Language teaching in state primaries

[Marina]

I heard something interesting which those of us with children under 2 might want to bear in mind. The pilot project announced in Merseyside yesterday to offer French and Spanish to children from age five in the state sector, could be extended to the whole of England and Wales. I have been thinking about a career change and wanted to use my languages, so a few weeks ago I rang the Teacher Training Agency to enquire about PGCE Primary courses offering a language. At first they said they only did a "middle years" option (7-14), but then they rang me back and said that one college in London was introducing a languages option for the primary PGCE and that I should watch the DfEE website for further developments.
One of my big gripes about education in this country (and I think it's often nearly as bad in the private sector) is the way in which few of us manage to learn to communicate effectively in another language. If the government really is going to introduce a foreign language across the board in primary schools I feel this is a fantastic piece of news. And, for those who never fancied teaching older children and have a degree in modern languages, a great chance to be involved in a sea change in education policy in England and Wales. What do others think?

My daughters school has an after school French club although she doesn't go, but she is learning a bit of spanish, mostly on her own from a phrase book and something hubby found on the internet (it talks back to you). We were amazed to find that when we compared her spanish to the internet spanish 9 times out of 10 she was spot on! Sometimes she says it so fast I can't understand what she's saying, but I'm sure they'll understand when we go to Spain in July, she now knows the basics, like good morning,evening, do you speak english? etc. She's decided that she wants to learn the names of various food items now.

I think children should learn foreign languages from an early age when they are at their most receptive. If they appreciate languages from an early age they'll be more likely to carry on studying in their later years at school. Well, I think so anyway.

I think the sooner a child learns a foreign language, the better. Preferably from birth onwards! I was brought up in a bi-lingual family and now my children in turn are perfectly tri-lingual, from being exposed to 3 different languages from birth onwards (I live in a European
country where bi-lingualism is the norm!).

Languages are a wonderful asset and a window onto different cultures and mentalities and will also give a great advantage in the future labour market.

Hmm. Marina do you know when exactly the new initiative is going to be introduced in LONDON? Just been to put my nearly 3 year old's name down at her local state school,and was really disappointed at lack of ANY language provision - think it's the same in all Hackney schools. Does anyone know of any good language learning websites or CD-Roms for pre-schoolers, or has anyone come up with any other innovative solutions, save offering to teach the children oneself? My daughter knows that there are other languages and one of her dolls only speaks French, but I'd like her to learn both French and Spanish regularly in a more structured but unpressurised way and I don't feel that being a language teacher is my primary role as a mother!
I'd be really grateful for ideas/pointers.
Merci.

I think teaching languages at a younger age is very beneficial, I struggle with French having not paid attention at school! Not a bright spark like you Bron I am afraid. I would love to be able to speak and read in various languages to my sons'.

My dd1 has just started at the local Welsh school, and after 4 weeks, she is coming out with loads of Welsh. Admittedly, she is used to hearing it, as it is the first language on dh's side, but the progress she has made in such a short time has astounded me. It's tangible proof of what I'd heard; the way children of this age learn a language is completely different to the way older children and adults do - apparently they even use a different part of their brain. I only wish I had the energy to teach her French as well.

I'm a big fan of languages too.
Problem I have found is that, as it's not coordinated, kids that did it in primary then move into a secondary where most of the kids didn't learn one, then they have to sit around for a few weeks while the others catch up & it's a pain for everyone.
It needs to be done across the board but needs careful coordination with secondaries.
What if he primary did spanish, but the secondary only french, for example?

Shanti, as far as I have heard, the pilot scheme in state schools is only in Liverpool at present - in England at any rate. But the DfEE must be expecting to unroll it nationwide soon, because I found at least one teacher training college in London (St Mary's, Twickenham) that is offering a PGCE Primary in languages as of this academic year.
You could try after-school clubs locally or French clubs on Saturday mornings in local church halls. In many parts of London there are quite a few to choose from. Personally I feel these are a poor second to integrating a language into the curriculum, but they can be a lot of fun. They're called things like Bonjour les Amis or Club Francais. And as you have the languages yourself, try Orchard Toys. Some of their award-winning puzzles and simple games for younger children are now bilingue! Orchard Toys

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thanks y'all for your suggestions. Do you know who supplies softkey?
I'll let you know if I find anything else out from dfee.

shants

answering my own message here. I've found some useful web addresses - thought I'd pass them on

Cilt.org.uk (centre for information and research on language teaching)this has many factsheets to help parents and primary mfl teachers, will help you find publishers etc
nacell.org.uk - the early learning part of cilt has an email forum and a bulletin, will keep you up to date with what the DFES is planning, has lots of reports on the value of primary languages and can put you in touch with schools that teach them.
besd.becta.org.uk - teacher approved list of software
www.bsmall.co.uk - really nice books and tapes in english and spanish/french/italian/german for little ones.

Hi,

Does anyone know whether there is a French after school club operating in the West Berkshire area for primary school children?

Or, failing that the name and contact details of the companies who offer this service.

I would really like my children to have an opportunity to learn some European lanuguages before they get to secondary school.

Thanks.

Please help if you can...I know there are far more interesting threads going on.

Can anyone give me some help or suggestions? I would really like to offer my children the chance to learn to speak French before going to secondary school.

I have heard of after school clubs operating, but am not sure how to access or find out information about them.

Much thanks Patttsy2001

Patsy, we're in East Berkshire and I haven't heard of any near us, so that's not much help! Have you tried your local library? they often know about things like that. My children have picked up a bit of French from tots tv videos, but they've heard a fair bit of spoken french around them too.

try searching "le club francais" on the web and see if there's a group near you. Alternatively try the alliance francaise as they may know of something.

Try
www.leclubfrancais.com/find/findaclub.asp?id=SE&county=BERKSHIRE&submit=Find+Clubs

HTH

WOW! My local primary school teaches french for the last 3 yrs before secondary AND Gaelic (we live in the north of Scotland. Didn't realise this wasn't a gneral thing

Hi

Does anyone have experience with the BBC's Muzzy language courses for children? I have a flyer that came through the door and would be interested in finding out good points and bad points about it before I go ahead and order.

There's been a recent thread on this. Try a search on the boards.

www.cilt.org.uk/infos/51to75/info57.htm

Try the above website. There is an address in Abingdon, Oxon which isn't that far from West Berks.

Hi, Thanks for all the eventual replies. For anyone who is interested, I have made enquires and there is a franchise teaches French to primary schoolers within West Berkshire. Fortunately my children will be attending a school which benefits from the "French Club" from around the age of 7 years.