Latest News
All the latest news from the world of languages and language teaching.The Turing Scheme has now been launched
The Turing Scheme has now been launched On 6 February 2021 the Department for Education launched the Turing Scheme, the UK's global programme to study and work abroad. The UK-wide scheme provides funding for international study and work placements across the...
The impact of a language teacher: Des Johnston
Gary Chambers reflects on the life of Des Johnston 1944-2020 “The true artist is not one who is inspired but one who inspires others” (Salvador Dali). The languages teaching and learning community in Northern Ireland and across the United Kingdom more widely...
The New Normal
ALL is grateful to Sonja Fedrizzi from our sister organisation in Scotland (SALT) for sharing her thoughts on the New Normal. At the 2020 annual SALT conference, I was fortunate to share my experience of teaching ML in the ‘new normal’. My presentation,...
Review: The Language Lover’s Puzzle Book by Alex Bellos
The Language Lover’s Puzzle Book Alex Bellos Guardian Faber, 2020, 416pp, £14.99 978-1-783-35218-0 When ALL was asked to review this book, my interest was immediately sparked. Having always been interested in the development of languages and an avid puzzle solver, I...
Language Learning in Wales
This weekend, the Guardian reported that since Duolingo launched Welsh on it's language learning app it is helping the Welsh Government towards reaching it's goal of achieving 1 million Welsh speakers by 2050. To read more on how the National Centre for Learning...
Ofsted receives 13,000 emails praising schools (but just 260 complaints)
SchoolsWeek have reported that Ofsted received fifty times more reports from parents praising schools’ remote education offer than those complaining about it after Gavin Williamson urged parents to flag concerns to the watchdog. This is great news...for school and for...
Express Yourself in Lockdown
We all know that Speaking a language confidently and coherently is an important thing, and forms a critical part of linguistic and cultural development for all learners of languages. One of the impacts of COVID-19 has meant that many pupils have had fewer...
Teacher Briefing 27: OFQUAL/DfE Consultation on how GCSE, AS and A-Level grades should be awarded in Summer 2021
Theme: OFQUAL / DfE Consultation on how GCSE, AS and A-level grades should be awarded in Summer 2021 Background: The remit for this consultation emerged from letters on 13th January between the Secretary of State and OFQUAL. Consultation is open until Friday 29...
Hwb: Using X-box or Playstation for remote learning
The Welsh Government digital learning team have released a document listing instructions of how families can use games consoles, X-box and Playstation to complete online remote learning. This pdf is freely available to download here and helps Welsh learners to...
DfE: Remote education guidance and support
Remote education guidance for school and college leaders. The Department for Education have brought together their guidance and support to a more user friendly webpage: Get Help with Remote Education. On this page you will find: Guidance and support Expectations for...
Ofsted: What’s working well in remote education.
With remote education becoming the norm for many learners across most phases, Ofsted released guidance on 'What's working well in remote education' on January 11th. The guidance which defines 'remote education', seeks to end some 'common myths' about 'remote...
News from Ofqual re: 2021 examinations
Ofqual have now published the following in response to the Secretary of State’s address to the House of Commons yesterday: We are working with the Department and will begin to consult widely next week on possible arrangements for GCSEs, A levels and vocational and...
New Turing scheme to support thousands of students to study and work abroad
Over the festive season you might have missed this Press Release from the UK Government, published on December 26th. The Press Release contains details of a new £100 million scheme for students to study and work abroad will replace the UK's participation in Erasmus+....
Bonjour Europe: Britons are turning to learning languages like never before
Over the festive season you might have missed this article in The Guardian, published on December 26th. Despite the UK's exit from Europe only days away (at the time of publication), according to The Guardian, the number of people learning a language in Britain has...
The Importance of Languages in Global Context: An International Call to Action
The British Academy has published The Importance of Languages in Global Context: An International Call to Action. This unprecedented joint statement (together with the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, Australian Academy of the Humanities, Academy of the Social Sciences in Australia and The Royal Society of Canada) highlights the key role that language skills play in […]
Teacher Briefing 26: GCSE Languages 2021
Theme: GCSE Languages 2021 Background: OFQUAL was tasked by the Secretary of State in Autumn 2020 with mitigating the impact of the Coronavirus pandemic on schooling in the academic years 2019-20 and 2020-21. For Languages the major recommendation was to make...
Routes into Languages East 2020-21
All Routes into Languages East 2020/21 projects are now ready for registration and payment: Primary Bee (Y5 & 6) Spelling Bee (Y7) Translation Bee (Y8 & Y9) Language Leader Award (rec.Y9 & above) Languages Challenge (all) LinguaMaths (Y7) Having just...
Plans to ban EU children travelling to the UK on ID cards “economically and culturally reckless”
Plans to ban EU children travelling to the UK on ID cards “economically and culturally reckless” · School exchange trips for UK children will be hit hard · UK face immediate loss of income and jobs for international English language schools · House of Lords amendment creates more secure travel alternative than the Government’s proposed […]
MFL teachers on the shortage occupations list
ALL is pleased to inform you that following the joint efforts by the All Party Parliamentary Group on Modern Foreign Languages, the Association for Language Learning, led by René Koglbauer-Franklin and Jane Harvey and other language organisations has once again led to another positive outcome. The Migratory Advisory Committee have recommended that MFL teachers and […]
European Day of Languages 2020: Quiz via TES Resources
If you want to play quizmaster or quizmistress give this five star quiz a go here at TES Resources for a bit of fun, cultural capital and competition, look no further than here for a quick free download.
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