Beyond School

Students on their year abroad are linked with a school in Scotland. Read about their experiences.

Language Linking Global Thinking

"This is such an enriching, meaningful experience for our pupils. It is helping them to become Global Citizens, expanding their horizons, seeing the true relevance of sticking with their language studies and all of the wonderful opportunities it will bring in the World of Work"

- Teacher, LLGT 2018/19

Overview

Language Linking, Global Thinking (LLGT) is a partnership project developed by the team at SCILT, British Council and Project Trust, working with UCMLS.

Students and volunteers about to embark on their year abroad are linked with primary or secondary schools across Scotland. The aim of the project is for students to communicate with a designated class in their partner school and illustrate by way of example how enriching it is to spend a year abroad using a language other than English.

While the student is abroad, they keep in regular contact with their partner school using blog posts, emails, postcards and other resources. In turn the link class can ask questions and post comments to the student. The two-way correspondence between student and class brings the language alive for pupils and shows them the real relevance of learning a language.

Throughout the year there should be at six contacts with the school and these should relate to the contexts which classes are studying, for example, daily life, food, cultural differences and similarities. Prior to going abroad, students are invited to visit their allocated school and meet the class, as well as to plan possible contributions the students might be able to make once out in the country.

Student experience

Current and former participants have written about their experiences of Language Linking, Global Thinking in the following articles:

Blogs

We have put an asterisk (*) next to those students that have started blogging. 

*Georgia Adamson - Georgia is on her year abroad from the University of St Andrews. She is linked with Renfrew High School in Renfrewshire.

*Miriam Anderson-Aziz - Miriam is in France on her year abroad from the University of Dundee. She is linked with St Anthony's Primary in West Lothian.

*Marion Barthe - Marion is in Brazil on her year abroad from the University of Glasgow. She is linked with St Anthony's Primary in Renfrewshire.

*Joanna Borland - Joanna is in France and Spain on her year abroad from the University of Edinburgh, She is linked with Lochgilpead High School in Argyll and Bute. 

*Antonia Cahill - Antonia is in France on her year abroad from the University of St Andrews. She is linked with Caldervale High School in North Lanarkshire. 

*Rosie Cormack - Rosie is in France and Spain on her year abroad from the University of Edinburgh. She is linked wth Coltness High School in North Lanarkshire. 

*Alicja Czarnik - Alicja is in Spain on her year abroad from Napier University. She is linked with Paisley Grammar School in Renfrewshire. 

*Daniella Deans - Daniella is in France on her year abroad from the University of Strathclyde. She is linked with Eastbank Primary in Glasgow.

*May Duffy - May is on her year abroad from the University of Strathclyde. She is linked with Douglas-Ewart High School in Dumfries and Galloway. 

*Grace Gernon - Grace is in Spain and Germany on her year abroad from the University of Edinburgh. She is linked with Whitdale Primary School in West Lothian.

*Conor Haggerty - Conor is in France on his year abroad from the University of Aberdeen. He is linked with Hyndland Secondary in Glasgow. 

*Brooke Hood - Brooke is in France on her year abroad from the University of Glasgow. She is linked with Carrick Academy in South Ayrshire. 

*Jasmine Humphrey - Jasmine is in France on her year abroad from the University of St Andrews. She is linked with Trinity Academy in Edinburgh. 

*Aimee Keay - Aimee is in Spain on her year abroad from Napier University. She is linked with Dalziel High School in North Lanarkshire. 

*Isabelle Le Poidevin - Isabelle is in France on her year abroad from the University of Aberdeen. She is linked with Lourdes Secondary in Glasgow. 

*Charlotte Leslie - Charlotte is in France and Spain on her year abroad from the University of Aberdeen. She is linked with St Margaret's Primary in Falkirk. 

Ryan Little - Ryan is in Spain on his year abroad from the University of Strathclyde. He is linked with St Margaret Mary's Secondary in Glasgow. 

*Jennifer McLaughlin - Jennifer is in France on her year abroad from the University of Strathclyde. She is linked with Bellshill Academy in North Lanarkshire.

Olivia Mclean - Olivia is in Switzerland on her year abroad from the University of Aberdeen. She is linked with Newtonhill Primary in Aberdeenshire. 

*Honor McWilliams - Honor is France on her year abroad from the University of St Andrews. She is linked with Cleveden Secondary in Glasgow. 

*Flóra Melicher - Flóra is in Spain on her year abroad from Napier University. She is linked with St Andrew's Secondary in Glasgow.

Jack Muirhead - Jack is in Chile on his year abroad with Project Trust. He is linked with St Hilary's Primary in South Lanarkshire. 

*Rachel Murray - Rachel is in Germany on her year abroad from the University of Glasgow. She is linked with Cumnock Academy in East Ayrshire.

Tom Partridge - Tom is in Senegal on his year abroad with Project Trust. He is linked with Lawthorn Primary in North Ayrshire. 

*Caitlin Paterson - Caitlin is in Chile on her year abroad with Project Trust. She is linked with Prestwick Academy in South Ayrshire. 

*Justine Phelan - Justine is in Austria on her year abroad from the University of Glasgow. She is linked with Largs Academy in North Ayrshire. 

*Isobel Robb - Isobel is in France on her year abroad from the University of Stirling. She is linked with Tobermory High School in Argyll and Bute. 

*Natasha Robinson - Natasha is in France on her year abroad from the University of Glasgow. She is linked with Holyrood Secondary in Glasgow. 

*Geraldo Salvador - Geraldo is in France and Germany on his year abroad from the University of Dundee. He is linked with Graeme High School in Falkirk. 

Aidan Smith - Aidan is in France on his year abroad from the University of Strathclyde. He is linked with Whitburn Academy in West Lothian. 

*Caitlin Stuart - Caitlin is in Spain on her year abroad from the University of Strathclyde. She is linked with St John Ogilvie High School in South Lanarkshire.

*Heather Taylor - Heather is in France on her year abroad with the University of Strathclyde. She is linked with Calderglen High School in South Lanarkshire

Jamie Wallace - Jamie is in Spain on his year abroad from Napier University. He is linked with Broxburn Academy in West Lothian. 

*Eilidh Wallace - Eilidh is in France on her year abroad from the University of Stirling. She is linked with Dunblane High School in Stirling. 

*Alice Westland - Alice is in Honduras on her year abroad with Project Trust. She is linked with Irvine Royal Academy in North Ayrshire. 

*Maria Whyte - Maria is in Spain on her year abroad from the University of Glasgow. She is linked with Monifieth High School in Angus. 

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