Latest News

17 December 2025 (BBC)

Living abroad while at university allowed me to become almost fluent in two other languages and have experiences that would never have been possible in Scotland.

While studying at the University of Glasgow in 2021, I moved to Germany aged 19 to work as an English language assistant for nine months - partly funded by the Erasmus scheme.

Read more...

16 December 2025 (BBC)

University "cold spots" are developing in some parts of the country, new data analysis suggests, with courses in some subjects no longer available to students in certain regions.

The new data tool, published by the Higher Education Statistics Agency (Hesa) on Tuesday, showed a sharp decline in students taking French and other language courses in recent years.

But courses in other subjects, like artificial intelligence, showed a rapid rise over the same time period.

Read more...

15 December 2025 (Duolingo)

The Westminster Language Challenge is back for its second year—and Parliament, we hope you’re ready for round two! After a hugely successful debut in 2025, Duolingo is relaunching the Challenge to inspire even more language learning in Parliament and strengthen the UK’s culture of multilingualism.

Last year, MPs and Peers embraced the initiative with enthusiasm, demonstrating how language learning can foster connection, empathy, and deeper cultural understanding in government. Now, the Challenge is returning January 6, 2026, with a twist: this year, Westminster will compete alongside The Academy, bringing MPs, peers, Vice Chancellors, parliamentary staff, and university staff together in a nationwide competition. And we can’t wait to see how Parliament and the higher education sector rise to the challenge!

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15 December 2025 (University of Reading)

Foreign languages are not always prioritised in UK primary schools but researchers from the University of Reading are proving that digital innovation can help turn the tide.

The Digital Empowerment in Language Teaching project has won the British Educational Research Association’s Public Engagement and Impact Award for showing how digital tools can transform language education for teachers and pupils alike.

Funded as part of the ESRC’s Education Research Programme, the project is led by Dr Alison Porter at the University of Southampton in collaboration with Professor Suzanne Graham and Dr Anthony Zhang at the University of Reading, Institute of Education.

Faced with the declining status of language learning in UK primary schools, teachers often struggle with resources and confidence. The project set out to change that by empowering teachers with skills and research-based digital tools.

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12 December 2025 (King's College London)

The 2026 writing competitions run by the Department of Languages, Literatures and Cultures at King’s College London have now launched!

There are four competitions relating to the following subject areas:

• French
• German
• Spanish & Portuguese
• Comparative Literature

Entries are welcomed from students in Year 12 or 13 (or equivalent). Students may be studying for their A-levels, International Baccalaureate, Scottish Highers / Advanced Highers or an equivalent qualification.

The deadline for submission of entries is 23 February 2026.

Visit the website for full details and entry forms.

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11 December 2025 (SCILT)

A key decision taken at the 2025 forum ‘The Future of French en Écosse’ was the creation of a free-to-join association bringing together teachers of French at all levels in Scotland in order to collaborate, lobby, share and learn together with the goal of supporting an increase in the teaching of French across the country.

If you are a teacher of French in primary, secondary or tertiary education then this association is for you! Please complete the form to join and visit the webpage for more information about the Future of French en Écosse conferences and outputs.

Read more...

11 December 2025 (SMC)

The Scottish Mathematical Council would like to welcome you to participate in the world-wide Mathematics and Language competition Mathématiques sans Frontières. We are hopeful that we continue to offer a stimulating and light-hearted competition which combines Mathematics and Modern Languages. For those of you who have not taken part previously, this competition aims to motivate pupils in these subjects, promote teamwork throughout pupils of all abilities, and bridge borders between countries across the world.

Please find attached a training test for Mathématiques Sans Frontières (along with solutions, in French!), some rules and information, and one entry form for the competition proper. S4/GCSE classes should attempt questions 1-10 and S5/A-level classes questions 1-13. A whole class should attempt the test with questions divided up between groups to ensure that the questions can be completed in the allotted time of 90 minutes. Question 1 will require an explanation in a foreign language. We hope that this encourages cross-curricular working and teamwork.

The competition proper will be held on Thursday 5 March 2026. All schools competing will receive a certificate. The winning entry will receive a prize. Previous prizes have including visits from science communicators, maths puzzle events, donations to charities, and incredible badges showing off our love of mathematics!

Schools who would like to register for the competition are kindly requested to register via the Scottish Mathematical Council (SMC) website, by Friday 30 January 2026. Alternatively, you may wish to complete the proforma attached and return via email. Many thanks to those of you who have already registered via the website, you are not required to register again! Only one registration per school is required, not matter the number of teams expected to compete from the school.

We will send out the actual test as a PDF file by e-mail on the Friday prior to the test. We would therefore kindly ask you to ensure that the e-mail address provided is legible or, preferably, typed. It would also be beneficial to provide an alternative e-mail address, which may help prevent firewall issues.

You can view previous papers and other competition information via the SMC website.

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11 December 2025 (CISS)

The Confucius Institute for Scotland's Schools is delighted to announce a poster competition to celebrate the forthcoming Year of the Horse!

