Beyond School

Students on their year abroad are linked with a school in Scotland. Read about their experiences.

Language Linking Global Thinking

"This is such an enriching, meaningful experience for our pupils. It is helping them to become Global Citizens, expanding their horizons, seeing the true relevance of sticking with their language studies and all of the wonderful opportunities it will bring in the World of Work"

- Teacher, LLGT 2018/19

Overview

Language Linking, Global Thinking (LLGT) is a partnership project developed by the team at SCILT, British Council and Project Trust, working with UCMLS.

Students and volunteers about to embark on their year abroad are linked with primary or secondary schools across Scotland. The aim of the project is for students to communicate with a designated class in their partner school and illustrate by way of example how enriching it is to spend a year abroad using a language other than English.

While the student is abroad, they keep in regular contact with their partner school using blog posts, emails, postcards and other resources. In turn the link class can ask questions and post comments to the student. The two-way correspondence between student and class brings the language alive for pupils and shows them the real relevance of learning a language.

Throughout the year there should be at six contacts with the school and these should relate to the contexts which classes are studying, for example, daily life, food, cultural differences and similarities. Prior to going abroad, students are invited to visit their allocated school and meet the class, as well as to plan possible contributions the students might be able to make once out in the country.

Student experience

Current and former participants have written about their experiences of Language Linking, Global Thinking in the following articles:

Blogs

Students in the 2022-23 school session started blogging in November 2022. You can read their blog below, students who have started blogging are marked with an asterisk (*): 

*Oriana Alizond - Oriana is in Switzerland from the University of Edinburgh and is linked with The Glasgow Academy.

*Stuart Baijal - Stuart is in Spain from the University of Aberdeen and is linked with Portlethen Academy in Aberdeenshire.

*Marthe Banken - Marthe is in Spain from the University of Aberdeen and is linked with Mearns Castle High School in East Renfrewshire.

*Jayden Baxter - Jayden is in France and Spain from the University of Edinburgh and is linked with Viewforth High School in Fife. 

*Marnie Davidson - Marnie is in Spain from Napier University and is linked with Our Lady's High School in North Lanarkshire.

*Caitlyn Deeney - Caitlyn is in Italy from the University of Glasgow and is linked with Notre Dame High School in Glasgow. 

*Rebecca Elliot - Rebecca is in Germany from the University of St Andrews and is linked with Grove Academy in Dundee. 

*Amelie Falconer - Amelie is in France and Spain from the University of Edinburgh and is linked with Doune Primary in Stirling.

*Lara Geremia - Lara is in Spain from the University of Stirling and is linked with Alva Academy in Clackmannanshire. 

*Rebecca Gordon - Rebecca is in France from the University of Aberdeen and is linked with Cults Academy in Aberdeen City. 

*Alice Green - Alice is France from the University of Strathclyde and is linked with Grantown Grammar in Highland. 

*Amber Hamilton - Amber is in Spain from the University of Strathclyde and is linked with St Ninian's High School in East Dunbartonshire.

*Laura Heeb - Laura in is Spain from the University of Aberdeen and is linked with Holy Cross High School in South Lanarkshire.

*Lucy Kyle - Lucy is in Spain from the University of Edinburgh and is linked with Renfrew High School in Renfrewshire. 

*Kathleen Langan - Kathleen is in Spain from the University of Aberdeen and is linked with Notre Dame High School in Glasgow.

*Holly Makin - Holly is in France from the University of Edinburgh and is linked with Broxburn Academy in West Lothian.

*Marianne McCready - Marianne is in Jordan and France from the University of St Andrews and is linked with Meldrum Academy in Aberdeenshire. 

*Laura McCulloch - Laura is in Italy from the University of Glasgow and is linked with Holy Rood RC High School in Edinburgh.

*Ciara Meehan - Ciara is in France from the University of Strathclyde and is linked with Hamilton Grammar School in South Lanarkshire. 

*Sarah Millar - Sarah is in Spain from the University of St Andrews and is linked with Dunblane High School in Stirling. 

*Molly Nicholson - Molly is in Spain from the University of Aberdeen and is linked with St Margaret's School for Girls. 

Erin O'Brien - Erin is in France and Spain from the University of Edinburgh and is linked with Peterhead Academy in Aberdeenshire. 

