Leicester City Languages Blog

Closure of the Leicestershire Languages Centre

Have just heard that the Leicestershire Languages Centre (the former Comenius Centre at Quorn Hall) is going to close on 31st March 2010.

CILT - 14-19 National Awards for Excellence

Below is some information I received from CILT regarding the above awards:

If you teach language learners in the 14–19 age group you will be pleased to hear of these exciting new national awards to reward your students’ excellence. Our sponsors have kindly donated prizes including cash gifts, resources and a language learning holiday to Spain!

 

What do my students have to do to enter?

There are 5 categories as set out below each with their own task.

1. The National Award for Excellence in Advanced Language Learning for students 16–19:Produce a persuasive review in the language of a foreign language film/novel/play or poetry. This can be handwritten or typed (400 words maximum) or a 2–3 minute oral presentation on CD in MP3 format.

 

2. The National Award for Excellence in Intermediate Level Language Learning for students 14–16:Produce a multimedia presentation lasting for 2–3 minutes including narration by the pupil in the foreign language on a topic of personal interest.

 

3. The National Award for Excellence in Work-related language learning for students 14–19:

Produce a portfolio or e-portfolio in the foreign language including a CV and an account of a project/visit to a company or organisation/work experience placement where the foreign language has been used. This should be supported by a 150 word statement in English on what the student has learnt from the experience.

 

4. The National Award for Excellence in Community/Heritage Language Learning for students aged 14–19:Produce an account of up to 400 words in the language showing evidence of exceptional personal progress in the community language. This account could be supported by photographic, documentary, video or other evidence.

 

5. The National Award for Excellence in Teaching languages to peers or younger learners for students aged 14–19: Produce a teaching resource and use this resource to teach a foreign or community language to younger learners. This resource should be supplemented by evidence of the resource in use (photographic, video or documentary evidence) and a testimony from a learner.

DEADLINE FOR RETURN OF ENTRIES: 9th April 2010.
Please click on the link below for more information:
http://www.cilt.org.uk/link/nationalawards.aspx

Links into Languages-professional development for teachers

Some information about Links into Languages

Download Links_east_midlands_A5_leaflet_final[1]

Please click on the link to find out more about the Links into Languages funded "Linked-up" Award Scheme.

http://www.linksintolanguages.ac.uk/linkedup/basics.html

Marisa - Spanish phonics and accents

Download Spanish_pronunciation_la_comida

Download Accents_2

Current SLN 2009-10

This category is for members of the SLN to share and review each others work.  Please post comments as feedback is always really valuable. Thanks.

SLN - Developing Student Use of the Target Language 2007-8

Download General ideas and strategies - Some ideas presented to the Network during the first session.

Below are some ideas and resources trialled and created by 2 members of the Network to promote use of the TL with Year 10 students.

Download Target_Language_21_Feb_meeting

Download French_Speaking_booklet-Sylvie_Lopez

A few year 7 ideas trialled by several members of the Network

Download Target_language_year_7_presentation_adapted 2

After seeing a video clip of a year 8 Immersion French class at Judgemeadow during our first session, one member of the Network, decided to pilot a mini Italian Immersion project.  She conducted this with her year 7 form during registration and during her normal Italian lessons with them. Below are a few of the resources she created.

Download Immersion_presentation

Download Immersion_questions

Download Immersion_activities adapted

Download Le_Frasi_Utili

I've included below some of the research that we looked at  just in case it's of any use:

Download Immersion French at Judgemeadow  - Many thanks to Rob Summers (former Language College Director at Judgemeadow) for the immersion data slides.

Download Promoting use of the TL in the classroom

Download Remarques sur la langue cible...

Download Teaching in the TL-problems and Prospects

Download Useful books

Here is the link to the National Strategies CPD website containing MFL e-learning modules - follow the link for "Target Language":

http://nationalstrategies.standards.dcsf.gov.uk/search/secondary/results/nav:49828

 

Leicester City Heads of Languages Network Meeting - 08/10/09

Download MFL HOD’s Network Meeting - 8th October 2009

Below is information given out about "Links into Languages".

Download Information_on_courses[1]

Download Links_PD_Courses[1]

Download Regional_Manager_contact_details[1]

Download The new GCSE Controlled Spreaking Assessment - I created this PPT based on generic guidance given by QCA.  We then looked at some of the video examples from the QCA CD Rom disseminated to all MFL HOD's and did some marking according to whichever exam board we were doing as a means of standardisation. We then compared this to the guidance notes given by the examiner  from the CD Rom.

Creativity SLN 2008-9 - ICT

http://goanimate.com/

This free website is fantastic for creating animations and it's also very easy to use. A word of warning though!!  You can literally spend hours playing around with it (as it's such fun!) It's perhaps best to demonstrate to students how to use it and then use it as a tool for them to create their own work in a fun and imaginative way.

Here is a tutorial (originally taken from the internet) on how to use it.

Download Go-animate-tutorial

Below is an example of an animation I created for my year 8 German group. During the lesson I taught them the vocabulary for different members of the family  as well as how to ask and answer questions about their family. I created the animation to consolidate some of the new vocab and phrases as well as showing them how to use what we had learnt in a different and creative context.  In a subsequent lesson they then went on to create their own animations, which they really loved doing. 

(Please ignore the strange bit about "toilet wars" at the beginning while the animation is loading - nothing to do with me!!)

GoAnimate.com: In meiner Familie by sbr

Like it? Create your own at GoAnimate.com. It's free and fun!

Creativity SLN - 2008-9 - Drama

Many thanks again to Rachel Hawkes for the following PPT which again we used for ideas and inspiration!

Download Creativity through drama

Some of the work created by members of the SLN....

Below are the resources developped and used to create an extended spanish restaurant role play culminating in peer assessment.

Download Everyday_Spanish_language_and_expressions

Download Restaurant_complaints

Download Lessons_leading_up_to_final_Role_play

Download Peer_assessment_table_-_yr_9_sp_role_play

Download Year_9_Questionnaire_-_role_plays

Download Colloquial_Spanish__-Phrases_in_between_dialogue

Download En_el_restaurante_-_Odering_in_a_restaurant

Download Role_Play_Peer_Assessment

Using present and perfect tense verbs to create stories and to then act them out...

Download A_la_riviere_-_Using_-er_verbs,_Lesson_plan

Download Miming_perfect_tense,_Lesson_plan

Download Student_help_sheet_-_miming_perfect_tense

Using puppets to consolidate new language in a fun and imaginative way...

Download Puppet show explained

Sorry, the video clip I have of this won't upload properly!

 

 

 

Creativity SLN 2008-9 - Paper planes!

Download Paper objects project

Download Y8 paper planes 1

Download Y8 paper planes 2