Latest News

23 May 2025 (The Conversation)

A 2023 YouGov poll found that only 21% of UK adults can hold a conversation in a language other than their mother tongue. About half of the other 79% regretted not engaging more with languages at school, and more than half of all those polled were interested in learning a new language.

By comparison, some 60% of EU citizens surveyed in 2022 reported good or proficient foreign language skills.

Something is clearly going wrong with foreign language learning in UK schools, and this is not improving. For example, A-level entries in modern languages in England as a percentage of all A-level entries has fallen since 2010.

Yet our research shows that many pupils in England and Wales are curious about how language has been shaped by society, culture and history, and how contact between people from different backgrounds leads to language change. A languages curriculum oriented around linguistics – the critical and analytical study of language itself – could meaningfully address the decline in language learning.

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23 May 2025 (The Herald)

A Gaelic TV show has won a prestigious award at a ceremony in Barcelona.

An t-Eilean (The Island) won the best entertainment and drama show at the regional TV awards in Spain.

The show, which is set in the Outer Hebrides, follows four siblings who return to their family home after their mother has died and their father is being questioned in relation to it.

The four part series stars actress Sorcha Groundsell in the lead role in a cast that also includes Taggart star Colin McCredie.

The awards ceremony took place at Les Drassanes – the historic Barcelona Shipyards.

The judges say they recognised the high quality of the drama with ‘beautiful scenery, imposing castles and wonderful views of natural beauty’.

They also say it is important to help promote the language to people.

Read more...

22 May 2025 (French Film Festival UK)

The French Film Festival UK Learning Programme 2025 will be issued before the end of May!

Last year over 26,500 primary and secondary pupils took part, with teachers noting, “A significant positive impact on student engagement with language learning” after participating in the programme. The full report from 2024 is available to download and read from our website.

To receive the information as soon as it is available, please sign up to the Learning Programme Mailing List via our website.

In the meantime, if you have any questions please contact schools@frenchfilmfestival.org.uk

22 May 2025 (Education Office of Spain in Edinburgh)

🔗Spanish workshops in London  NEW!

Registration is now open for the largest annual CPD event for Spanish teachers in London! Join us at Instituto Español Vicente Cañada Blanch on Saturday, June 14. Choose from 20 workshops on innovative teaching strategies, GCSE preparation, AI in the classroom, and much more. It’s a fantastic opportunity to enjoy delicious Spanish food, connect with fellow educators, and recharge your passion for teaching Spanish.

Please encourage your teaching teams, colleagues, etc., to join this unique day. Spaces are limited and allocated on a first-come, first-served basis, so don’t miss out.

🔗Cultural Programme: May to August 2025 NEW!

The cultural programme section of the website of the Consulate General of Spain in Edinburgh is continuously updated to showcase activities celebrating Spain and its rich cultural heritage. These events, organised by both public and private entities, offer a diverse array of experiences. Among the upcoming highlights, notable initiatives by the Hispanic Society of Scotland stand out, alongside a wide range of activities featured in the programmes of prestigious festivals such as the Edinburgh International Festival, the Edinburgh Fringe, and the Edinburgh International Book Festival, which this year boasts a remarkable presence of Spanish authors.

🔗International Conference “Español Para Todos” in Salamanca

We are excited to participate in the world’s largest international conference on teaching Spanish as a foreign language. Dates: 26-28 June Location: Salamanca. If you teach Spanish, don’t miss this exceptional event to learn, share, and connect with professionals from around the globe.

🔗Summer courses in Spain for students - Instituto Cervantes

The Instituto Cervantes offers Language and Culture Courses in Spain, providing international students with a unique opportunity to immerse themselves in Spanish language and culture for a week.

🔗European Day of Languages - Save the Date!

On Friday, 26 September 2025, the Institut français d’Écosse together with European consulates and cultural organisations will be celebrating European Day for Languages in Edinburgh with morning activities aimed at S2 and S3 pupils.

About the schools’ activities

This event aims to celebrate, inspire and consolidate the importance of languages to young people.

Pupils will thus be exposed to different languages and have the opportunity to interact with various people from various countries.

Who?

The event will consist of up to 8 language/country “corners”: Czech, French, German, Irish, Italian, Polish, Romanian and Spanish.

Who for?

S2 and S3 pupils from Scottish schools accompanied by a teacher.

What?

The event will consist of up to 8 language/country “corners”, each delivering a 15-minute interactive snapshot session to both S2 and S3 students. Pupils in groups of no more than 7 will rotate around each “corner” and enjoy an interactive encounter in different languages.

