ALL has recently established a new Special Interest Group intending to take forward issues relating to the wider group of languages learnt in the UK (those which might be termed Community Languages or World Languages).
Our hope is to work with other associations and agencies to try to overcome the isolation that some language teachers experience, to bring together teachers who may work in different sorts of settings but who share many principles and can learn from each others’ practice, to work towards overcoming the barriers between mainstream and other systems and to keep an eye on resource and services which are at risk at a time of national financial stringency.
The SIG will advise ALL on strategic matters and recommend specific things, such as the notion that it is good practice for the Association to include examples from the wider range of languages in its events and publications; readers will have noted that the last edition of this magazine very much reflected this intention.
The SIG involves members whose experience covers a wide spectrum of agencies and we will work with others on specific projects; if you have suggestions; as ever please contact [email protected].
Currently we would particularly welcome thoughts on what we should call the SIG – the terminology is fraught with historical complexity! All ideas are welcome!