Express Yourself 2022
Express Yourself! A celebration of languages in education and community through speaking and performance.
Speaking a modern foreign language confidently and coherently is a prominent factor of the MFL curriculum throughout the four devolved education departments in the United Kingdom and forms a critical part of linguistic and cultural development for all learners of languages.
In 2021, with COVID-19 having had an impact on almost all areas of education but most acutely that of the teaching and learning of MFL, ALL, the British Council and cultural institutes in the United Kingdom combined efforts to devise an exciting event entitled ‘Express Yourself’. This was an opportunity to showcase language learners’ enjoyment of, and commitment to, a language that they are learning, or that is used in their home community (except for English!). We are repeating this in February 2022, in preparation for Spring where we practise and celebrate a language you are learning, or use in your community, and take part in a virtual festival of speaking!
You can view more details in the Express Yourself 2022 pdf here.
Endorsement 2020
Speaking remains a priority for language learners and we continue to host here a variety of connected items:
- The background to the concept of Endorsement
- Details of the OFQUAL Consultation on Criteria
- Outcomes and final criteria
- Health considerations
- Speaking - a priority for language learners
- Speaking - some related articles in Language Learning Journal
- More on Speaking on the ALL Website
- Other sections as seem appropriate
The Endorsement Experience
The Endorsement requirements for GCSE 2021 required (among other things) that
Teacher assessment take place across the year as part of teaching and learning.
There be no requirement for recorded evidence, or for exam conditions testing.
and that
The Endorsement be outside the grading system of the GCSE, and be reported in addition to the GCSE language grade (9-1) but only by descriptors: Pass, Merit and Distinction or not classified.
At the time of writing we are still awaiting the GCSE results.
OFQUAL provided criteria for use by language teachers and for sharing with students (in the Archive below).
Guest Blog
My experience with the 2021 MFL GCSE speaking endorsement
My experience with the 2021 MFL GCSE speaking endorsement: “Just a tapa, please”
Verónica González Otero
Overall, I have enjoyed the flexibility that the speaking endorsement has offered MFL teachers in terms of collecting evidence and the activities selected to assess students. However, I believe that looking forwards, it is important that Ofqual takes into consideration staff inconsistency and a depreciation of oral production.
My favourite things about the speaking endorsement:
+ The experience has been less stressful for my students and myself, as the endorsement has allowed for gathering data over a prolonged period of time and flexibility on where and how this is done (e.g. in the classroom, one-to-one during lunch, or with a classmate).
+ Sharing the criteria with students alongside their current working level has better informed pupils on their progress, and in turn, they have taken more responsibility for their learning.
+ The whole process and the more holistic way of assessing the pupils’ speaking ability has felt really natural and tailored to fit the interest of each student. For example, students were given the option of having a conversation with their teacher about something they themselves brought in - their own photos of a birthday party, or a holiday they have been on.
+ Having flexibility in the choice of activities has led to pupils enjoying speaking the language more, as they have found it more relevant to their lives. For instance, in my Spanish classes, students did a one-minute presentation on a topic of their choice linked to the Hispanic world, followed by a general conversation on the relevant theme in the syllabus.
+ The speaking endorsement significantly aided the development of the other core skills in my classes, particularly writing, as students have added an emotional element to their language to communicate their thoughts.
+ The speaking endorsement and remote learning as a whole have led to schools to adapt their educational platforms, by including new features. In my school students have been able to upload audio files and teachers have had the facility to provide oral recorded feedback for pupils. I have taken advantage of this aspect to provide further quality feedback on students’ work in the form of grammatical explanations and modelling pronunciation.
What I do not like about the speaking endorsement:
- There is a risk of inconsistency between staff in awarding of endorsement levels, due to different interpretations of the guidance provided by exam boards. For example, some MFL teachers believed that in order to be able to achieve a distinction, students should be able to interact without reading directly from their notes. Our exam board clarified that students could get a distinction by looking at their notes when questions are being asked, but that this can have a detrimental effect on the pronunciation and intonation aspect of the common assessment criteria.
- The criteria given for the speaking endorsement do not reflect the true speaking ability of a student, and we are at risk of devaluing this skill. The endorsement could become, in some cases, an extended piece of homework resulting in students learning pre-prepared answers to a varied set of questions provided beforehand. In some cases, students might be advised to include questions for their teachers to make the work seem more spontaneous. To my mind this is not genuine communication though.
