Latest News

17 September 2024 (British Council)

Language Trends Scotland is an in-depth survey for all primary and secondary schools across the country. The research will provide an independent overview of the teaching of modern languages in Scotland.

The Language Trends series show general shifts in data and seek to provide a springboard for teachers, school leaders, academics, inspectors, policymakers, school pupils, and the public to consider aspects of language learning more deeply.

How to Participate:

We've designed the survey in collaboration with an expert panel in Scotland - the estimated time to complete is 15 minutes.

Ready to make your voice heard? Visit the British Council Language Trends Scotland webpage for more information and to complete the appropriate survey for your sector.

For any further information, please contact Jane Halstead - Jane.Halstead@britishcouncil.org

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17 September 2024 (Consejería de Educación)

The Edinburgh Spanish Film Festival 2024 takes place from 2-26 October!

The Spanish Embassy Education Office and the Consulate General of Spain in Edinburgh, who promote the teaching of Spanish language and culture in non-university education throughout the United Kingdom, are supporting the event with a programme for schools. This consists of the screening of two Spanish films: one in a face-to-face session in Edinburgh and the other accessible online for classroom viewing in schools in the UK.

‘The Teacher Who Promised the Sea’ - Screening in Edinburgh

The festival offers the opportunity for both students and teachers to attend an exclusive in-person screening of the film ‘El Maestro que Prometió el Mar’, directed by Patricia Font and nominated for 5 Goya awards in its last edition. The film was a great box office success in Spain with more than 270,000 spectators. The screening will take place on Wednesday 9 October at 10:30 am in the cinema hall of the Institut Français in Edinburgh.

View a trailer of the film on YouTube and read an authentic article about the true story of Antoni Benaiges that inspired the film’.

‘The Olive Tree’ - Online screening

The festival will also offer the possibility of facilitating access to all UK classrooms to watch the film ‘El Olivo’, directed by Icíar Bollaín in 2016 and the winner of a Goya award. To do so, it will only be necessary to request an access code that will allow secondary school classrooms to watch the film from 30 September to 4 October. The film will be accompanied by worksheets for the classroom.

View a trailer of the film on YouTube

Both films have been selected primarily for their pedagogical qualities, so we believe would be an excellent opportunity for secondary school students. 

See the attached flyers for full details.

17 September 2024 (University of Oxford)

The Anthea Bell Prize for Young Translators is a UK-wide creative translation competition for students aged 11-18 studying French, German, Italian, Mandarin, Russian and Spanish. The competition also runs from French into Welsh. Last year, over 16,000 students from across the UK participated in the prize.    

The 2024-25 prize will launch on 19 September, when our first set of creative translation teaching packs will be shared with registered teachers in time for European Day of Languages on 26 September and International Translation Day on 30 September. These teaching packs are designed to help teachers bring creative translation into the MFL classroom as well as to help students prepare for the competition task. 

Teaching packs for poetry translation will be circulated to registered teachers on 19 September. Fiction resources will follow after October half term, and non-fiction will be released in early January 2025. To receive these resources, register for the prize. 

The competition itself will run over several weeks from 3 February to 28 March 2025. Area and national winners will be announced in May or June 2025. All winners will receive certificates and national winners will receive book prizes. Visit the website to see the list of 2024 winners and commendations.      

There are a number of related activities run by the Queen's Translation Exchange that teachers and pupils can participate in. See the Opportunities for Schools page.   

If you have any queries regarding the competition, please contact the Translation Exchange team at translation.exchange@queens.ox.ac.uk. 

15 September 2024 (The Herald)

The winners of the Scots Language Awards 2024 have been crowned at a celebratory ceremony in Ayrshire.

Held at Cumnock Town Hall, in partnership with East Ayrshire Council, the sixth annual awards ceremony saw 13 individuals, projects and organisations celebrated for their contributions.

(Note - subscription required to access full article).

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13 September 2024 (SCILT)

Are you a student, or do you know a student considering pursuing language studies beyond secondary education? The Beyond School section of the SCILT website lists university and college language courses here in Scotland, links to UCAS and university guides UK-wide, and help and advice on study abroad options and volunteering overseas. There's also information on school support activities from Scottish further and higher education establishments offering ways to promote language learning benefits and options to students.

