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Language Training Spanish
Start date: Jun 1, 2016, End date: Jun 30, 2017 PROJECT  FINISHED 

Background In 2002, The European Union set out goals to promote language learning and linguistic diversity across Europe The vision was to enable citizens to communicate in 2 languages other than their mother tongue as this would improve job prospects and enable people to move around within the EU. The Scottish Government Policy, ‘Language Learning in Scotland: A 1+2 Approach’ is aimed at ensuring that every child has the opportunity to learn a modern language from P1 onwards and a second language from Primary 5. The policy should be fully implemented across the country by 2020 with the vision of enhancing pupils’ ability to communicate effectively in social, academic and commercial settings and therefore play their full part as global citizens. In order to do this Local Authorities and their associated schools have included the 2+1 approach into their improvement plans to build capacity for the teaching of two languages. To fulfil this, it will be essential to train teachers to become confident and competent in teaching modern languages such as Spanish and to have knowledge and understanding about European culture which can be shared with young children. This project is a one week immersion course in Spanish, which takes place in Spain and is run by LFEE Europe. Participants are encouraged to speak Spanish as much as possible in social situations and other cultural excursions. The methodology sessions focus on techniques which enable teachers to involve all pupils in learning through the medium of Spanish. A cross-curricular approach is favoured and all activities are transferable to the teaching of all Modern Languages. The aims of the immersion course are: To improve methodological expertise in the teaching of Spanish to young learners, To provide participants with materials and ideas suitable for the teaching of Spanish at primary level To develop cultural awareness and understanding of contemporary Spain, To improve participants’ competence and performance in Spanish and to make effective use of Internet and other ICT resources in the class. One participant has been carefully selected from Giffnock Primary school in East Renfrewshire. This participant is an experienced Primary school teacher who has shown a commitment to developing modern languages. She has been learning Spanish by attending inset courses and Further Education College and is keen to develop her competence in reading, writing, talking and listening in Spanish. She is also interested in developing the pedagogy of effective language teaching methods and also in developing a European approach to teaching. She also has experience of leadership and is an ideal candidate for disseminating good practise in her own school as well as leading training for staff in the cluster schools. This will reach 430 pupils and 40 staff in Giffnock Primary school. She has some experience of teaching Spanish and has been involved in selecting and creating teaching materials and resources. During the training she will engage in structured training in Spanish, teaching methods and will also take part in culture experiences and have opportunities to meet other European teachers. ImpactAs a result of the training there will be a range of positive outcomes for the pupils and staff in the school and the associated cluster schools which will extend beyond innovative, stimulating, high quality teaching in the classroom. The participant will be able to support and mentor other teachers and staff. They will be able to assist the management team in monitoring the quality of learning and teaching. There are also plans in place for this member of staff to assist the Modern Languages Quality Improvement Officer to deliver CPD for staff across the cluster. To raise the profile of Spanish, events will also be organized such as an assembly and an open afternoon to inform and include parents/carers/community about the developments and progress in teaching Spanish. The long term goals include building the capacity of schools to teach Spanish, increasing pupils’ enjoyment and uptake of learning Spanish beyond the primary school, thus equipping them with skills for learning and life in the European Union as laid out in the recommendations.The project will be overseen by the local authority quality improvement officer for modern languages and will be audited as part of the Local Authority, cluster and school improvement planning process.

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