The competition is open to all primary schools in Scotland, with a deadline for entries on Tuesday 3 February 2026.

Visit the CISS website for the competition criteria and how to enter.

Read more...

Do you have learners who would like to add another language qualification to their portfolio, but don’t have time or capacity within the department to run this? SCILT can help! Our Discovering China Live online classes prepare learners for National 4, National 5, Higher and Advanced Higher Mandarin qualifications.

You can now register interest to take part in our online National Qualification Mandarin classes with our GTCS Mandarin teachers.

Please see the attached flyer below for more information, a teacher testimonial and the link to register your interest.

For full details of the course, please see the Discovering China programme page on the SCILT website where you can also find the registration link.

Read more...

10 December 2025 (British Council)

The British Council's Language Assistants programme is celebrating its 120th anniversary this year, having provided opportunities for young people to teach abroad and gain invaluable cultural experience since 1905.

For the first time since 2021, there are language assistants back in state schools in Scotland, with five schools in Glasgow currently involved in the programme. Over 530,000 Scottish pupils have benefitted from having a British Council language assistant in their classroom since 2002, with over 3,000 Modern Language Assistants placed in Scottish schools.

The programme works both ways: since 2013, 3,700 assistants have travelled from Scotland overseas to teach English, with 239 currently abroad in nine countries, the majority in France and Spain.

To celebrate the anniversary, over 30 Modern Language Assistants currently placed at Scottish schools gathered at the Institut Français d'Écosse last night (Tuesday 9 December), alongside programme alumni, local authority representatives, and consulates from France, Germany, and Spain. They all gathered to celebrate the continued impact of the programme in connecting Scotland with the world.

Read more...

9 December 2025 (NE Festival of Languages)

Taking place 6 January to 31 March the annual North East Festival of Languages is now open for advance registrations with FREE events and activities for children and young people aged 3-18.

Whilst some of the initiatives are only open to schools based in the North East of England, there are many online activities available to schools across the UK.

Visit the Festival website for full programme details. You can also explore the Festival offerings by age, category or language.

Read more...

4 December 2025 (ECML)

The latest issue of the ECML's e-newsletter, European Language Gazette No 74, is now available. It features current news on ECML activities, including events, projects and resources, as well as updates from relevant sectors of the Council of Europe and ECML partner organisations. The Gazette also highlights national developments in language education from member states and beyond.

Read more...

9 December 2025 (Consejería de Educación)

The University of Salamanca offers scholarships for active teachers of Spanish working outside Spain to attend a one-week summer course in Salamanca on Spanish language, culture, and teaching updates.

The only additional requirement is to be a Spanish teacher and not to have taken a similar course in Salamanca in the past three years.

Enrolment will remain open until all available scholarships have been awarded. Don’t miss this excellent opportunity!

Visit the website for conditions of the scholarships and to access the application form.

Read more...

9 December 2025 (The Language Show)

If you weren't able to attend the virtual event held last month, all 87 recorded sessions are now available to watch with an on-demand ticket for £13.50.

Visit the Language Show website to secure yours! Recordings are available until 31 October 2026.

Read more...

4 December 2025 (TES)

Inclusion appears everywhere in international schools - from school policies to discussions in assemblies - yet a question remains: what does this look like for multilingual children, and how do we know they are being supported to thrive every day?

For me, the answer began with noticing. I kept brief observations daily about the learners I worked with who spoke English as an additional language (EAL). Those notes captured progress that mattered to learners and their families.

Over time, this evidence sharpened my teaching, built learner pride and reassured parents.

These habits eventually grew into whole-school systems that shaped our approach to multilingualism - work that was recognised during the process we undertook to achieve Accreditation by Language for Results International (ALFRI).

Read more...

9 December 2025 (Queen's College Oxford)

We would love to hear about your experience of the Anthea Bell Prize for Young Translators so far this year. Have you been using our resources on translating poetry and fiction in the classroom? How have your students responded to creative translation? Do you have any thoughts on how we could improve?

Visit our website to submit feedback using the online form by 23:59 on Sunday 14 December 2025 and you will be entered into our Christmas Prize Draw, with a chance to win one of six books!

If you haven't already, there is still time to register for the Anthea Bell Prize for Young Translators, which will give you access to over 100 teaching resource packs, a programme of teacher webinars, and information about the competition. This year’s Anthea Bell Prize competition tasks will be released on Monday 2 February 2026.

Read more...

9 December 2025 (British Council)

Established in 1905, the British Council’s English Language Assistants (ELA) programme is a major UK mobility initiative that offers paid teaching placements abroad, providing the perfect opportunity to travel, teach and gain invaluable experiences along the way, including enhancing language skills!

Applications for 2026-27 are now open. The deadline is 28 January 2026.

Visit the British Council website for more information and to apply.

Read more...

9 December 2025 (University of Edinburgh)

A professional Japanese language tutor (and student(s) of Japanese degrees or from Japan at the University of Edinburgh) can visit your school to deliver a Japanese language and culture session for your pupils.

