A 1+2 Approach

author Clare Mouat, SCILT

‘Family learning is a powerful method of engagement and learning which can foster positive attitudes towards life-long learning, promote socio-economic resilience and challenge educational disadvantage’ (Family Learning Network, 2016).

Parental engagement is not only a vital part of children’s and young people’s learning, it is also recognised as a powerful lever for raising achievement in schools. In our case studies focusing on parental and community engagement, read how schools have adopted a variety of creative approaches to support families and the wider community to be involved and engaged in their children’s language learning.

In the ‘Wee famille’ project, Springside Primary collaborated with partners from SCILT and North Ayrshire Council to engage the whole school community in learning French alongside pupils. Resources developed for the project are available to download as part of the case study.

In the ‘French for families’ case study, read about the collaboration between Fife Council and PowerLanguage to develop and pilot an online course for children and their families in nine primary schools.

Through a series of well-planned and focused BOATS days (Bring Our Adults To School), St Winning’s Primary in North Ayrshire have successfully achieved a high level of parental engagement in language learning. To facilitate the development of learners’ skills, St Winning’s also opted to take language learning beyond school, collaborating with partners from Lingo Flamingo to strengthen links with the local community. Read the case study on our website.

If you are interested in sharing your local authority’s approach to parental engagement and family learning, or would like to find out how SCILT can help you develop opportunities in this area, please get in touch with Clare Mouat.

author Meryl James, SCILT/CISS

The Springboard Charity helps people of all ages and backgrounds improve their career potential in hospitality, leisure and tourism, especially young people in education. Springboard UK promotes the industry as a great place to work and collaborates with its business partners to proactively and imaginatively attract and retain talent.

In June this year, SCILT/CISS will partner with Springboard to deliver two Hospitality and Tourism Takeover Days:

• Glasgow City College Takeover Day on 17 June 2019
• Edinburgh College Takeover Day on 18 June 2019

The Takeover Days are concerned with developing links with schools and industry through a dynamic interactive programme of activity. These Hospitality and Tourism Takeovers will bring together 200 young people and their teachers from schools across the region and, in partnership with SCILT/CISS, will highlight the importance of languages as an employability skill.

The day will not only showcase the industry at its very best, but will also link directly to the DYW agenda of engaging schools and colleges with industry, enabling young people to develop industry-ready skills, including language skills, through the workshops.

For the last two years, SCILT/CISS has been working with Springboard in Perth and Kinross, supporting The Perth Discovery Trail to promote language skills for the hospitality and tourism industry to schools through ‘tourism trails’. These are interactive projects aimed at S2 pupils. The local DYW group helps to fund and organise these events across Scotland. The clear message they disseminate is that language skills enhance employability. For feedback from pupils and teachers, please see the PowerPoint below.

Springboard also have a programme called INSPIRE, which ensures quality work placements for learners.

More information on our partnership with Springboard is available through this PowerPoint.

If you would like further information, please contact Meryl James.

author Lynne Jones, SCILT and Sylvia Georgin, Northern Alliance 1+2 Development Group

Towards the end of last academic session, SCILT made contact with all of the Regional Improvement Collaboratives (RICs) in order to find out how language learning featured in their work and to offer SCILT support. Since then, one of SCILT’s Professional Development Officers has accepted an invitation to join the Northern Alliance 1+2 Development Group.

This RIC comprises eight local authorities across the north and west of Scotland. Modern Languages is one of 17 workstreams that currently make up the Northern Alliance Regional Improvement Plan, and is closely linked with their emerging literacy strand. As such, it is explicitly linked to narrowing the poverty-related attainment gap.

There is mixed representation from Gaelic and Languages Development Officers, Quality Improvement Officers and Secondary Principal Teachers of languages from all eight local authorities – Aberdeen City, Aberdeenshire, Argyll and Bute, Comhairle nan Eilean Siar, Highland, Moray, Orkney and Shetland Islands.

The aim of the Northern Alliance 1+2 Languages Group is to share approaches to languages and build on the strengths of each authority involved, whilst working closely with all relevant partners such as Education Scotland, Higher Education institutions and SCILT.