Pupils will first be greeted at the Institut before being dispatched in groups.

When?

Friday the 26th, 2025

Slot 1: 9am to 10.45

Slot 2: 11.15-1pm

How?

Schools interested in taking part in the event must register by sending an Email to charlotte.hyvernaud@institut-francais.org.uk

They will indicate the following:

• Name of school
• Number of students
• Level of students (S2 or S3)
• Name of accompanying teacher(s)

Deadline for registration: June 30^th, 2025

For more information, please contact Charlotte Hyvernaud, Education attachée, Institut français d’Ecosse : charlotte.hyvernaud@institut-francais.org.uk

22 May 2025 (Institut français d’Ecosse)

Fancy some time in France this summer? Check this out!

• Content:  This summer school is intended to help teachers upskill their proficiency in the language in order to feel more confident in the classroom. Please note that the course will not cover the pedagogy of teaching French and will not provide any teaching materials or techniques. General French language group courses will be offered (20h) as well as 2 workshops focused on French phonics.
• Fees: Training fees, breakfast, dinner and accommodation in a French host-family are covered by the Institut français du Royaume-Uni. Travel expenses will be incurred by the participant.
• Registration: Fill the application form Teacher Training & Resources - Institut Français · Royaume-Uni and send it to projects-education@institut-francais.org.uk by Saturday 31 May 2025. Selected participants will be contacted by mid-June.
• Registration deadline: Saturday 31 May 2025
• Location: Alliance Française de Normandie, Rouen, France
• Date: Sunday 3 August 2025 to Sunday 10 August 2025
• Eligibility: Primary School Teachers teaching French

21 May 2025 (Herald)

An online dictionary which has rediscovered lost Gaelic phrases and word meanings is one of 12 projects set to benefit from a share of £500,000 of Scottish Government funding.

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20 May 2025 (University of Strathclyde)

The online Certificate of Continuing Education (CCEd) in Mandarin at the University of Strathclyde is a qualification that, through live-streamed, evening classes, brings beginners to the equivalent of BA degree level (120 credits) over the course of three years. The course will, therefore, overtake the minimum 80 credits required by the General Teaching Council Scotland (GTCS) for teaching in a secondary school. For language teachers already in possession of a language teaching qualification accepted by the GTCS, the course will allow them to add Mandarin to the suite of languages they already teach. On completion of 80 credits, the course will include a four-week summer school in China (tuition, accommodation, and food provided) that will count towards the GTCS residency requirement for full registration. 

The course fees are £950 per year. For teachers who are currently employed in a local authority that hosts a Confucius Classroom hub (click this link for a list of participating local authorities), funding may be available to you from your local authority’s hub funding. Please ask your school/LA contact for details. 

The university is currently accepting applications for the three-year cycle of this course, which will be delivered entirely online. Numbers permitting, the course will commence in September 2025.  The Mandarin course is designed with complete beginners in mind – no previous language experience is required! The course will also accept applications for direct entry to second year from suitably-qualified candidates. Further information and application details can be found on the University of Strathclyde website.

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20 May 2025 (The Conversation)

When Keir Starmer said: “If you want to live in the UK, you should speak English”, it laid bare an assumption – that English is the only language that counts in the UK. This view not only overlooks the UK’s rich linguistic diversity, but also runs counter to the language policies being developed across the devolved nations.

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19 May 2025 (Herald)

The UK Government has committed to 'working towards' re-joining the Erasmus+ student exchange programme despite ruling it out months ago.

Sir Keir Starmer has reached a new deal with the European Union (EU) setting out post-Brexit negotiations with the UK.

Read more...

19 May 2025 (RZSS)

Many free language resources are available on the Science in Language Class website. The language resources are available for Spanish, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Gaelic, Japanese & Mandarin. There are some languages which have many more resources then others and this basically depends on whether it is a language of a country in which RZSS actively works in the wild.

Under Mandarin, there are lots of resources covering a range of topics. Similarly Spanish and French have a range of resources linked to our programmes in South America and in the French Polynesia Islands.

Although RZSS doesn't currently work in any German speaking countries, we do have some games within the German section and these have been designed by senior students studying the language in Scottish schools. The students have also created the sound files. There is a new one all about the Highland Wildlife Park!

Any questions about the resources please contact Sandie Robb srobb@rzss.org.uk

Read more...

17 May 2025 (Daily Record)

Gamers, who also have a penchant for language-learning, will be delighted to know they can merge their two passions thanks to a new Xbox game that promises to be a "journey through Scottish folklore".