- Some schools conducting internal examinations have decided to reweight the value of the listening, reading and writing components evenly to compensate for the 25% loss from speaking in the 9-1 grade system. This is unfair for students who are stronger at oral productions than other skills such as listening or reading.
- Although originally designed to “alleviate pressure” caused by internal examinations, some teachers did not compile data for the speaking endorsement until the end of the process, once the listening, reading and writing assessments were completed. This has resulted in a stressful and hurried experience for those members of staff and their students.
Taking these aspects into consideration, whilst I have fully enjoyed having a tapa of the speaking endorsement this year, I would not have a full portion of it in the future, thanks. I would much rather return to formal speaking exams in 2022 to guarantee consistency across MFL teachers and fairness amongst students and across the four skills. Based on my experience, since the final decision is not likely to be made before January 2022, I would suggest colleagues continue to collect evidence over an extended period of time, to reflect on their own experiences, and to provide students with opportunities to develop their speaking skills in lessons and via homework.
Health Considerations
There is to date no specific advice from Government on the Language classroom or the aspects of Speaking in that context. Related advice for Music might be relevant:
Music
Schools should note that there may be an additional risk of infection in environments where you or others are singing, chanting, playing wind or brass instruments or shouting. This applies even if individuals are at a distance.
Updated September 2020:
Additional mitigations, such as extended social distancing, were previously required for singing, and playing of wind and brass instruments given concerns that these were potentially higher risk activities. Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) has commissioned further scientific studies to be carried out to develop the scientific evidence on these activities, which has allowed the government to reconsider appropriate mitigations and further research is continuing.
Singing, wind and brass instrument playing can be undertaken in line with this and other guidance, in particular guidance provided by the DCMS for professionals and non-professionals, available at working safely during coronavirus (COVID-19): performing arts. However, these studies have also indicated that it is the cumulative aerosol transmission from both those performing in and attending events is likely to create risk. DCMS is continuing to develop a more detailed understanding of how to mitigate this potential aggregate risk, but in that context, organisations should follow the guidance set out below.
Updated October 2020:
Singing, wind and brass playing should not take place in larger groups such as choirs and ensembles, or assemblies unless significant space, natural airflow … and strict social distancing and mitigation as described below can be maintained.
Social distancing
In the smaller groups where these activities can take place, schools should observe strict social distancing between each singer and player, and between singers and players, and any other people such as conductors, other musicians, or accompanists. Current guidance is that if the activity is face-to-face and without mitigating actions, 2 metres is appropriate.
Seating positions
Pupils should be positioned back-to-back or side-to-side when playing or singing (rather than face-to-face) whenever possible. Position wind and brass players so that the air from their instrument does not blow into another player.
Microphones
Use microphones where possible or encourage singing quietly.
Language teachers say:
Face masks are required in Secondary School contexts; there is an argument for Language teachers to wear visors rather than masks – for lip reading purposes (both for Language learners and for EAL pupils, or hearing impaired children.)
Speaking - a priority for language learners
Speaking in the Language classroom has, of course, a much larger role than simply preparing for examination. In this section ALL Members share their thoughts on the importance of speaking for
- motivation
- sense of progress
- vocabulary building
- grammatical manipulation
- memory work
- and spontaneous interaction
The poetry recital competition 'Strictly Speaking' from ALL and Routes East has inspired several other versions. Here you will find suggestions of how it could be used flexibly.
Greg Horton reminds us that Speaking ' ... is the essence of our subject; the element that sets us apart from other subjects and gives us a distinct identity'.
Crista Hazell says ' ... the power of learning how to speak in an international language gives an innate sense of progression and confidence, whilst giving every learner a skill for life' and describes practical ways of maintaining the profile of Speaking in the current restrictive context .
Vincent Everett's 'first memory to do with language learning was my parents explaining to me that although they had learned grammar thoroughly, they had never been taught to speak or say anything useful.'
Joe Dale considers how technology can help teachers and learners, particularly in a remote teaching context.
In Helen Myers' chart she matches her thoughts on classroom planning which tally with the structure of the OFQUAL proposals.
An ALL Party Parliamentary Group for Oracy has published a report on the importance of developing this aspect of Cultural Capital at https://www.oracyappg.org.uk/
Speaking - some related articles in Language Learning Journal
What do learners' beliefs about speaking reveal about their awareness of learning strategies?