It's a useful resource for teachers and Careers Guidance staff to highlight to students, particularly now the UCAS application process is underway.

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13 September 2024 (SCILT)

Registrations are now open for schools that would like to participate in this year’s Language Explorers Scotland mentoring programme. This programme aims to raise awareness amongst BGE secondary age learners of the far-reaching benefits of language learning by facilitating a short programme of discreet mentoring sessions led by university students with lived experiences of language learning and multiculturalism.

An information session for interested schools will take place on Tuesday 1 October from 4-5pm. To book your place at this information session and register your school’s interest in the LES programme, please complete this form by Monday 30 September. A link to the meeting will be shared with registered schools on the morning of Tuesday 1 October. Successful schools should anticipate hosting their languages mentoring sessions between mid-November and the end of February, in liaison with their mentor.

To access further information about the languages mentoring programme, including key dates, and to hear from last year’s student mentors, please visit the LES webpage.

Please note that this programme runs online, therefore it is imperative that interested schools have an adequate technical set-up and internet connection to allow for remote interactions between mentees and mentors. Geographical proximity to a university is not necessary.

13 September 2024 (SCILT)

The popular SEET competition for Secondary School learners is being run by SCILT this year. This exciting inter-disciplinary project combines language learning with the art of filmmaking, bringing in aspects such as design, drama, sound and technology within the context of Learning for Sustainability. 

Learners work in teams to create a storyboard for a film, based on the UN Sustainable Development Goals which, if successful they will be given the opportunity to work with a professional filmmaker and turn their ideas into a real short film which will be shown at the film screening showcase and awards ceremony. A great opportunity for budding filmmakers to use their language skills. Further details can be found on the Our World webpage and to find out more, sign up via the link below to come along to our information session on Thursday 26 September!

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13 September 2024 (Maths Week Scotland)

Maths Week Scotland takes place 23-29 September 2024 with the theme Maths Tales, looking at how Maths is used to tell stories.

During the week a range of challenges are available to schools for pupils to test their numeracy, logic and creativity skills.

Maths wi nae Borders is inspired by the annual Mathématiques sans Frontières contest, this mini-competition combines a language element and is for any class to complete together.

The Maths wi nae Borders challenge opens on 16 September.

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12 September 2024 (ALL)

ALLNE, NfLNE and partners are once again organising an annual European Day of Languages writing competition for Schools, and in 2024 it is once more open to the whole country!

The organising committee invites language learners in any key stage to create a piece of text in a language they are learning on the theme: Together.

The intention is that this might form an activity in your school around the European Day of Languages itself (26 September), so the deadline for submission of entries will be Wednesday 9 October 2024.

Visit the ALL website for more information.

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10 September 2024 (GCHQ)

The 2024 GCHQ National Language Competition will run from Monday 18 November - Friday 22 November.            

The National Language Competition (NLC) is a virtual competition where teams from around the UK compete against each other to solve language-based puzzles and score points. The overall winners are then invited to GCHQ’s headquarters in Cheltenham to receive their trophy!

The competition aims to inspire language learning by encouraging secondary BGE students to discover their aptitude for learning languages.

Visit the GCHQ National Language Competition website for more information, to register interest and try out some sample puzzles!

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10 September 2024 (University of Strathclyde)

Are you interested in upskilling your French to GTCS-accredited standard? Then this could be the course for you!

The Certificate of Continuing Education (CCEd) is an intensive beginners’ class that will bring you up to first-year university standard in a year, with the option of continuing your studies into second year and up to university pass degree level within three years.

Classes will be in person on campus in Glasgow during term time.

Further information and application details will be advertised via the SCILT bulletin and SCILT website and the University of Strathclyde website and communication channels.

For more information and to register your interest, the course contact is Joan-Emilie Lefever-Rhodes (joan.lefever@strath.ac.uk).

10 September 2024 (RAF)

Language learners who are interested in combining a career using languages with a service career may be interested to find out more about the role of Intelligence Analyst Linguist. This is a role in the Royal Air Force (RAF) that requires listening to foreign language transmissions and gathering intelligence to support military forces deployed around the world. Recruits receive RAF and language training.