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15 May 2025 (OU Scotland)

For primary teachers with a working knowledge in French, German, Spanish or Chinese, who are keen to  develop their proficiency in that language and learn how to teach the language in their classrooms. This 60-minute online event will introduce interested primary teachers to the online primary languages programme 'Teachers Learning to Teach Languages (TELT)' delivered by the Open University from October 2025 to June 2026. The webinar will run on 12 June 2025 from15:45-16:45.

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13 May 2025 (Goethe-Institut)

The Goethe-Institut Glasgow is seeking to fill part-time positions of Teacher of German as a foreign language on a 25% - 50% basis (9,75 - 19,5 hrs/week), starting on 15 June 2025 (or later). A workload of up to 50% (19.5 hours/week) is possible. All calculations are based on the full-time equivalent of 39 hours per week.

Visit the Goethe-Institut website for more information.

Read more...

12 May 2025 (TES)

Scotland’s classrooms are becoming increasingly diverse, as evidenced by the 2023 Scottish schools census. The data highlights that nearly one in five pupils comes from a minority-ethnic background, with a growing number speaking English as an additional language.

However, the data coincides with a continued decline in the uptake of modern languages in schools. National 5 entries for modern languages fell by over 30 per cent between 2015 and 2023, while Higher and Advanced Higher entries have similarly reduced.

In an era of multicultural growth, paradoxically, the engagement with language learning is declining.

Research underscores the cognitive and cultural benefits of bilingualism and multilingualism, yet these advantages are undermined by systemic problems, including the lack of updated language policy and variability in knowledge and expertise in the primary sector.

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12 May 2025 (The Herald)

Primary school pupils have begun a partnership with other youngsters in Ukraine as part of a programme that uses literature to build friendships transcending borders.

Primary six pupils at Wishaw Academy Primary has taken on the UK Government-funded partnership, which draws on the pupils’ shared love of reading to foster cultural understanding and support emotional wellbeing.

It marks the first school in Scotland to take part – with four others in the country following suit.

Lyndsay Ellis, a primary six teacher at the school, said the programme aligns with the school’s existing “Rights Respecting” work.

She said: “It allows our children to pass on the joy they’ve found in books to someone else, while also giving them the chance to meet other people.

“Particularly with Ukraine, it ties in beautifully, as we’re discussing empathy, respect, resilience, and all those important values.”

[..] It involves the pupils meeting once a week online, where they read and practice English together. [..] She hopes the pupils can eventually create collaborative reading projects using dual-language books, which feature the same stories in Ukrainian and English.

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9 May 2025 (SCILT)

We are delighted to announce that online British Sign Language (BSL) classes for primary learners (P5–P7) will return for a new block starting in September 2025.

In the new session, we will be working in partnership with West Scotland BSL and have a brand new teaching team in place. Through its engaging and progressive BSL learning programme, the new team aims to provide an introduction to BSL and Deaf culture awareness. West Scotland BSL was formed in 2018, and in addition to designing and delivering BSL courses to support those working in business and in local authorities, the teaching team of Graham and David have worked extensively with schools, particularly across Renfrewshire in providing BSL learning experiences for primary and secondary learners. Deaf BSL tutor Graham Dow has a wealth of experience in teaching classes and works alongside interpreter David O’Rorke. David says, “Graham and I are very excited to be working with you all. Our sessions are really good fun and very relaxed. You will have the opportunity to explore this wonderful language. We are sure that you will enjoy the sessions and feel confident in using BSL very quickly.” Watch the video below to find out more from Graham and David. 

The BSL team is looking forward to working with primary learners to help them develop their skills and knowledge in BSL. From fingerspelling the alphabet to conducting short conversations in BSL, learners will build up their language skills steadily over the 10-week period. The classes are not only progressive, they are also fun!  

This 10-week block of BSL language learning is intended to support L3 in primary school, in line with Scotland’s languages policy. It is designed for teachers and learners who have no prior experience of learning of BSL and are at the start of their BSL learning journey. The weekly lessons will run for 10 weeks and will begin on Thursday 11 September 2025, with a break in October for half term. The online lessons are:   

• on MS Teams    

• on Thursdays from 11.00-11.45am (45 minutes)    

• open to all state primary schools in Scotland – P5-7 only    

• free to attend  

• for those with no prior knowledge of BSL   

If you would like to be considered for a place on the BSL (L3) learning block, please register your interest via the form linked below. Please note that places are limited.    

If you would like any further information, please contact SCILT.   

Read more...

9 May 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. Find out how Languages Week Scotland 2025 was celebrated across the country and read about the latest inspiring activities from local authorities. 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...