Priority is given to schools with participants of the *e-Sgoil online Japanese taster courses, those who applied for the ‘Bring Japan to your Classroom’ school visit tour in June 2025, and the schools in and around the areas with our local tutors (currently Glasgow, Dumbarton, Stirling, Aberdeen and Edinburgh). However, any schools in Scotland can apply for a taster session.

*There will be two more 4-week blocks of free online Japanese sessions held from January to March 2026. The registration will open soon.

Timing of school visits

From late January to End of March 2026 (other timing / online negotiable)

Location: Your school

Content: Japanese language and culture sessions lasting 45 to 60 minutes

Aims: This program aims to expand students' perspectives on other languages and cultures by offering them an opportunity to experience Japanese language and culture. This programme is for schools in Scotland, where there are fewer opportunities to experience Japanese culture.

Costs: There are no costs for the schools. Our sessions are free of charge as your school will not need to cover honoraria or transportation costs, or any other actual costs (for example, if origami paper is used in a session, the origami paper will be arranged and provided by the organisers).

Application form: https://forms.office.com/e/fyn20Fj1W6

Deadline: Friday 9 January 2026

Please apply early if you want a session in late January or early February

Enquiry: Fumiko Narumi-Munro (F.Narumi-Munro@ed.ac.uk, Asian Studies, the University of Edinburgh)

Project website

Free online Japanese Taster Courses and online study resources can be found on the e-Sgoil website.

Read more...

4 December 2025 (TES)

In 2011, the Scottish government committed to a visionary educational measure that suggested both international ambition and economic nous. The “1+2” languages approach entitled all young people to enjoy 10 years of language learning - English plus two other languages - from first entering school to the age of 14.

The expectation across business and society was that Scotland would soon distinguish itself by turning out significant numbers of school leavers with a high level of foreign language competence, well qualified to support the economy and enhance their own futures.

Some 12 years after rollout of the policy began, and following a declared investment of £50 million, how successful has it been?

Read more...

8 December 2025 (BBC)

A new approach to supporting Gaelic is to focus on creating jobs and strengthening economic growth in areas where the language is traditionally spoken.

An action group called Tog - which means "to raise" in Gaelic - will bring together public bodies, local authorities and business leaders.

The Scottish government initiative will aim to help businesses to use Gaelic in their work.

Read more...

7 December 2025 (The Scotsman)

Glasgow’s English as an additional language pupils are an asset to the city, say teachers appalled at the comments of Nigel Farage.

Glasgow's English as an additional language (EAL) pupils are outperforming their monolingual peers across attainment measures from exam results to attendance.

Despite this success, a recent surge in anti-immigration sentiment has prompted the city’s EAL support service to change its social media processes over fears it cannot keep learners safe.

Recent protests outside school campuses - including in Glasgow’s east end - where adult ESOL lessons take place have caused grave concern among language tutors.

This week, leader of Reform UK, Nigel Farage, posted a viral social media video claiming that the number of EAL pupils in Glasgow amounts to a “culture smashing” in the city.

[..] The city’s schools would strongly disagree with what the number of EAL pupils tells Mr Farage.

“The thought of young people being othered in this way because they speak another language is appalling and completely against the ethos of Bannerman where every young person is treated equally,” says headteacher Seonaidh Black.

“I hear really only positive stories about young people who are speakers of additional languages,” Mrs Black said.

“From my perspective, bilingualism, multilingualism, is a real strength in our learners.

“There's so much about the benefits of being able to be a speaker of more than one language, in terms of cognitive ability.

“There’s also lots of other social and cultural benefits that come from that.”

Read more...

6 December 2025 (The Herald)

The number of primary one children enrolling in Gaelic Medium Education (GME) has dropped over the last three years despite attempts to promote the language locally.

It comes as a report was presented to members of the scrutiny committee yesterday that revealed that there had been a three-year decrease in primary one intakes.

(Note - subscription required to access full article)

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5 December 2025 (Sidmouth Herald)

A campaign to tackle the decline in A-level modern language students is being launched in Devon.

The University of Exeter will lead the initiative, called Languages For All, aiming to banish the dwindling interest in advanced language studies among youngsters.

The campaign promotes collaboration between state schools to ensure advanced language studies are not only possible but become the norm.

Schools unable to offer advanced language classes alone are expected to benefit, with A-level classes to be conducted either after-hours or online, ensuring all interested 16-year-olds have access.

The campaign aims to make modern language a valued and normal choice for students.

Read more...

5 December 2025 (SCILT)

Bookings are now open for four in person workshops for in- and pre-service primary teachers. Taking place at, or close to SCILT HQ in central Glasgow, each workshop focuses on a different aspect of pedagogy. Our experienced Professional Development Officers and enthusiastic invited speakers support you to develop practice related to the home and taught languages in your context. 

Informed by the latest guidance and examples of current practice.