For learners who wish to go to university before joining, a bursary programme is available which offers a grant of between £3000 and £8000 per year to successful applicants.

You can try out a sound skills test to see how good your intelligence-gathering skills are through the link below!

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6 September 2024 (Lingobox Learning)

We are delighted to announce our first full French course for teachers, starting on Tuesday 29 October. This course is designed to empower teachers at all levels of French to develop French language skills and build confidence by working with you to create a personalised learning plan which works for you!  

All sessions will be live and online every Tuesday (29.10.24 – 03.12.24) from 19.30 – 20.30 and then recorded and shared so you can access in your own time if you prefer. All school subscribers to Lingobox will have full access to course materials as ongoing.

The course also includes a full 2-months individual account access to Lingobox!

The course will cover:

• Teaching primary French: Learn about the key aspects of primary French language learning and create a personalised learning and teaching plan which works for you!
• A guide to French phonics: Your go to guide for understanding and teaching French phonics.
• Language learning topics: How to plan for, learn and teach your choice of French topic language (e.g. weather, dates, numbers, school subjects, opinions etc.)  in a quick and effective way.
• Embedding language into practice: Simple and effective strategies for embedding language into classroom practice including classroom instructions, recycling topic language and some fun French interjections!
• Planning across the curriculum: Explore how to maximise French learning by including language as a part of all interdisciplinary learning.
• Planning language learning: Empower yourself with a French language learning plan which is progressive, meaningful and which builds skills and confidence.  This session will also look at upcoming cultural contexts and will share a range of exciting ideas which you can pick up and use in class!

To find out more visit the Lingobox Learning website.

Please note, all school subscribers to Lingobox will have full access to course materials as ongoing (Early bird annual subscription price of just £150 for a 1-year school subscription available until the end of September 2024!).

Existing individual Lingobox subscribers will be contacted with a course discount code if you would like to add this course onto your subscription.

All course participants will receive a certificate on completion of the course.

Any questions, please contact ann@lingoboxlearning.com.

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6 September 2025 (SCILT)

Languages Week Scotland 2025 will take place from 3 - 7 February and will be a week of activity across the country.

The theme for 2025 is “Our multilingual futures”. 

Follow the hashtag #ScotlandLovesLanguages on social media or visit the Languages Week Scotland pages of our website.

5 September 2024 (FilmG)

The annual FilmG competition is now open!

With two distinct competitionss for Under-18s and Over-18s, participants are challenged to create Gaelic-language films under five minutes in length.

In a change to previous formats, filmmakers are no longer being asked to create a film based on a theme – entries are instead open to the creative license of any subject.

Visit the FilmG website for full details and submit entries by 9 December 2024.

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5 September 2024 (Eric Liddell Community)

The Eric Liddell Community has announced a new exhibition, ‘Eric Liddell and Weifang’, organised by the Weihsien West Civilians Concentration Camp Site Museum, showcasing the life and legacy of Eric Liddell – a Scottish Olympic gold medallist and missionary – and his time at the Weihsien Concentration Camp in China during World War II.

The free-to-attend and bilingual exhibition, which launched on Thursday 22 August, will run until Saturday 14 September and sits within the South Wing of The Eric Liddell Community in the heart of Bruntsfield, Edinburgh. Visitors can expect to see for the first time information and photographs to gain insights into how Eric Liddell is remembered and honoured in Weifang, China. It also highlights the deep historical and cultural connections between Scotland and China.

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4 September 2024 (The Herald)

Meanbh-chuileag, Fèisean nan Gàidheal's theatre-in-education service for Second Level Gaelic Medium pupils, is back on tour with a new story about the history of the Stone of Destiny and its removal from Westminster Abbey on Christmas Day in 1950.

The tour of new play Cà' Deach a' Chlach? (Where Did the Stone Go?) is visiting more than 35 primary schools across the country this year, from Edinburgh to Tiree and Daliburgh to Kilmarnock.

Cà' Deach a' Chlach?, which takes its title from a well-known Gaelic song composed by Dòmhnall Ruadh Phàislig (Donald MacIntyre, the Paisley Bard), focuses on two characters who were instrumental in the plot to return the Stone of Destiny to Scotland, Ian Hamilton and Kay Matheson, a Gaelic speaking primary school teacher originally from Inverasdale by Loch Ewe.