Angela Gallagher-Brett
The Language Learning Journal, Volume 35, 2007 - Issue 1
Published Online: 02 Jul 2007
The impact of expanding advanced level secondary school students' awareness and use of metacognitive learning strategies on confidence and proficiency in foreign language speaking skills
Karen Forbes & Linda Fisher
The Language Learning Journal, Volume 46, 2018 - Issue 2
Published Online: 27 Feb 2015
The perceived value of videoconferencing with primary pupils learning to speak a modern language
Magda Phillips
The Language Learning Journal, Volume 38, 2010 - Issue 2
Published Online: 23 Sep 2010
Achieving student autonomy in speaking through the use of interactive video
Hilary McColl
The Language Learning Journal, Volume 5, 1992 - Issue 1
Published Online: 06 Aug 2007
Speaking spontaneously in the modern foreign languages classroom: Tools for supporting successful target language conversation
Colin Christie
The Language Learning Journal, Volume 44, 2016 - Issue 1
Published Online: 11 Oct 2013
The combined effect of task repetition and post-task transcribing on L2 speaking complexity, accuracy, and fluency
Hsiu-Chen Hsu
The Language Learning Journal, Volume 47, 2019 - Issue 2
Published Online: 18 Jan 2017
The link between vocabulary knowledge and spoken L2 fluency
Heather Hilton
The Language Learning Journal, Volume 36, 2008 - Issue 2
Published Online: 27 Oct 2008
Teaching communication strategies to beginners
Angela Gallagher Brett
The Language Learning Journal, Volume 24, 2001 - Issue 1
Published Online: 06 Aug 2007
A longitudinal comparative study of the use of target language in the MFL classroom by native and non-native student teachers
Helen Aberdeen
The Language Learning Journal, Volume 46, 2018 - Issue 4
Published Online: 28 Sep 2015
More on Speaking on the ALL Website
These links are to articles on themes to do with Speaking to be found elsewhere on this website.
https://www.all-languages.org.uk/features/spring-is-the-season-for-speaking-it-seems/
https://www.all-languages.org.uk/how-to/prepare-level-speaking-exam/
https://www.all-languages.org.uk/product/article-best-10-ways-teach-primary-languages-drama/
https://www.all-languages.org.uk/my-best-10/best-10-ways-encourage-spontaneous-speaking/
https://www.all-languages.org.uk/my-best-10/my-best-10-ideas-for-communicative-activities/
https://www.all-languages.org.uk/strictly-in-isolation/
https://www.all-languages.org.uk/corporate-member/listen-speak-repeat/
https://www.all-languages.org.uk/product/article-focus-on-developing-oracy-in-mfl/
https://www.all-languages.org.uk/product/time-to-talk-languages-today-plus-additional-articles/
https://www.all-languages.org.uk/product/article-encourage-spontaneity-languages-classroom/
The ALL Connect KS2 Speaking module is still available here: https://allconnectblog.wordpress.com/2015/01/06/all-connect-ks2-speaking/
The ALL Connect KS3 Spontaneous speaking module is still available here: https://allconnectblog.wordpress.com/2015/01/06/531/
The ALL Speaking wiki is still available here: http://all-speaking.wikidot.com/
Celebrating Speaking
In this section we list events we are aware of which focus on Speaking activities for language learners in celebratory or motivational forms.
Poésíæ is an international competition for language learners from 7 to 14. Its creator, Jérȏme Nogues, writes :
After an exciting year, covering 3 languages, 40 schools dotted all over the world, 5 amazing adjudicators, days of recordings and tons of talented performers, Poésíæ, the Global Language Recitation competition for the 7 to 14 years old, is back in 2022, starting in January.
It has expanded its language palette with the addition of Italian, English as a Foreign Language and the mighty Welsh to last year’s list if French, German and Spanish. The rules are a bit more flexible as the poems picked are not imposed, leaving more freedom to teachers who will be enthusing the pupils in their schools.
Running alongside this competition, this year I have added Poésíaert, an art competition. It is an opportunity to use Languages for a cross-curricular activity but also for the less speaking-confident, or for multi-talented, pupils to find a different medium to express their understanding of the poem(s) chosen. The take-up after just a few days has been incredible. Fingers crossed for a spectacular 2022 vintage!
A free, global, poetry recital and art competition for pupils from Y3 to Y9 studying French, Spanish, German, Italian, Welsh or English as a foreign language.
https://www.poesiae.com/guidelines
Suggested poems are provided: https://www.poesiae.com/poems
Celebration of Speaking 2021
January 2021 saw the launch of a national Celebration of Speaking involving ALL and many of our brilliant partners at the British Council and the cultural and linguistic bodies in the United Kingdom!