Danielle Pritchard - Danielle is in France from the University of Strathclyde and is linked with Cleveden Secondary School in Glasgow.

*Dylan Ralph - Dylan is in Spain from the University of Aberdeen and is linked with Rayne North Primary School in Aberdeenshire. 

*Tom Rippon - Tom is in France from the University of St Andrews and is linked with Falkland Primary School in Fife. 

*Lucy Stenhouse - Lucy is in Germany from the University of Aberdeen and is linked with Dollar Academy. 

*Natasha Watt - Natasha is in Spain from the University of Strathclyde and is linked with Larkhall Academy in South Lanarkshire. 

*Alyssa Williams - Alyssa is in Uruguay from the University of St Andrews and is linked with Levenmouth Academy in Fife. 

*Freya Wilson - Freya is in France from the University of Edinburgh and is linked with Tobermory High School in Argyll and Bute. 

*Louise Wilson - Louise is in France from the University of Strathclyde and is linked with Holy Rood RC High School in Edinburgh.

*Niamh Woods - Niamh is in France from the University of Strathclyde and is linked with Caldervale High School in North Lanarkshire. 

Students in the 2021-22 school session started blogging in November 2021. You can read their blog below: 

Lucy Allan - Lucy is in Spain on her year abroad from the University of Strathclyde. She is linked with Prestwick Academy in South Ayrshire.

Giada Angeli - Giada is in Spain on her year abroad from Napier University. She is linked with Whitburn Academy in West Lothian.

Eve Boyle - Eve is in France on her year abroad from the University of Strathclyde. She is linked with Renfrew High School in Renfrewshire.

Fiona Campbell - Fiona is in France on her year abroad from the University of Glasgow. She is linked with Kinross High School in Perth and Kinross.

Oliver Duncan - Oliver is in France on his year abroad from the University of Aberdeen. He is linked with Newtonhill Primary in Aberdeenshire.

Erica Henderson - Erica is in France on her year abroad from the University of Strathclyde. She is linked with Calderglen High School in South Lanarkshire.

Erica Ho - Erica is in France on her year abroad from the University of Strathclyde. She is linked with St John Ogilvie High School in South Lanarkshire.

Callum Johnson - Callum is in Spain on his year abroad from the University of Glasgow. He is linked with The Glasgow Academy.

Louise Lilley - Louise is in Spain on her year abroad from the University of Stirling. She is linked with Larbert High School in Falkirk.

Isla Macpherson - Isla is in France on her year abroad from the University of Strathclyde. She is linked with North West Community Campus in Dumfries and Galloway.

Chiara McIntyre - Chiara is in Spain on her year abroad from the University of Strathclyde. She is linked with Holy Cross High School in South Lanarkshire.

Stephanie Mock - Stephanie is in Spain on her year abroad from Napier University. She is linked with Dunbar Grammar School in East Lothian.

Calum Murray - Calum is in France on his year abroad from the University of Stirling. He is linked with Alva Academy in Clackmannanshire.

Emma Purdie - Emma is in France on her year abroad from the University of Strathclyde. She is linked with Clydebank High School in West Dunbartonshire

Holly Strachan - Holly is in France on her year abroad from the University of Strathclyde. She is linked with St Margaret's School for Girls in Aberdeen.

Emily Wright - Emily is in Spain on her year abroad from the University of Edinburgh. She is linked with Bathgate Academy in West Lothian.

Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, for the 2020-21 school session a small cohort of students began blogging from January 2021. You can read their blogs below: 

Morgan Campbell - Morgan was in Spain on her year abroad from the University of Strathclyde. She was linked with Calderglen High School in South Lanarkshire.

Lucy Cunningham - Lucy was in Spain on her year abroad from the University of Strathclyde. She was linked with St John Ogilvie High School in South Lanarkshire.

Mark Cunningham - Mark was in Spain on his year abroad from the University of Strathclyde. He was linked with Holy Cross High School in South Lanarkshire.

Cass Ezeji - Cass was in Belgium on her year abroad from the University of Strathclyde, She was linked with Caldervale High School in North Lanarkshire. 

Niamh Ironside - Niamh was in La Réunion on her year abroad from the University of Strathclyde. She was linked with Kinross High School in Perth and Kinross. 

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