• 24 February - Developing a multilingual ethos in your primary school
• 18 March - First steps in teaching primary languages
• 23 April - Next steps in teaching primary languages
• 19 May - Getting outdoors with primary languages

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

5 December 2025 (SCILT)

The latest edition of the SCILT newsletter has been published!

Read about SCILT's work to support language learning and teaching, including our latest language initiatives, awards and competitions. Find out about the about the inspiring and creative activities going on in schools and local authorities around the country. There is also an opportunity to read about the work of our partners in supporting and promoting language learning in Scotland.

If you would like to contribute an article to a future edition of the newsletter you can read the submission guidelines on our website, and email your entries to SCILT. 

Read more...

4 December 2025 (SCILT)

June 2025 marked the second edition of the Future of French en Écosse Forum. Drawing on the success of the first edition held at the University of Strathclyde in June 2024, a second edition of the forum took place on 23 June 2025 at the University of Edinburgh in partnership with SCILT, Scotland’s National Centre for Languages, the Institut français d’Écosse and the Franco-Scottish Society.

The Language Trends Scotland 2024/25 report shows that while every Scottish learner is exposed to French in Primary Education, in 2024 only 2,300 sat a Higher French (a 50% drop compared with 2015) and 380 an Advanced Higher (a 43% drop compared with 2015). As French teachers, this steep decline in retention is worrying and raises questions. It impacts the quality of teaching and learning, notably at Senior phase level – with measures such as consortia between schools, mixed-language classes and reduced choice of languages, or indeed no choice, seen as acceptable solutions. It also undermines the future of French as a sustainable degree subject in universities and in the long term, the teaching of French as fewer students at universities means fewer future teachers.

In this context, having a place and a time to share experiences and plan for a better future for French in Scotland is more important than ever.

To explore the forum outputs visit the Future of French en Écosse webpage.

Read more...

4 December 2025 (The Conversation)

If you are fluent in any language other than English, you have probably noticed that some things are impossible to translate exactly.

A Japanese designer marvelling at an object’s shibui (a sort of simple yet timelessly elegant beauty) may feel stymied by English’s lack of a precisely equivalent term.

Danish hygge refers to such a unique flavour of coziness that entire books seem to have been needed to explain it.

Portuguese speakers may struggle to convey their saudade, a mixture of yearning, wistfulness and melancholy. Speakers of Welsh will have an even harder time translating their hiraeth, which can carry a further sense of longing after one’s specifically Celtic culture and traditions.

The words of different languages can divide and package their speakers’ thoughts and experiences differently, and provide support for the theory of “linguistic relativity”.

Read more...

4 December 2025 (Argyll & Bute/Highland/Aberdeen City/Fife Councils)

Commencing January 2026 and open to all Scottish schools (provided by Argyll & Bute/Highland/Aberdeen City/Fife Council).

These courses provide on the job professional learning and help teachers make time for languages in the curriculum. Teachers learn alongside their pupils in real time and are supported to lead the learning in their own class. Click here for more information and sign up.

Suitable for P4-7 classes. The lesson structure alternates between short bursts of direct teaching from the online teacher, followed by the class teachers leading their own class in a team game. This format allows the learning to remain active and fully engage the learners. Each lesson lasts approximately 40 minutes and will take place in a GLOW Microsoft Team. All resources will be available to download in advance of the session and will be stored in the GLOW Team.

Read more...

2 December 2025 (Consejería de Educación)

Offered by the University of Salamanca, Editorial Edinumen, and partner institutions, this series of online seminars offers a gateway to the MINELE Master's programme, bringing together renowned experts in language education and didactics. Each session explores cross-cutting themes rooted in evidence-based pedagogy, with insights from professionals in additional language teaching and Spanish as a foreign language.

Sessions take place online from 11 December 2025 to 14 May 2026. More information and registration is available on the Edinumen website.

There is a small charge for each session (free for ELEUK members). All sessions can also be found on the University of Salamanca website.

2 December 2025 (Goethe-Institut)

After the resounding success of last year’s inaugural edition, German Week returns in 2026 with renewed energy and fresh inspiration!

From 19 to 24 January 2026, the Goethe-Institut UK, the German Embassy in London, and the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) once again invite schools across the UK to take part in a week-long celebration of the German language and culture.

We’re excited to provide a wide range of creative and educational resources, as well as online and in-person events to help schools bring German to life in their classrooms.

Get ready for German Week with our 30-Day Journal! Specially designed for secondary school pupils, this creative journal offers daily activities to explore German language and culture in a fun and engaging way. Every school that applies can receive free copies by post - just complete the application form on the website!

Visit the website for more information about the event and to register interest in taking part.

Read more...

2 December 2025 (Japan Foundation)

Our online refresher course is for non-native-speaker-level Japanese teachers currently teaching Japanese in secondary and/or primary schools. If you want to brush up your Japanese skills, increase your Japanese teaching ability, and network with colleagues, then this four session course is a brilliant opportunity. Trainee teachers are also welcome to apply. School teachers who are not currently teaching Japanese but wish to do so are also welcome.

Visit the Japan Foundation website for full details.

Read more...