The team meet face-to-face to talk strategy, vision and resources and make wide use of digital technology, such as Microsoft Teams to share materials, ask questions and work collaboratively on projects that will impact at school level: “It’s great to be part of a dynamic and enthusiastic team of language specialists across eight local authorities. Working with partner organisations, we have been able to capitalise on that wealth of experience to develop sustainable approaches in language learning that will benefit all our young people.”

SCILT is open to working with the other RICs in similar ways. Please email SCILT.

author Carissa Hyndman, Lawthorn Primary

Lawthorn Primary recently welcomed parents to join their children in language learning at their ‘Family French morning’. Parents and children engaged in a variety of French activities ranging from French food sampling and role play at the French café to interactive French games. Angela Noble, North Ayrshire 1+2 Development Officer, led senior pupils and parents in French yoga. Families worked together to construct Parisian landmarks from cardboard and glue, blocks, and other materials. Parents also had the opportunity to explore a variety of online resources to support language learning.

We received very positive feedback from parents:

“Enjoyed spending time with my child in school and a good way to interact and learn.”

“Really enjoyable way to learn. Loved the French café.”

“Innovative and interactive day bringing both parents and children together for interesting activities – loved it. Merci!”

“Très bien! Loved the yoga and story books.”

“Absolutely fantastic. Great effort. Loved the Yoga.”

author Robert Dalzell, North Lanarkshire

On 21 May 2019, North Lanarkshire Council held their annual 1+2 Languages award ceremony. In the morning, primary schools were invited to attend to celebrate language learning in their school. At the ceremony, 124 pupils collected winning certificates. Thirty early level, 36 first level, 37 second level and 21 multilingual awards were presented on the day. In addition, 352 nominee certificates were given to staff to be awarded back in school.

In the afternoon, secondary schools attended the ceremony. Seventy-eight certificates were presented. These consisted of 20 for outstanding language learners in S1, S2 and S3 and 18 for most improved language learners in S3. Fifty runner-up and 52 third-place certificates were given to staff to be awarded back at school.

During both our ceremonies, musical interludes came from Noble Primary and Gaelic Condorrat choir. At the secondary award ceremony, ribbon dancers from Our Lady’s High Cumbernauld provided a colourful display and Greenfaulds High provided a Gaelic musical interlude.

Nathalie Kormaz from the Alliance Française, Shona Hugh from Education Scotland, Linda Roberts and Stuart Pescodd from Scottish Government presented the certificates. 

author Marie-Claire Lyon, Aberdeen City Council

German Educational Trainees’ fairy tale competition

Annabel Christ and Felix Pollotzek, two German Educational Trainees placed in Aberdeen City Council’s primary and secondary schools, organised a German fairy tale competition. They worked with P5 to P7 pupils developing literacy skills in listening, talking, reading and writing. They produced posters and mini-books and performed songs and a short drama performance.

The pupils in schools were awarded certificates to celebrate their work.

Grenoble University teacher trainees

In February and April 2019, students from the “espe Grenoble – Chambéry” visited Aberdeen schools to gain an insight into the Scottish education system. They were able to observe colleagues and support language classes in primary and secondary schools. They delivered presentations about their home area and French cultural events. The group visiting in February spent a day at Aberdeen University School of Education and participated in workshops with fellow Scottish student teachers.

Aberdeen University language students’ placements

Between January and March 2019, language students from Aberdeen University took part in 10-week placements, visiting primary schools for one half day per week. This is the fourth year that the partnership has been in place and the experience is valuable for pupils and teachers. It also allows the students to gain work experience. The programme has extended to secondary schools this year.

The feedback received from schools was very positive. The students help to increase the motivation of pupils and boost staff confidence.

CLPL programme

The 1+2 Languages Professional Learning Programme is now well established and offers a series of twilight training sessions in language and methodology for primary teachers. Teachers may opt in for workshops and classes or schools may choose whole staff sessions. These have proven to be successful since they reach new teachers and are an opportunity for all to get an update on developments.

We are planning the calendar for 2019-20 and will focus on support to secondary schools and transition from P7 to S1.