, has transformed the way languages are taught in Wildern School. With clever use of stimuli and transferable linguistic structures, the project is now at the heart of language teaching, and has demonstrably improved motivation and attitudes towards languages. This is reflected in the numbers opting for GCSE languages (from 30% to 60% since the start of the project) and in the excellent results.

MFL teachers have together developed the infrastructure to support this new approach. They have created materials which offer real opportunities for pupils to talk in the target language, they have identified where those opportunities lie, and have arranged their classrooms in a way that is conducive to interaction. There is even a training DVD to support new colleagues or those from other schools.

This is not a project for a select few; it involves all pupils. What is remarkable is the enthusiasm shown by boys for this approach; they seem engaged by its relevance, and welcome the opportunity to express their opinions among their peers and to listen to what others have to say.

Language(s): French, German, Spanish

Wildern School and Performing Arts College is one of the largest schools in Hampshire with over 1,800 pupils aged 11-16.