As a community dedicated to supporting motivation for language learning as well as the professional development of teachers this informal partnership project wanted to give everyone something positive to look forward to, at a gloomy time of the year and in the complex situation where we all found ourselves.
The idea was: Celebration! The context was: Online! The principle was: Open to all! and the light-hearted task was: make a digital clip of yourself speaking a language other than English, no longer than 90 seconds. These clips were collated online to share the love of speaking another language (one you are learning, one that is part of your family history, etc.)
Entrants could choose from:
- recording a short presentation about something they were interested in
- reciting a short text – a poem or song lyrics
- performing with someone else a roleplay, sketch, dialogue
- or something else!
(Entrants of school age did not, of course, film themselves, but spoke over an image, an avatar or a screen they have created.)
The project partners selected a favourite clip (just based on personal taste; there were no criteria) which we celebrated publicly at a VIP online event in March. See more here: https://www.britishcouncil.org/school-resources/languages/express-yourself-lockdown
and look out for details of the 2022 event!
Teachers of Spanish can find a report on a 2020 Consejeria Workshop on Speaking in the Spanish Zone (Vida Hispanica) https://www.all-languages.org.uk/research-practice/language-zones/vida-hispanica/
The VIII Hispanic Theatre Festival will take place on 16th March (this year, via Zoom). Xiomara Yedbury at NLCS (North London Collegiate School) is in charge.
Hackney Spanish Speaking Competition in 2021.
Hackney launches this initiative in January 2021 for its schools which will hold heats in school and send winners to the Grand Finale in the week beginning 12 July. It may inspire others!
The aims are:
- To ensure that pupils are given every opportunity to practice and develop their Spanish speaking skills
- To organise a high quality event which will raise the profile of Spanish in Hackney
- To provide an opportunity for pupils to show off their talents and to have fun doing so
Pupils can enter individually, in a pair or as a group and can recite a poem, sing a song, do a role play or performance.
Archive
Background
The DfE asked OFQUAL to consider ways in which 2021 examination arrangements could be adjusted (without changing content) in order to mitigate the impact of the Lockdown on teaching time, and of other uncertainties arising in 2020, and to maximise teaching time available for examination classes.
OFQUAL consulted on their proposals in July of 2020.
In August they published their decisions:
In his letter to us, the Secretary of State for Education explained that he was not minded to specify changes to the content which forms the foundation for GCSE, AS and A level qualifications, because of the impact this could have on students moving to the next stage of education; he asked us to provide advice on the options for the 2021 exams.
What OFQUAL said:
We understand students preparing to take exams and assessments in 2021, and their parents, carers and teachers, are concerned about the impact coronavirus (COVID-19) has had on their education. We have consulted on proposals for changes to exams and assessments next year, given the disruption and potential for on-going public health safeguards, and developed a package of measures. Overall, these will free up teaching time, reduce pressure on students and allow assessments to be undertaken within current public health restrictions.
For Languages specifically:
changes to how the assessment of students’ spoken language skills is reported in modern foreign language GCSEs – students’ speaking skills will be assessed through a teacher endorsement alongside the 9 to 1 grade. Common assessment criteria will be produced for teachers to use when assessing students’ spoken language skills, so that these can be assessed within teaching, giving centres some flexibility over how they approach the oral component of the assessment
OFQUAL also published Consultation decisions and feedback reports here.
Endorsement is already used in the examining of English for speaking, more information regarding exams and assessments in 2021 can be found here.
Consequences for summer examination 2021 only
The traditional Speaking Test as part of the GCSE will not take place in 2021.
There will be no official Speaking Test for teachers to use in the classroom.
Speaking will be reported on as a Teacher / School Endorsement.
Teacher assessment will take place across the year as part of teaching and learning.
There is no requirement for recorded evidence, or for exam conditions testing.
The Endorsement is outside the grading system of the GCSE, and will be reported in addition to the GCSE language grade (9-1) but only by descriptors: Pass, Merit and Distinction or not classified.
Consultation October 2020
OFQUAL published on 12th October its proposals, including the criteria they proposed for teachers to use in evaluating their students’ Speaking in the teaching context, for consultation until 26th October.
The ALL Briefing on GCSE 2021 (revised Nov. 2020) contains concise details of the OFQUAL documents, and of the changes to GCSE 2021 of which we are aware. It also contains links to the full OFQUAL documents.
ALL hosted a webinar discussing Ofqual's Consultation documents with Rene Koglbauer-Franklin, Jane Harvey, Helen Myers and ASCL's David Blow. You can watch this here.
