Article Details

Article Details

Aberdeenshire update

Author: Sylvia Georgin, Aberdeenshire Council

It’s been a busy few months in Aberdeenshire promoting 1+2 and languages.

Modern Language Assistants and GETS 2018/19

We are so lucky to have a great bunch of Modern Language Assistants (MLAs) and German Educational Trainees (GETs) working with us this session. They have been working hard across our schools to raise the profile of their language and promote the culture from where they live. Along the way, they will experience some of our beautiful Aberdeenshire landscapes and warm hospitality.

Here they are at their induction day in September. Their favourite part of the training was the Doric lesson!

Modern Language project planning

In October, PGDE students from the University of Aberdeen alongside Aberdeenshire MLAs, GETs and Hanban teachers got together to plan and create language- and culture-based projects for schools to motivate and engage students. This project planning will be revisited later this year with the aim of highlighting the importance of native speakers in our schools and of promoting collaborative working. The day was hosted and facilitated by the University of Aberdeen with input from SCILT, British Council, Aberdeenshire secondary PTs and the authority’s Development Officer.

We are looking forward to hearing about the impact of these projects in our schools in the new year.

Literacy live – it’s all about language!

Aberdeenshire hosted a ‘Literacy live’ in-service event which was attended by over 200 teachers. Workshops covered all aspects of literacy development including emerging literacy, author workshops, speech and language therapy, dyslexia and, of course, the importance of language learning within literacy development. This was highlighted through workshops from SCILT on ‘Using short film to teach languages’ and input from Education Scotland on using technology to enhance language development. The Doric and Scots language workshops were very popular and there was a practical workshop showing how additional language teaching can enhance L1 development. A very busy and inspiring day!

On the other side of the authority, some of our secondary teachers attended an in-service day with input from SCILT and l‘Institut français. 

University of Strathclyde Education Scotland British Council Scotland The Scottish Government
SCILT - Scotlands National centre for Languages