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3 September 2024 (NCLE)

Two-thirds (68%) of parents in England believe learning a modern foreign language in secondary school should be compulsory, according to a new poll. 

Parents are now being urged to recommend foreign language GCSEs to their children, emphasising the growing importance of multilingual and international skills. The survey questioned 2,500 parents with children in Year 6, 7 and 8 about their attitudes towards language education. It follows an increase in entries for French, Spanish, German and other GCSE languages since 2023.

The research was commissioned by the National Consortium for Languages Education (NCLE) which has established a network of lead hub schools across England which train partner schools to enhance language teaching standards.

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3 September 2024 (Goethe-Institut)

The Goethe-Institut offers a range of initiatives to support the teaching and learning of German in schools. The following opportunities are available during the coming term. Follow the appropriate link to find out more:

• Debating competition - the successful debating competition for secondary schools in the United Kingdom is finally returning! This is a great opportunity for students to actively use the German language in an authentic setting, debating social and cultural issues, while getting to know other secondary school students from across the United Kingdom. Rounds take place between November and March. Apply by 19 October 2024.
• Young Goethe Ambassadors - would you like to motivate your students to keep studying German? Invite our Young Goethe Ambassadors into your classroom. Our ambassadors are young German learners who can hold presentations about their experience with German and run small games depending on your needs.

30 August 2024 (Yahoo News)

They are the ancient names of Scotland’s wild place, though many have been lost beneath urban sprawl or obscured to the mists of time.

But now a project is making the country’s forgotten forests visible again, helping people to better understand the landscape and its relationship to nature.

A map is being dawn up identifying all the places whose names reflect historic woods and trees, which are often derived from Gaelic, Norse, Scots and possibly the language of the Picts.

The scheme, dubbed Forgotten Woodlands, is being a partnership between NatureScot, Forestry and Land Scotland and Ainmean-Àite na h-Alba - the national advisory partnership for Gaelic place-names.

It has set out to map all Scottish place-names with the potential to reveal their historical woodland coverage, hopefully inspiring landowners and communities to think of the native trees their land used to support, and consider how they might wish to restore its ecological value for the future.

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30 August 2024 (SCILT)

SCILT is delighted to offer all primary and secondary state schools the opportunity to have a Chinese language assistant teacher in their school/cluster free of charge in 2024-25!  

Your teacher could help deliver L3 Mandarin to primary and BGE classes, lead IDL projects such as Eco Learning Partners (ELP) organise live-link ups with Chinese schools, team teach with Virtual Exchange Teachers (VETs), team teach with your own staff, work with small groups for speaking activities, support senior phase learners with preparation for NQs alongside the Discovering China programme. This exciting opportunity could complement or supplement any existing Mandarin provision you have. Having a Mandarin language assistant teacher could revolutionise your L3 provision this year.

For more information contact karen.liddle@strath.ac.uk for more details. 

29 August 2024 (Institut français)

Calling primary and secondary teachers teaching French across Scotland. Between September and November 2024, the Institut français d’Ecosse will be hosting free online workshops for you on 3 different themes on the following dates:

• September 13, on the theme of European Day of languages
• October 11, on the theme of Halloween
• November 15, on the theme of Christmas

Objectives: Top up your French and/or boost your confidence with language, pronunciation tips and culture around the theme of Halloween.

Contents: Tailor-made practical classroom activities around listening, talking, reading and writing skills.

Visit the Institut français d'Ecosse website for additional information and registration.

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27 August 2024 (SCILT)

Scottish schools can now register interest in the next block of the Mandarin Virtual Exchange Teacher programme, running from w/c 28 October until w/c 16 December. Over eight weeks, classes will be allocated a pair of student teachers who will work with their class to deliver weekly live streamed Mandarin lessons. The project provides classes for beginner level 1, 2, & 3. The courses are suitable as L3 provision for BGE pupils in P5-7, as well as being suitable for Secondary BGE learners.