2 December 2025 (Franco Scottish Society)

Background:

In 2021, to mark the 100th birthday of Jacqueline Munro-Lafon, the Franco-Scottish Society of Scotland and SCILT came together to create an essay prize competition to commemorate her life and work. The judging criteria for this prize mirror elements of the writing marking guidelines for AH French, offering pupils an opportunity to showcase their French writing skills in a national forum. There is a first-place prize of £300, and two runners-up prizes of £100 each, all sponsored by the Franco-Scottish Society of Scotland. Schools not individual candidates will initially register to enter their students in the competition.

Eligibility:

• For learners of French at Advanced Higher level.
• This competition is not open to native French speakers nor those with a French heritage.

Requirements:

• The essay will be in French.
• Approximately 500 words in length.
• The essay will be reviewed and proofed once by the candidate or the candidate’s teacher before the final version of the essay is submitted. This proof-reading and feedback following submission and judging are seen as a learning exercise and will be limited to drawing the candidate’s attention to where improvements can be made in accuracy of language and style.

Timeline:

• Registration will be open for schools from Monday 12 January 2026.
• Registration will close on Friday 30 January 2026.
• All necessary information, including this round’s essay topic and supporting material will be sent to registered schools on Wednesday 4 February 2026.
• The deadline for submitting essays will be Wednesday 25 March 2026.

2 December 2025 (Civil Service Languages Network)

British Council, GCHQ and the Civil Service Languages Network are working together to promote language learning among pupils in UK schools.

Your S2/S3 pupils, who will be choosing their National Qualifications, and S4/S5 pupils choosing their Highers, are invited to our open, online events – see dates below. There, they will hear from speakers with different roles across government who have used languages in their career, and how either studying a language in school, including heritage languages, has enriched their life and career. Pupils will have the chance to ask the speakers questions (via their teacher) through a Q&A session.

You can see some example videos here:

1. Rosemary Pennells (British Embassy Tokyo) Y8/Y9
2. Nerys Jones (British Embassy Berlin) Y10/11 Government Languages Outreach talk

The online events are free of charge, and it is hoped to make recordings available of some of the events. To express interest, and help us keep in touch, please complete the form

We look forward to welcoming your pupils to our events.

Spring term 2026

S2/S3: Wednesday 14 January 2026, 09:00-10:00

S4/S5: Tuesday 20 January 2026, 09:00-10:00

S2/S3: Tuesday 10 February 2026, 09:15-10:15

2 December 2025 (Institut français)

Need a boost in preparing for your Advanced Higher French Exam? Why not join the Institut français’ online workshop?

The workshop aims to help learners prepare for the Advanced Higher in French in the 4 different reception and production skills: listening, speaking, reading and writing.

The workshop will be delivered by an experienced and qualified French native-speaking teacher familiar with the exam.

Visit the website for details.

Read more...

2 December 2025 (Institut français)

Fancy a French course in Edinburgh with native speakers for young learners?

The Institut français d'Écosse organises French classes on Thursday after school and Saturday morning.

Check our website for further information.

Read more...

1 December 2025 (The Herald)

Gaelic-speaking Scots have been asked to help transcribe 1,500 hours of Gaelic audio recordings in a bid to improve how computers understand the language.

Experts at the University of Edinburgh are leading the project, which is set to begin on 2 December.

They hope the scheme, entitled ‘Opening the Well’, will allow AI models to better understand the patterns of the language. The project will also develop a searchable database for research and study.

30 November 2025 (BBC)

Gaelic and Scots have now been recognised as official languages as part of a range of new measures coming into force on St Andrew's Day.

The Scottish Languages Act, which MSPs voted through in June, also empowers parents to ask for a Gaelic school to be established in their area and aims to ensure that more qualifications are available in Gaelic.

It includes powers for ministers to commission research into the use of Gaelic and Scots and establish teaching standards for the languages.

Scotland's Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes called it a "historic milestone".

Read more...

28 November 2025 (BBC)

Kernewek, the Cornish language, is set to stand alongside Welsh, Irish Gaelic and Scots Gaelic after the government recommended it for the highest level of protection available.

Part III status under the Charter for Regional or Minority Languages requires the government to adopt measures to protect and promote the language in areas such as education, the justice system and culture.

Read more...

28 November 2025 (British Council)

Pupils from five schools, stretching from the Outer Hebrides to Edinburgh, travelled to Paris this week to take part in the Franco-British Youth Ocean Conference, a bilingual summit organised by the British Council in partnership with the French Ministry of Education and the French Development Agency.

The two-day conference took place at the French Development Agency building, La Mistral, in the heart of Paris, simulating the UN's Conference of the Parties (COP) climate negotiations under the theme of the UN's Sustainable Development Goal ‘Life Below Water’. The conference set out to give young people the chance to collaborate internationally, develop language skills, and contribute to environmental action.

Working in bilingual teams with French partner schools, pupils represented different nations and sectors as they negotiated solutions to ocean challenges.

Read more...

