SCILT’s Language Ambassadors Online programme has relaunched this year! For session 2024-25 we are offering interactive monthly online sessions led by student Language Ambassadors from universities across Scotland. These sessions are designed to promote languages to young people and to encourage learners to choose languages as part of their learning experience by hearing directly from near-peer role models. Our Language Ambassadors are students of various languages on a range of degree programmes who are keen to share their experiences of learning languages and discovering new cultures. By sharing these experiences, together with their advice on studying languages, our students aim to inspire learners to develop their own language learning experiences.
Upcoming sessions:
- Wednesday 26 February 2025, 11:00 - 12:00
- Tuesday 25 March 2025, 14:00 - 15:00 (note - changed from original date of 18 March)
All sessions will take place on Microsoft Teams. For more information and to book to bring your class(es) along, visit our Eventbrite booking page.
To complement this, we also offer separate Languages and Your Career sessions presented in conjunction with eSgoil's DYW Live programme. In that programme we look more directly at the value of choosing languages, the benefits of a language, and the range of careers that this opens up. You can find more information about these workshops on eSgoil's Languages and Your Career webpage.
FAQs
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What age group is this session aimed at?
This session is perhaps more relevant to Secondary learners at the stage of making choices, but will be applicable to all ages and stages. Primary schools are also welcome! Please indicate the age group of your learners in the registration form.
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What technology do I need?
Teachers will ideally join this session on behalf of their class and will show it on the interactive white board in the room. All interaction will be via the chat box so a microphone and camera are not vital, but it is nice if the Language Ambassadors can see participants if possible!
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Our timetable does not fit within the time slot. Is this a problem?
Not at all – we are aware that school timetables vary considerably. Feel free to join and leave the session as you are able to.
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Do we have to be able to attend all the sessions?
Not at all – you are welcome to come to as many or as few of the sessions as you wish. Just choose the one(s) which best suit your timetable.
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I have another question. Who do I contact?
Please email sheena.bell@strath.ac.uk with any other questions that you may have.
Some universities are also able to offer in-person Language Ambassador visits to individual schools throughout the year. These allow the opportunity for language students to deliver presentations, participate in discussions and support events in schools. These are arranged directly between schools and universities. University contacts for this option are as follows:
University of Aberdeen: Dr Clémence O'Connor (clemence.oconnor@abdn.ac.uk)
Please note that the University of Aberdeen individual school visits are not in-person. Ambassadors record short videos which are viewed by the class before they have a live Q&A with the ambassador via video link.
University of Edinburgh: Sylvain Blanche (Sylvain.Blanche@ed.ac.uk)
University of St Andrews: Dr Robert Wilson (rpw@st-andrews.ac.uk)
University of Stirling: Fiona Noble (fiona.noble@stir.ac.uk)
University of Strathclyde: Cédric Moreau (c.moreau@strath.ac.uk)