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All the latest news from the world of languages and language teaching.BBC Sounds:
Music Planet brings the WOMAD experience into the studio with live sets by some of the artists who would have been playing at the festival this weekend, including Italian collective Amaraterra with pizzica music from the country's south-eastern region, Welsh guitarist...
theconversation.com: The political history of dubbing in films
English-speaking audiences rarely come across dubbed films and television programmes. This probably explains why they tend to find dubbing so, well, weird. Dubbed voices usually sound a bit flat and never quite sync up with the mouths we see onscreen. This can be...
Young refugee child teaches Greek Language to other kids worldwide
A young Palestinian refugee on the Greek island of Leros, who arrived on a rickety boat from Turkey in December 2018, has set up a page called “Learn Greek” on social media to teach the language to children worldwide. The amazing story of Sabri Madi, who was just 13...
Which language did people want to learn most in each country
Language is one of the critical components pertaining to the identity of a nation; and learning another language can help enrich the experience of someone who is visiting a country — but teaching yourself to speak a foreign language can introduce you to the culture of...
Handwriting Is Better Than Typing When Learning a New Language, Study Finds
In our daily lives, we spend a lot more time tapping at a screen and typing on a keyboard than writing with pencil and pen, so does handwriting tuition still offer anything useful? Absolutely, according to a new study. Researchers tasked 42 adult volunteers with...
The Guardian: Millions of pupils in England had no language teaching in lockdowns – survey
Most primary school children and 40% in secondaries missed out during first lockdown, says British Council. Millions of children did not receive any language tuition during lockdowns in England, the British Council has said. The council’s annual survey of English...
Schools Week: DfE and Ofqual launch exams 2022 consultation
The government has set out draft plans for GCSEs and A-level exams next year, including a choice of topics for some GCSE subjects and advance information about the focus of exams in others. But schools will have to wait until the autumn to hear the government’s final...
The Guardian: Advance notice of GCSE & A level topics
Pupils who are due to sit GCSEs and A-levels next summer will be given advance notice of the focus of some examinations to try to mitigate for learning lost as a result of the pandemic, according to plans unveiled by the government. Ministers have already stated their...
Study shows second-language learning can happen quickly
Study shows second-language learning can happen quickly In a finding that runs contrary to one of the most-cited studies in the field, a new research paper from University of Kansas linguists shows that even as beginners, adults can quickly begin mentally processing...
European Day of Languages update from ECML
European Day of Languages : ECML Update June 2021 https://edl.ecml.at/ A new secret agent’s language challenge app Following the success of the language challenges handbook (now available in 29 languages) and a first version of an app last year, version ‘2.007’...
Recent publications from OFQUAL
Recent publications from OFQUAL which might be of interest: A consultation on proposed revisions to the Terms of Reference for Exam Procedures Review Service (EPRS) in summer 2021. The consultation closed on 28 June 2021. A report on The use of assistive technologies...
Ofsted: Curriculum research review series: Languages
As members will be aware, on Monday Ofsted released a report as part of its Curriculum Research Review series on Languages. The review explores the literature relating to the field of foreign languages education. Its purpose is to identify factors that contribute to...
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