At the ALL Zoom meeting to discuss the draft criteria some important points were made and a chart illustrating the strands within the criteria was presented. Please see the meeting notes
Outcomes of Consultation and Final Criteria
See the OFQUAL consultation outcomes here
Table 1: The criteria for Pass, Merit and Distinction
Grade | Communication and interaction | Range of language | Accuracy | Pronunciation and intonation |
Pass |
To be awarded a pass, the Learner • gives some relevant information in generally short responses. • conveys simple opinions. • asks some straightforward questions. • may not always understand questions asked, but responses to those which are understood are comprehensible. • demonstrates a basic level of interaction. |
To be awarded a pass, the Learner • uses mostly simple grammatical structures. • uses a limited range of familiar vocabulary and expressions. • makes reference to present and past and/or future events with occasional success. |
To be awarded a pass, the Learner • is mainly correct when using familiar vocabulary and simple grammatical structures. • is likely to make errors, which sometimes impede communication. |
To be awarded a pass, the Learner • uses pronunciation that is mostly understandable. • makes errors that sometimes impede communication. • there may be frequent native language interference. |
Grade | Communication and interaction | Range of language | Accuracy | Pronunciation and intonation |
Merit |
To be awarded a merit, the Learner • conveys mainly relevant information with occasional longer responses. • expresses opinions with some simple justification. • asks some varied questions to obtain information. • responds to questions and develops some answers. • demonstrates a good level of interaction. |
To be awarded a merit, the Learner
• is generally successful in making reference to present, past and future events. |
To be awarded a merit, the Learner
• is likely to make errors, particularly when more complex language is attempted. Such errors sometimes hinder clarity of communication. |
To be awarded a merit, the Learner • uses generally good pronunciation and intonation but with some inconsistency. • makes some errors that occasionally impede communication. • there may be some native language interference. |
Grade | Communication and interaction | Range of language | Accuracy | Pronunciation and intonation |
Distinction |
To be awarded a distinction, the Learner • communicates detailed and relevant information, including extended responses. • expresses a variety of opinions with justification. • asks a variety of questions using a range of question forms. • responds to a variety of questions, often developing their answers. • demonstrates a very good level of interaction. |
To be awarded a distinction, the Learner
|
To be awarded a distinction, the Learner • uses predominantly accurate language using a range of relevant vocabulary and some complex grammatical structures. • is likely to make errors that are usually minor or occur when complex structures and/or less familiar vocabulary are attempted. Such errors rarely hinder clarity of communication. |
To be awarded a distinction, the Learner • uses pronunciation and intonation that are overall accurate and intelligible. • makes errors which rarely impede communication. • there may be only isolated native language interference. |
We are grateful to Helen Myers, who has created a document which shows these criteria in Strands.
Helen has also suggested some ways of managing Speaking in the classroom in light of the OFQUAL requirements.
Exam boards have published ‘Additional guidance on range of language’ for Speaking Endorsement. The guidance is the same for each Board.
https://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/languages/gcse/french-8658/changes-for-2021
Edexcel guidance, by individual language e.g.
Eduqas guidance, by individual language e.g.
https://www.eduqas.co.uk/qualifications/french-gcse/?sub_nav_level=course-materials#tab_resources
Outcomes from the Sharing Webinar - December 2020 and February 2021
December 2020
GCSE Speaking Endorsement Sharing webinar Presentation
Links mentioned in the webinar : ALL OFQUAL Speaking webinar links
Webinar Recording:
https://us02web.zoom.us/rec/share/N95WgVhbvANveRMHoSuJNtMatJTVacHkGGcjNycrSlwRlzm2UWoU8ltOaP-pLl9s.WA1HX_uDFYTgLT1i
Guests at the webinar shared a range of ideas which are collated in this Sharing Menu and this Checklist
February 2021
GCSE Speaking Endorsement Sharing webinar 2 Recording: http://www.all-london.org.uk/site/index.php/webinars/all-speaking-endorsement-sharing-webinar-2/
Documents shown in the webinar, generously shared by Helen Myers:
Checklist of questions for teachers and managers
Endorsement criteria form for gathering information
Range criteria illustrated for French
David Blow's summary of Awarding levels
Samples that could be used in training in awarding overall levels
Sample script for explaining the situation to pupils
These documents are also available in Word on the ALL London website above, along with further ideas from Helen for purposeful Speaking activities, and knowledge organisers shared by Nolwenn Burkey - in French.
Guests at the webinar shared a range of ideas which are collated in in this Sharing Chat