27 November 2025 (Goethe-Institut)

The Internationale Deutscholympiade is the world’s biggest German language contest. The biannual competition offers contestants the opportunity to put their German language skills to the test at three different levels (A2 and B1). Of course, the competition is not only about language skills, but strengthens intercultural skills and international teamwork throughout both the national and the international competitions.

Each participating country hosts national qualifying rounds to determine the top two 'Olympians' who will represent their country at the IDO finals during the summer holidays, where they compete against the world's best German learners. The preliminary digital national round for participants from the UK starts on the 27 October 2025. We will accept submissions until 18 January 2026.

Visit the Goethe-Institut website for more information and how to take part.

Read more...

27 November 2025 (SCILT)

Are you looking for ways to bring the festive season to your languages classroom?

SCILT have compiled a range of online resources for use with your learners, from interactive advent calendars and games, to festive facts, songs and downloadable worksheets. Find resources in BSL, French, Gaelic, German, Italian, Mandarin, Polish, Scots, Spanish and Urdu! And discover how Chrismas is celebrated in many countries around the world. 

Read more...

25 November 2025 (Goethe-Institut)

The German Film Festival in Scotland is celebrating its 10th anniversary! From 22 January to 22 February 2026, we will be presenting a diverse and exciting selection of German films covering a wide range of topics and genres.

The festival also offers a selection of three films specifically for younger audiences and school screenings. All films will be shown in their original language with English subtitles in participating independent cinemas throughout Scotland.

Further information can be found on the Goethe-Institut website where the full programme and booking details will be available from 15 December.

Read more...

13 November 2025 (Bilingualism Matters)

Do you teach or work in a primary school in Scotland?

We are inviting you to take part in our survey, exploring how we support multilingualism and learning for sustainability. Could these two topics be integrated? How might they complement each other?

By sharing your ideas, views and experiences, you will help us understand the challenges that teachers face, as well as shedding light on the many great examples of good practice and innovation that happen every day.

• It takes 10-15 minutes to complete
• The survey closes on 31 January 2026

The survey is part of a project called Sustainable Designs for Living and Learning (click to find out more).

Click the link below to complete the survey. Thank you!

Take the survey

11 November 2025 (Japan Foundation)

Applications for JaLaChamp 2026, our video and speech contest for young learners of Japanese in the UK, are now open!

The contest is a great opportunity for primary and secondary school children who are studying Japanese to celebrate their achievements and passion for learning Japanese.

There are two categories:

• The speech category - students give a speech on a theme of their choice (aimed at secondary students studying Japanese as a foreign language)
• The video category - students are asked to create an original video based on a set theme either by individual or part of a group (open to all primary and secondary students including those who have lived in Japan and who speak Japanese at home). The theme for the video category of JaLaChamp 2026 is 私わたし(たち)のおすすめのサンドイッチ ”My/Our Favourite Sandwiches”!

We want to encourage students to share with us their thoughts and viewpoints, as well as show us their creativity in full and have fun challenging themselves by entering this contest and using their Japanese!

Visit the Japan Foundation website for application information and guidelines.

Read more...

7 November 2025 (Languages@Strathclyde)

Languages@Strathclyde is very pleased to announce the programme for the Living Languages Series 2025-26.

This year’s series will include a rich variety of guests, and we are looking to welcoming you to one or more of the events. The interdisciplinary nature of the events, linked to business, sport, cinema, journalism…, should make them appealing to a variety of students. Teachers are welcome to bring a group of Higher or Advanced Higher students to these events.

Welcome to the Living Languages Series 2025-26!

A series of conversations organised by Languages@Strathclyde and focusing on the theme of employability.

The Living Languages Series is an opportunity to hear from high-profile guests, and early career graduates, from a variety of sectors, talking about the role languages have played, and continue to play, in their professional lives.

For this season, we are very pleased to introduce a very exciting list of guests who will share their experiences of using languages in a professional setting. For each event, the relaxed conversation format will also allow audience participation.

Living Languages 2025-26 Programme

Thursday 23rd October, 5.30pm – Shaping Afro-Gael Identity: Cò Sinn? (Who are we?)

In conversation with Cass Ezeji, artist and Gaelic speaker.

Monday 24th November 5.30pm – Where are they now in 2025 ? Stories from recent graduates

In conversation with Tsara Mirza Reina (Harper Macleod LLP)​, Alice Green (Ian Macleod Distillers-Edinburgh Gin)​ and
Freya Young (Outside the Box Development Support + Southside Housing Association)

Tickets available now ► Eventbrite

Monday 2nd February, 5.30pm – A conversation with James Albon, illustrator and graphic novelist and the owners of La belle adventure bookshop

Tickets available soon

All tickets are free and you will get the opportunity to ask questions at the end of the conversation.

Join us for a series of very special evenings !

