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All the latest news from the world of languages and language teaching.Government response to the initial teacher training (ITT) market review report
"While many factors contribute to making a school great, it can ultimately only ever be as good as the people that work there. It is therefore vital that teachers and school leaders get the support they need to change the lives of the children they teach. With the...
Language associations, unions and exam boards unite in call for rethink of reform of GCSE Modern Foreign Languages
JOINT STATEMENT, 25TH NOVEMBER 2021 GCSE Modern Foreign Languages Please read the joint statement from the Association for Language learning alongside other language associations, unions and exam boards united in the call for a rethink of reform of GCSE Modern Foreign...
It’s a Myth That Adults Can’t Learn Languages as Easily as Kids – Benefits Multiply if Families Learn Together
Adults can learn a second language as fast as children, reports a new study—and it’s only the conditions in which a child learns a second language that’s given kids a reputation as such fast learners. This means that adults can develop the increased neural connections...
There are no passengers on planet earth, we are all crew.
‘There are no passengers on planet earth, we are all crew.’ The British Council International School Award and wider schools offer. Did you know that as the UK’s international organisation for cultural relations and educational opportunities, the British...
Policy Mechanisms of the Standard Language Ideology in England’s Education System
The Journal of Language, Identity & Education has published a thought-provoking article entitled ' Policy Mechanisms of the Standard Language Ideology in England’s Education System' by Ian Cushing, a Lecturer in Education at Brunel University London....
Teacher Briefing 30: Language Trends 2021
Theme: Language Trends 2021 (impact of the pandemic) Background: The annual Language Trends survey carried out now by the British Council tracks what’s happening with regards to language teaching and learning in the UK Some messages: “It is clear from our survey that teachers are working incredibly […]
COE Newsroom: European Day of Languages 2021: “All voices matter” says Secretary General
26 September 2021 marks the 20th anniversary of the European Day of Languages. Since 2001, the Day has been celebrating the rich tapestry of languages coexisting in Europe and beyond. According to Council of Europe Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić “The...
New York Times: Lesson of the Day: ‘How Language Classes Are Moving Past the Gender Binary’
In this lesson, students will learn about how teachers are making gendered languages more inclusive — then research a language to make their own suggestions. Lesson Overview Featured Article: “How Language Classes Are Moving Past the Gender Binary” by Molly...
Australia needs to make languages compulsory
Over many decades, governments and others have made commitments to increasing Australia’s ‘Asia literacy’. But is this goal being met? Has the growth in investment in language programs and language study seen in the 1980s resulted in lasting change, or is Australia...
New Study Explains Why Human Languages Share a Lot of The Same Grammar
There are around 7,000 human languages that we know of worldwide, and while they're all unique, they're also more similar than you might have realized – particularly when it comes to the grammar, or the way that sentences can be formed and used. That might be because...
European Day of Languages 2021
European Day of Languages 2021 Annual competition for schools in the UK organised in North-East England My time capsule ALLNE, NfLNE and partners are once again organising the annual European Day of Languages Competition for Schools and in 2021 it is again open to...
BBC Future: How finger counting gives away your nationality
Many people around the world learn to count on their fingers, but we don't all do it in the same way. Could there be a better method? How would you count to 10 on your fingers? Do you start with the thumb or the index finger? Left hand or right? Dactylonomy (counting...
Why some languages are almost wordless
Dozens of traditional cultures use a whistled form of their native language for long-distance communication. TOURISTS VISITING La Gomera and El Hierro in the Canary Islands can often hear locals communicating over long distances by whistling — not a tune, but the...
Are Brain Breaks Worth Classroom Time? 10 Resources To Try
Have you tried out brain breaks in your physical or virtual classroom? Today’s blog post is all about brain breaks: what a brain break is and how to use them with your students. The purpose of a brain break is more than just a pause in instruction; it can have a big...
How to embed Mandarin into your curriculum
With Mandarin growing in popularity, teachers explain how schools can make the most out of teaching the language. “Why is learning Mandarin beneficial to children? Where do I start,” asks Liqun Dai, the head of Chinese at Archbishop Sentamu Academy in Hull. “The...
FT: Global Britain needs to improve its language learning
In a classroom this summer at Azbuka, a London bilingual primary school of which I am a governor, the children switched easily between English and Russian as they designed colourful posters in the two languages to help learn about coronavirus, climate change and...
European Parliament Ambassador School programme
Are you interested in Accreditation for your school/college for staff and students taking on leadership roles? Links and travel throughout a network of 1600 schools across the EU and the UK? Support in the form of free resources, lesson plans and funding for events?...
Press Release: GCSE 2021 Results
Press Release 12/08/2021 GCSE 2021 Results ALL President Kim Bower Comments “At the end of this exceptional year, I want to congratulate all language learners across the U.K. who are collecting their GCSE results today. I particularly want to acknowledge...
Schools Week: Ofqual chief criticised over ’embarrassing’ claim teacher grades ‘more accurate’ than exams
The head of England’s exams regulator has been criticised over his “embarrassing” claim that teacher-assessment grades were “likely to give a much more accurate” reflection of students’ capabilities than exams. One former policy adviser even suggested the comment...
Independent: Teacher-assessed grades are better than exams, Ofqual chief says
GCSE and A-Level students did not sit exams this year and will instead be awarded grades by teachers. Teacher assessment of pupils is a better and more “accurate” way of awarding grades than formal exams, the government’s qualification regulator has said. Simon Lebus,...
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