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The National Languages Strategy

The National Languages Strategy. England Lisbon, November 2006. A different context, a different focus. English: the language of international communication Therefore different issues concerning the national language Problems of monoglots in a multilingual world

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The National Languages Strategy

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  1. The National Languages Strategy England Lisbon, November 2006

  2. A different context, a different focus English: the language of international communication Therefore different issues concerning the national language Problems of monoglots in a multilingual world A strategy for foreign languages needed

  3. National Strategies in England • Began with Literacy and Numeracy in primary schools (mid-1990s) • Now in secondary schools too • Other areas of the curriculum now covered • Each strategy has a Framework of objectives • Developed through pilots with independent evaluation • Disseminated through networks

  4. National Strategy for Languages • Operates on similar principles to other strategies • Has its own Frameworks • Covers all ages and stages of education and training: schools, further, adult and university education (including teacher training)

  5. Foreign languages in England: some problems (schools) • Motivation: English as a lingua franca = ‘English is enough!’ • Standards often too low (particularly in speaking skills) • Time allocation often insufficient: partly accounts for low standards • Boys achieve less than girls; less likely to opt for MFL • Take-up of the second MFL usually low • Many opt out of MFL at the age of 16

  6. Emergence of the Strategy for England • 1990s Concern in the field (language associations, business etc) • 2000 Nuffield Enquiry (independent) report • 2001-2002 Languages National Steering Group: • Teachers (primary, secondary, further education) and Teacher Trainers • Inspectors and Advisers • Local authorities • Universities • Professional Associations • Business and Employers • Ministries (DfES, Foreign Office, Trade and Industry) • Public bodies (CILT, British Council, Qualifications and Curriculum Authority; Teacher Training Agency) • 2002 Public Consultation on proposals • 18 December 2002 Publication of the Strategy for England ‘Languages for all; Languages for Life’

  7. Languages for All: Languages for Life:A Strategy for England

  8. The government’s view ‘For too long we have failed to value language skills or recognise the contribution they make to society, to the economy and to raising standards in schools. This has led to a cycle of national underperformance in languages, a shortage of teachers, low take-up of languages beyond schooling and a workforce unable to meet the demands of a globalised economy’.

  9. Foreword to NLS ‘Changing the country's attitude to teaching and learning languages will demand a huge cultural change. It will rely on action from government, schools, local education authorities, colleges, universities, employers, parents and learners. Partnership is the key to making this strategy a reality.’

  10. Languages for All: Languages for Life Three overarching objectives: • To improve teaching and learning of languages • To introduce a recognition system 3. To increase the numbers of people studying languages in further and higher education and work-based learning

  11. Improve teaching and learning of languages • Primary focus Curricular innovation (KS2 Framework) Developing workforce and infrastructure • Raising standards in secondary Curricular innovation (KS3 Framework) CPD and networks • Support and coherence The Languages Ladder 4. Promotion and encouragement to all learners

  12. Primary Entitlement ‘Every child should have the opportunity throughout Key Stage 2 to study a foreign language and develop their interest in the culture of other nations. (…) By age 11 they should have the opportunity to reach a recognised level of competence on the Common European Framework and for that achievement to be recognised through a national scheme.’

  13. Our aims for primary languages Supporting the workforce • 6000 new primary teachers with a language • 18 000 existing teachers offered CPD • 9000 teaching assistants trained in languages • More Foreign Language Assistants Networks and liaison • Language Colleges (LCs) • Local authorities, higher education, LCs and Comenius Centres working together Coherence • Languages Ladder • Key Stage 2 Framework ----Key Stage 3

  14. Key Stage 2 MFL Framework Five strands • Oracy • Literacy • Intercultural understanding • Knowledge about language • Language learning strategies Seewww.standards.dfes.gov.uk/primary/languages/

  15. Secondary: Language colleges (LC) • Not élitist specialist institutions • Mainstream secondary schools • Operate the full National Curriculum • Apply for government funding for enhanced MFL programmes

  16. Some Language College initiatives • Diversification e.g. Italian, Russian; Arabic, Chinese, Japanese; Bengali, Punjabi, Urdu • ‘Fast tracking’ of able pupils • Investment in ICT • Visits abroad including work experience • Choice of vocational courses with languages • Links with business • Access to native speakers • Promoting a FL for all pupils until the age of 18

  17. Secondary – Progress to date

  18. A new paradigm Specialist Vocational Personal 14+ KS3Framework 11-14 KS2Framework 7-11

  19. Introduce a recognition system • A ‘Languages Ladder’ with six stages • Recognises short-term achievement but provides progression • Assessment in any or all of the four skills • Linked to the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR) levels • For use with learners of any age

  20. The Languages Ladder (Asset Languages) Languages Ladder Stages CEFR approx. Breakthrough: grade 1-3 A1 (A2) Preliminary: grades 4-6 A2 ( B1) Intermediate: grades 7-9 B1 Advanced: grades 10-12 B2 Proficiency: grades 13-15 C1 Mastery: grades 16 - 17 C2

  21. Multilingualism: the wider curricular case • [our strategy] ‘is about the broader curriculum – about understanding language and identity, about developing an international outlook, and about learning. It is about inclusiveness and opportunities for all of our children. It is about the kind of people they will become and the kind of world in which they will live.’ (Andrew Adonis, 2005)

  22. Multilingualism in England ‘ Languages contribute to the cultural and linguistic richness of our society, to personal fulfilment, mutual understanding, commercial success and international trade and global citizenship.’ (NLS foreword, 2002) N.B. Any language can be a National Curriculum Language

  23. Multilingualism and the Languages Ladder Autumn 2005 First 3 stages in 8 languages : Chinese, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Panjabi, Spanish, Urdu Autumn 2006 15 additional languages: Arabic, Bengali, Gaeilge/Irish, Gujarati, Hindi, Modern Greek, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Somali, Swedish, Tamil, Turkish, Welsh, Yoruba

  24. Monitoring and Evaluation of the Strategy • National Director for Languages • Published targets • Annual Reports from public bodies (e.g. Qualifications and Assessment Authority) • Annual reporting by inspectors (HMI) • Piloting of the Languages Ladder • Baseline research of MFL in Key Stage 2 (ages 7-11) • Commissioned evaluations of specific projects (e.g. CLIL) • Financial accountability (Investment 2005-2008 = £115M GBP)

  25. Conclusion • An English Strategy for an English problem • A different context but a shared commitment to multilingualism

  26. Some references • www.dfes.gov.uk/languages • www.assetlanguages.org.uk • www.cilt.org.uk

  27. Glossary • MFL - modern foreign languages • Key Stage 2 (KS2) – the age range 7-11 • Key Stage 3 (KS3) – the age range 11-14 • DfES – Department for Education and Skills • CILT – Centre for Information on Language Teaching • CPD – Continuing Professional Development

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