A 1+2 Approach

Supporting the teachers in the classroom

Supporting teachers

The Working Group recommends that schools and local authorities consider the engagement by schools of other skilled and trained native speakers of additional languages to work under the direct and explicit supervision of the classroom teacher in schools.

- Language Learning in Scotland: A 1+2 Approach

Using native speakers

author British Council, British Council (2019)

In the latest British Council survey of over 300 UK schools hosting language assistants, Heads of Languages reported that their language assistant made a significant impact on attainment and learning outcomes in the following areas:

  • Improved exam grades (72%)
  • Improved cultural awareness (79%)
  • Increased enthusiasm or motivation for language learning (75%)
  • Improved standards in listening and speaking (81%)
  • Improved confidence in using the language (86%).

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author SCILT and British Council, SCILT (June 2017)

Every year language assistants try to make languages really come alive for young people in Scotland's schools, e.g. by initiating a language exchange, participating in language competitions, or by organising immersion days. 

In this blog you can browse through the work of last year's assistants. You can search the slides either by language or by school year group. Enjoy, and we hope you will be inspired to follow in their footsteps!

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German Educational Trainees (GETs)

German Educational Trainees (GETs) aim to boost language learning and intercultural dialogue in schools whilst providing an invaluable opportunity for German trainee teachers to enhance their classroom practice. 

German trainee teachers from Universities in Mainz, Leipzig, Koblenz and Saarland work in Scottish schools for a six month placement from September/October to March/April. Participating students are native German speakers, training to become secondary teachers of English, which means that their level of English is advanced, as is their knowledge of the pedagogy associated with teachers modern languages. They are looking to gain invaluable teaching experience in an English-speaking country, as a compulsory component of their teacher training. This experience can be in either primary or secondary schools, or both. 

Expressions of interest are now closed for the 2018/19 session.

Find out more on the Get Across Borders website: http://www.get-across-borders.uni-mainz.de/.

Local authorities interested in hosting GETs can get in contact with SCILT via scilt@strath.ac.uk.

Feedback on GETs programme: 

"Having the support of a German language speaker has made a huge impact on staff language skills, giving them the confidence to take forward the 1+2 initiative and implement it from early through to second level" - Primary teacher, 2015/16 
"My main task was to provide students with the opportunity to practise their language. I helped them to improve their pronunciation, to expand their vocabulary, and also to speak German and reduce their inhibitions" - GET student 2015/16
"He has helped us develop our confidence in speaking the language and expressing ourselves. Having a native speaker is a great way to learn more about the culture and traditions of a country a get a real impression as to what life is like" - Advanced Higher pupils, 2016/17
"The pupils find it really interesting to have a German native speaker teaching them. They are keen to hear about the German way of life, the culture and the food. They also love learning German proverbs and slang" - GET student 2016/17

The GETs programme is supported by Johannes Gutenberg Universitat Mainz, Goethe-Institut Glasgow and SCILT. 

Cultural organisations

Glasgow

Offers French courses for all levels and ages. which are complemented by a range of cultural and social events.

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Glasgow

Based at University of Strathclyde, this is a national centre promoting Chinese language and culture in Scotland's schools.

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Edinburgh

Support for Spanish language and culture to teachers, scholars, students and others interested in Spain and Spanish-speaking countries. For further details contact the Education Officer.

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Glasgow

Organises and promotes German language and culture in Scotland. Provides German courses and runs a programme of cultural events to promote mutual understanding.  

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Edinburgh

Offers French courses in Edinburgh and organises cultural events in Scotland. Encourages cross-cultural exchange between France and Scotland, in cooperation with Scottish francophile institutions.
Provides support for French language and culture to teachers, pupils and students interested in French speaking countries. For further details contact the Education Officer.

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Edinburgh

The Education Office offers support for teachers and language assistants of Italian. For further details please contact the Education Officer.

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Edinburgh

Promotes Italian language and culture in Scotland and Northern Ireland organising a wide series of events.

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Edinburgh

Aims to promote greater understanding in Scotland and Russia (plus its neighbouring countries), of each other’s ways of life, history, heritage, and culture, and to create contacts between the peoples of these countries.

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Business partnerships

Our downloadable guide with suggested activities that schools could implement to encourage young people to consider languages for their future careers. These include:

  • careers fairs
  • promotional talks
  • partnerships between schools and local businesses

It provides steps for teachers to take towards putting these activities in place.

Download Developing Scotland's young workforce through languages: A guide for schools as a PDF.

 

Parents as partners

NEW! Languages in a nutshell

Languages in a nutshell is a guide to learning languages, produced by SCILT in partnership with The National Parent Forum of Scotland. Aimed at parents, this leaflet explains how the 1+2 Approach will be put into practice and why learning other languages is so important. It also suggests ways parents can support their child’s language learning.

If you are interested in ordering this leaflet for your school please go to the 'Order form' tab.

Languages in a nutshell is one in a series of Nutshell leaflets produced by The National Parent Forum of Scotland.

University of Strathclyde Education Scotland British Council Scotland The Scottish Government
SCILT - Scotlands National centre for Languages