The Organising Committee for LLS 25-26 is Francesca Perazio, Raquel Martinez Martin, Victoria Reina-Gil, Joan-Emilie Lefever, Cédric Moreau, Lucie Piochaud-Prévost

7 November 2025 (Languages Week Scotland)

Join us from 2 – 6 February 2026 to celebrate Languages Week Scotland. The theme is Diverse Voices, Common Ground, and it will be an opportunity to celebrate language learning and multilingualism in Scotland. Look out for events taking place across the country!  

Languages enable us to explore our differences and appreciate our shared stories, through our many tongues, and everyone is welcome to participate in Languages Week Scotland: educational establishments, community-based groups, arts and sports organisations, social enterprises, and businesses of all sizes.   

Visit our website to find out what's happening and to join in! Languages Week Scotland is also on Instagram - look out for lots of exciting content over the next few months!

Read more...

25 September 2025 (Seachdain na Gàidhlig | World Gaelic Week)

Seachdain na Gàidhlig (World Gaelic Week), will take place Monday 23 February to Sunday 1 March 2026.

This year’s theme is 'Cleachd i no caill i' (Use it or lose it), and we’d be delighted if you would join us in celebrating Gaelic across Scotland and around the world.

Information sessions

If you’re curious about how to get involved, we are hosting free online sessions for anyone wishing to find out more about the week. Whether you’re planning an event, applying to the Small Grants Fund, or just want to learn what’s happening, these sessions are the best place to start.

Register here → Seisean fiosrachaidh • Information Session

Small Grants Fund

Thanks to continued support from Bòrd na Gàidhlig, our Small Grants Fund is open once again. Awards of up to £500 are available to support projects and events taking place during Seachdain na Gàidhlig 2026. Applications should show how they reflect this year’s theme.

• Deadline: Friday 31 October 2025
• Read the guidance
• Apply online

Schools programme

We’ll once again be offering a series of free, interactive online sessions for schools. These have proved hugely popular, with thousands of pupils taking part each year. Teachers can find details and book via our website. 

Stay connected

Our posts will be over on Facebook, TikTok, Twitter and Instagram (@sngaidhlig) - we’d really appreciate if you could give them a share/like and use #SeachdainNaGàidhlig2026. 

Our website is now fully updated with resources, ideas, and this year’s theme. We’d encourage you to take a look, download materials, and share them with your networks.

• Visit the website
• Subscribe to our newsletter 

We very much hope you’ll be part of Seachdain na Gàidhlig 2026 - whether by hosting an event, taking part in our schools programme, or spreading the word in your community.

25 September 2025 (Civil Service Languages Network)

British Council, GCHQ and the Civil Service Languages Network are working together to promote language learning among pupils in UK schools.

Your S2/S3 pupils, who will be choosing their National Qualifications, and S4/S5 pupils choosing their Highers, are invited to our open, online events – see dates below. There, they will hear from speakers with different roles across government who have used languages in their career, and how either studying a language in school, or speaking a heritage language, has enriched their life and career. Pupils will have the chance to ask the speakers questions (via their teacher) through a Q&A session.

You can see some example videos here:

1. Rosemary Pennells (British Embassy Tokyo) Y8/Y9)
2. Nerys Jones (British Embassy Berlin) Y10/11 Government Languages Outreach talk

The online events are free of charge, and it is hoped recordings of some of the events will be made available. To express interest, and help us keep in touch, please complete the form

We look forward to welcoming your pupils to our events.

Autumn term 2025

S4/S5: Wednesday 15 October 2025, 09:00-10:00

S4/S5: Tuesday 11 November 2025, 09:15-10:15

S2/S3: Thursday 20 November 2025, 09:00-10:00

Spring term 2026

S2/S3: Wednesday 14 January 2026, 09:00-10:00

S4/S5: Tuesday 20 January 2026, 09:00-10:00

S2/S3: Tuesday 10 February 2026, 09:15-10:15

5 September 2025 (SCILT)

SCILT’s ECT Primary Languages Signpost Sessions are online, free of charge and open to newly or recently qualified primary teachers working in Scottish schools and to student primary teachers studying at Scottish universities.

Our Signpost Sessions are for you if are looking for:

• 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 career stage from across the country

Each Signpost Session is themed, informal and will point you in the right direction for free resources, up-to-date guidance and practical teaching ideas. Sign up for as many sessions as you like:

• Wednesday 24 September, 16:00–17:00 - Developing a multilingual ethos in your primary class
• Wednesday 26 November, 16:00–16:45 - First steps in teaching primary languages
• Wednesday 28 January, 16:00 -16:45 - Digital tools for primary languages
• Wednesday 25 March, 16:00–16:45 - Getting outdoors with primary languages
• Wednesday 27 May, 16:00–16:45 - Next steps in teaching primary languages

Registration closes two days before each session, and the online link to join via MS Teams will be sent out one day in advance. These sessions will not be recorded.

Register via the link below. Please also find attached flyer which can be shared with colleagues. 

Read more...