9 May 2025 (University of Strathclyde)

The Department of Humanities at the University of Strathclyde is delighted to announce the launch, in 2025-26, of new online versions of its well-established Certificate of Continuing Education (CCEd). For the first time, the CCEd courses will be available online, for those wishing to study French, Italian or Spanish to third-year university level, while applications for a place on the second cycle of the course in Mandarin are also invited.

Over the years, many practising teachers of modern languages have used Strathclyde’s CCEd courses as a means of gaining the accreditation required to register in additional languages with the General Teaching Council for Scotland. The creation of the online courses is a response to strong demand in recent years from teachers and other professionals based throughout the country.

For more information, including details of how to apply, click on the appropriate link above for the language that interests you.

28 April 2025 (BERA)

This article by David Roxburgh, Principal Teaching Fellow at the University of Strathclyde, explores Scotland’s ‘1+2 languages’ policy, introduced in 2012, which reflects the growing global need for multilingualism. It introduced learning a second language (L2) from age five and a third language (L3) from around age nine, but with different end goals.

While progressive, the policy faces challenges in primary schools where research indicates that many teachers feel less confident providing even one additional language, let alone two (Valdera & Crichton, 2018). Through a small-scale study of 38 teachers, this issue appeared in both the questionnaires and interview data around teachers’ self-perceptions. This situation raises an important question: Is our current approach to language learning effective? Or might innovative models, such as L3, offer a more inclusive way to inspire confidence in both teachers and pupils as they navigate their educational journeys?

Read more...

22 April 2025 (Open University)

TELT is the Teachers Learning to Teach Languages programme offered by the Open University. Now in its 9^th year, this professional learning opportunity has upskilled over 300 teachers across Scotland. It is aimed at educators working in the primary sector and carries GTCS Professional Recognition.

The 2025-26 session is the concluding presentation of the TELT programme in its current format and will offer post-beginners level study.

Available languages are French, German, Mandarin or Spanish for teachers who already have a working knowledge of their chosen language, equivalent to A1 on the Council of Europe’s Common European Framework of Reference for languages (CEFR). This can either have been acquired through previous study of the TELT programme introductory level modules LXT192 (French), LXT193 (German), LXT194 (Spanish), LXT197 (Mandarin Chinese), through other equivalent study, or extended visits to the countries where the target language is spoken.

Registration for 2025-26 intake is now open. Enrolment closes 11 September 2025. Modules begin in October. 

Visit the TELT website for full details about how the course works and how to register. For further information please contact: Scotland-languages@open.ac.uk.

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22 April 2025 (Stephen Spender Trust)

The Stephen Spender Prize is an annual competition for poetry in translation that celebrates the creativity of young people across the UK and Ireland – and their teachers! The Prize has categories for schools, teachers and individual young people, which welcome translations from all languages, as well as a special ‘Spotlight‘ strand that each year focuses on a different widely spoken language. In 2025 this will be Portuguese.

The competition is open for entries from 1 May until 31 July 2025. Teachers visit the website to register pupil participation now!

Read more...

22 April 2025 (SCILT)

The outdoors is a dynamic and creative learning environment where children and young people can thrive and connect their broader learning with the world around them. Research has shown that outdoor learning improves child development and supports health and wellbeing, with the outdoors providing a space that promotes inclusion and engages learners.    

In these in-person workshops, we will consider how languages feature within an Outdoor Learning agenda. We will explore connections to Learning for Sustainability, discussing how this area can be implemented through an interdisciplinary approach within an outdoor context. Ideal preparation for 30 Days Wild in June.  

Ready to get your hands dirty? Register via the link below to attend the workshop at the venue closest to you: 

• Wednesday 14 May, 4–5pm at Grandtully Primary School, Pitlochry

• Friday 23 May, 1:30pm–3pm at The Howff, Outdoor Learning Hub, Queen Margaret University, Musselburgh 

• Tuesday 3 June, 4–5pm at the University of Strathclyde, Glasgow

Read more...

15 April 2025 (University of Strathclyde)

The Institute of Education at the University of Strathclyde is seeking views on their current CLPL (Career-Long Professional Learning) provision across schools, colleges, the third sector and any other organisations felt relevant. Completion of a short survey will help inform understanding around what’s working, where there may be gaps, and how future CLPL offerings could be improved to better support different partners.

If you’re able to take a few minutes to complete the survey - and/or share it with others in your network - it would really be appreciated. Thanks so much for your time and input!

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: Thur Jan 20th 2026 09:00-10:00

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