Modern Languages for Work Purposes Event - Enhancing Practice and Introducing New Unit

2. Modern Languages for Work Purposes Support Event 24 March 2011 Crowne Plaza Hotel, Glasgow

3. Modern Languages for Work Purposes Jim McDonald Qualifications Manager

4. Aims of the Event • To “take stock” of where we are • To focus on approaches and uses of the Units • To share existing good practice • To introduce the new Unit at Advanced Higher, including suggested approaches and uses • To allow discussion to take place among practitioners

5. Format of the Event • Presentations – focusing on successful current practice and future plans • Launch of Advanced Higher/SCQF level 7 Unit • Workshop – a forum for discussion and opportunity to reflect on approaches to delivery and assessment

6. What’s Available Currently? • Suite of 40 hour free standing Units • Available at Access 3 – Higher • Available across a range of ten languages : Cantonese, French, Gaelic (Learners), German, Italian, Mandarin, Polish, Russian, Spanish and Urdu • Units offer both “horizontal” and “vertical” progression

7. Current Presentations March 2011 • Candidate presentations from a range of centres using the Units in a variety of vocational settings • Access 3 – 181 candidates • Intermediate 1 – 120 candidates • Intermediate 2 – 87 candidates • Higher – 9 candidates • Total presentations – 397 candidates • Candidates from school and FE sectors

8. How are the Units Being Used? • Free standing – centres delivering the Unit to candidates as a single Unit or as an addition to National Course in the same language at same level • Centre-devised Grouping – centres grouping the Unit with Unit(s)/National Course in another subject area • National Certificate – centres using the Unit(s) as a component part of Group Awards

9. How are the Units Being Used? (cont.) • National Certificate – centres using the Unit(s) as a component part of Group Awards : Travel and Tourism Business Administration Media Sound Production Music

10. What Makes the Approaches Distinctive? • Less prescription of content • Greater focus on skills and evidence gathering • Relevance to candidates in their setting • Vocational, focusing on employability • Exemplification of assessment which encourages the integration of skills where possible • ASP (Assessment Support Pack) rather than NAB • ASP available for French, and a generic version, Access 3 – Higher

11. What’s Next? • The Unit at SCQF levels 3 & 4 (Access 3 and Intermediate 1) will form a component part of a new Languages Award which will be available from 2015 at these levels • This new award will provide alternative certification for candidates at these levels • More details soon on SQA website

12. What’s New? • From August 2011 the Modern Languages for Work Purposes Unit will be available at AH (SCQF level 7) • Uses and application of this Unit will be presented this morning by the Writer of the Unit and ASP, John Morrow

13. Today’s Event • Jackie Gallagher, PT Mod. Langs. St. Roch’s Secondary School, Glasgow – the experience at Access 3 and Intermediate 1 • Irene Copeland, PT Mod. Langs. Rosshall Academy, Glasgow – the experience at Intermediate 2 and Higher • John Morrow, Qualifications Development Specialist – Launch of the Unit at AH

14. Today’s Event (cont.) • Workshop activity will focus on Unit specification at different levels and associated exemplification • Workshop facilitators have been closely involved with the development of the Units • Please take opportunity to discuss/ask questions

15. Any Questions?