4 September 2025 (SCILT/DYWLive/eSgoil)

We are delighted to be working together with e-Sgoil and DYW Live again this year to deliver the Languages and Your Career webinar. In this fully interactive session we will explore how languages can contribute to success in a wide range of jobs and career paths. We aim to introduce secondary learners to the importance of languages and their associated skills in the workplace, break down stereotypes of careers that use languages, identify appropriate career pathways, and hear examples of people who use languages in their daily work.

The Languages and Your Career workshop will be repeated each month on different days and times from September until March, linking with key focus weeks in the calendar. All dates are now available to book:

• Wednesday 17 September @ 10.00
• Friday 3 October @ 11.00
• Tuesday 11 November @ 2.00 (Scottish Careers Week)
• Monday 8 December @ 10.00
• Thursday 15 January @ 11.00
• Wednesday 4 February @ 2.00 (Languages Week Scotland)
• Tuesday 3 March @ 10.00

Sessions will take place in Glow Teams; we hope to see you there!

For more information and registration details, see the e-Sgoil website.

Read more...

4 September 2025 (SCILT)

Language Ambassadors Online is back for 2025-26! Led by students from universities right across Scotland who study a whole range of different subjects, these sessions are designed to promote languages to young people and to encourage them to choose languages as part of their learning experience, whatever other subject areas they may be interested in. In the online workshops, our wonderful ambassadors share their experiences of learning languages and discovering new cultures, answer learners’ questions and generally seek to enthuse and inspire! Sessions take place on the following dates:

• Thursday 25 September 11.00 – 12.00
• Wednesday 29 October 9.00 - 10.00
• Tuesday 25 November 2.00 - 3.00
• Friday 23 January 10.00 - 11.00
• Tuesday 24 February 11.00 - 12.00
• Wednesday 18 March 2.00 - 3.00

All sessions will take place on Microsoft Teams. For more information and to book to bring your class(es) along see our Language Ambassadors Online webpage and book via the Eventbrite link.

Read more...

15 August 2025 (SCILT)

Calling all Germanists! Dates for this session’s meetings of the Teachers of German in Scotland (TOGS) network are below and registrations are now open on our eventbrite page.  

• Wednesday 24 September (4.30-5.30pm) 
• Thursday 15 January (4.30-5.30pm) 
• Monday 27 April (4.30-5.30pm) 

TOGS meetings are open to all primary and secondary practitioners who teach – or would like to teach – German in their context. This network offers colleagues a chance to share experiences, practice and ideas to enable German to grow in Scottish schools. Germanists in higher education and cultural institutions are also welcome to attend, so do feel free to come and join us!   

If you have already signed up to our TOGS mailing list, please note that you will automatically receive the link prior to each meeting. 

15 August 2025 (SCILT)

SCILT’s 2025-26 menu of professional learning workshops for groups launches today!

Free to book for groups of primary or secondary teachers working in local authority schools. Sessions are designed and facilitated by our friendly and experienced Professional Development Officers.  

Select a workshop from the menu below, or request a bespoke input tailored to your audience – the choice is yours. Choose your workshop theme(s), pick your dates and submit your workshop request. We’ll confirm arrangements with you promptly.  

These workshops offer a chance for groups of colleagues to dive into professional learning that explores engaging language pedagogies and examples of current practice.  

Requests from professional learning leads in schools, clusters, local authorities and SCIS welcomed all year round…starting now! 

Primary 

• Developing a multilingual ethos in your primary school
• First steps in teaching primary languages
• Next steps in teaching primary languages
• Assessment as learning in primary languages
• Getting outdoors with primary languages

Secondary

• Teaching Sprints – Small change, big impact
• Developing a multilingual and multicultural ethos
• BYOW: Build Your Own Workshop!
• The Big Question

For workshop descriptors, and to book one or more session for the group of teachers that you support, find the link the professional learning request form below.

Read more...

25 March 2025 (Civil Service Languages Network)

British Council, GCHQ and the Civil Service Languages Network are working together to promote language learning among pupils in UK schools.

Your S2/S3 pupils, who will be choosing their National Qualifications, and S4/S5 pupils choosing their Highers, are invited to our open, online events – see dates below. There, they will hear from speakers with different roles across government who have used languages in their career, and how either studying a language in school, or speaking a heritage language, has enriched their life and career. Pupils will have the chance to ask the speakers questions (via their teacher) through a Q&A session.

You can see an example of a previous event here: Where will languages take me? | British Council.

The online events are free of charge, and I hope to make recordings available of some of the events. To express interest, and help us keep in touch, please complete the form.

We look forward to welcoming your pupils to our events!

Summer term 2025

S4/S5: Tue June 3rd 2025, 09:15-10:15

S2/S3: Wed June 11th 2025, 09:15-10:15

Autumn term 2025

S4/S5: Wed Oct 15th 2025 09:00-10:00

S4/S5: Tue Nov 11th 2025 09:15-10:15

S2/S3: Thur Nov 20th 2025 09:00-10:00

Spring term 2026

S2/S3: Wed Jan 14th 2026 09:00-10:00

S4/S5: Tue Jan 20th 2026 09:00-10:00

S2/S3: Tue Feb 10th 2026 09:15-10:15