There will be an online information meeting (with a choice of two dates on either 12 or 16 September), to give an overview of the course and what is required of Scottish class teachers. Attendance at an information meeting is a requirement to participate in the programme, with the exception of teachers who have previously attended an information session and/or taken part in the VET programme within the last year. Teachers who are new to the programme are required to attend the meeting, even if the school has taken part previously.

You can find more information about the programme, as well as a link to register your interest and attendance at an information meeting (if required), on the Virtual Exchange Teacher project website.

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27 August 2024 (British Council)

Language Trends Scotland is an in-depth survey for all primary and secondary schools across the country. The research will provide an independent overview of the teaching of modern languages in Scotland.

The Language Trends series show general shifts in data and seek to provide a springboard for teachers, school leaders, academics, inspectors, policymakers, school pupils, and the public to consider aspects of language learning more deeply.

How to Participate:

We've designed the survey in collaboration with an expert panel in Scotland - the estimated time to complete is 15 minutes.

Ready to make your voice heard? Click the relevant link below to start the survey for your school:

• Primary schools 
• Local Authority Secondary schools 
• Independent Secondary schools 

Language Trends Scotland joins a suite of language trends research conducted across the UK and by taking the survey, you'll contribute to a wealth of data that spans over two decades, offering unique insights into the evolution of language education across the UK.

Visit the British Council's Language Trends Research webpage to find out more.

You can also sign up to British Council Scotland's Education newsletter.

23 August 2023 (SCILT)

Calling new and recent entrants to primary teaching in Scotland. Undergraduate and postgraduate primary education students at Scottish universities and qualified primary teachers in your first four years post-qualification – we mean you! 

If you have an interest in developing your practice relating to the languages - both home and taught, signed and spoken – represented in your classroom, then you will not want to miss SCILT’s ECT Primary Languages Signpost Sessions. Tailored just for you. 

Our Signpost Sessions will be chock full of: 

• ideas and advice on how to support multilingual pupils and their families

• strategies for teaching additional languages 

• the chance to network informally with others at a similar stage in their career across the country 

Join us online on MS Teams, after school on the last Wednesday of the month every second month. It’ll be a friendly, informal opportunity to connect and ask questions, to find support and solutions. Whatever you need, we will point you in the right direction. 

• 25 September 2024, 16.00–17.00. Signpost 1: First steps in teaching languages in primary 

• 27 November 2024, 16.00–16.45. Signpost 2: Pedagogies for multilingual primary classrooms 

• 29 January 2025, 16.00–16.45. Signpost 3: Digital tools for primary languages 

• 26 March 2025, 16.00–16.45. Signpost 4: Target language phonics 

• 28 May 2025, 16.00–16.45. Signpost 5: Interdisciplinary language learning 

Sign up for as many as you wish.

Please also find attached flyer which can be shared with colleagues. 

We can’t wait to see you there. 

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23 August 2024 (SCILT)

The European Day of Languages (EDL) is celebrated on 26 September each year. It aims to promote the rich linguistic diversity of Europe and raise awareness of the importance of lifelong language learning for everyone. What is your school doing in 2024?

If you're looking for inspiration, SCILT has compiled lots of ideas for primary, secondary and parents & families on our EDL webpage. What about creating a language portrait, designing a treasure hunt or hosting a multilingual film night? You will also find links to competitions, blogs and websites with a huge range of celebration ideas and activities. 

Let us know how you celebrate and we'll include you in our EDL 2024 blog. Upload a short description and some colourful photos or email scilt@strath.ac.uk.

If you're sharing your celebrations on X, tag @scottishcilt and use the hashtag #coeEDL to share your celebrations with schools across Europe!

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16 August 2024 (SCILT )

Calling all primary teachers and primary education students across Scotland. Keep your Wednesdays free! Between September and November 2024, we will be hosting a series of free workshops just for you.   

• 4 September: Making assessment in primary languages active and accessible (online)

• 11 September: Bringing the languages content to your interdisciplinary learning (in person)

• 2 October: Getting outdoors with primary languages (online)

• 6 November: Valuing linguistic diversity in schools, with families (online)
   

The online workshops will be hosted on MS Teams and will not be recorded. 

The in-person workshop will take place at SCILT HQ in central Glasgow.  

Registrations for all workshops are open now via the links above. Please also see attached flyer which can be shared with your networks.