Primary

Languages in the primary school.

Celebrating languages

SCILT opportunities

photo of participants in Euroquiz 2024 final

Euroquiz

Formerly run by the Scottish European Educational Trust (SEET), SCILT took over the organisation of the competition in 2024. Euroquiz is an annual project open to all P6 pupils across Scotland, which sees teams of four working together to broaden their knowledge of Europe and the wider world.

Language Linking Global Thinking

Students on their year abroad are linked with a primary or secondary school keep in regular contact with their partner school during their time abroad using blog posts, emails, postcards and other resources. The two-way correspondence between student and class brings the language and culture of the student's host country alive for pupils.

Mother Tongue Other Tongue

This exciting multilingual poetry project celebrates linguistic and cultural diversity through creative writing, and showcases the many languages which are spoken and learned by young people in school and at home. Pupils from P1-S6 can participate, as well as bilinguals and those studying languages beyond school. 

Words for the World

Run for the first time in session 2021-22, this competition invites learners in Scotland to use their words to show how the world can be a better place. Competitors could write about climate change, helping the environment, how we treat one another, equality – whichever area they are most concerned about or would most like to see change. Entries can be in any language (or languages) other than English, in any written format, for example a poem, an essay, a song, a cartoon.

Languages Week Scotland

Languages Week Scotland is a week of activity celebrating multilingualism across the country, with schools, organisations and communities joining in with the #ScotlandLovesLanguages hashtag on social media. Languages Week Scotland takes place in February each year. Look out for a series of language related challenges from the dedicated Twitter account, and for some suggestions on how you can mark Languages Week Scotland in your school.

Find out more

European Day of Languages

The European Day of Languages is celebrated across Europe on the 26 September every year. It aims to promote the rich linguistic diversity of Europe and raise awareness of the importance of lifelong language learning for everyone. Why not celebrate with your class, and use this opportunity to raise the profile of languages in your school.

SCILT has put together ideas to support you in celebrating the European Day of Languages.

Each year the European Centre for Modern Languages (ECML) produces a variety of materials which schools can use to celebrate the day.

Tell us how you celebrated the European Day of Languages and we will feature you in our European Day of Languages blog. If you include some colourful photos your article could even appear in our next newsletter!

Find out more

Opportunities from our partners

Concours de la francophonie

Look out for the chance to get involved in the annual French Pop video competition run by Institut Français Royaume-Uni in Spring.

UK-German Bears Unique way to build a partnership with a school in Germany.

Linguacuisine provides opportunities to combine technology, languages, culture and cuisine. Use the Linguacuisine app anytime. Linguacuisine is an international Erasmus+ project involving UK partner, University of Newcastle.

Looking for replicable ideas to use in your school to promote languages?

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