'Languages do not need to be taught in lock-step weekly doses.  We see value also in the provision of more intensive immersion courses...’ Lord Dearing, Languages Review, 2007

Context
The Cambridge University Language Programme (CULP) is a language learning programme, which was developed by the University Language Centre. The Junior CULP version of this has been running since 2004 and was created for the 14+ age-group. It was geared specifically towards less motivated students to encourage them to continue studying languages at KS4. This intensive immersion programme, gives groups of young people the opportunity to engage in intensive study of a language not available in their own schools. The programme was developed in association with Impington Village College and St. Ivo School in St. Ives and now involves a network of schools in and around Cambridge. The Junior CULP model was mentioned as a specific example of good practice in Lord Dearing’s Review of 2007.

How the programme is organised
The introductory session of the programme is held at the University Language Centre. This day is designed to catch the imagination of the students as it takes them to the 'adult' world of learning. Schools bring students to the University Language Centre either by bus or have them driven in by parents. They spend a total of 3 full days at the University Language Centre: the first day, one in the middle and one towards the end of the course. Hence, students have a total of 15 contact hours of full immersion language study using the University classrooms and independent-learning computer rooms.

In between these full days, students have a number of twilight sessions at the school. These typically begin at 3.45pm and last 90 minutes. The number of twilight sessions varies from school to school however the average number of such sessions is in the region of 25. Together with the full days this amounts to some 50 contact hours of tuition in groups not greater than 23 students.

Students also have access from home to the University multimedia didactic materials that are accessible online. This offers an additional number of 20-30 hours (depending on the language and/or level) of language learning. Hence, the Programme can be said to deliver some 70-80 hours of language learning between the classroom and online components.

Students need no previous knowledge of the language in order to join the course and are assessed for accreditation under the Asset Languages programme, sometimes on the way to an eventual GCSE qualification.

A project of this kind can provide language study additional to that normally available in a school or area through inventive use of time, so complementing the overall curriculum offer to students.  

Results/effects
To date, over 400 students in the Cambridge region have benefited from the Junior CULP scheme and some 200 are currently involved during the academic year 07/08. Most of these student have taken or will take the Asset language tests in all 4 skills, or some of the skills if studying Mandarin Chinese, and gain a certificate.

The chance to have lessons at the University has been a prime motivator for students signing up for the programme. Students are also being made to feel special by the fact that they are participating in a fairly unique immersion project involving a considerable amount of online support and use of ICT. They also enjoy the ‘grown-up’ atmosphere of the university and it opens their eyes to the possibility of going to university themselves.

Future development
Following its success with local schools and Cambridge University, over the next three years Junior CULP will be rolled out by more universities (including Anglia Ruskin University, the Open university and University of Bedfordshire) to even greater numbers of pupils at more schools throughout the region. This will be as part of the government-funded East of England Routes into Languages programme of activities. Once Junior CULP has been successfully replicated within the region, the plan is to offer it to universities and schools throughout the country.

View a clip from the Junior CULP DVD (12MB, wmv)
Order your free Junior CULP DVD by emailing Jodie Kloss.