Community languages conference
Released: 1 February 2008
Around 80 teachers of community languages will come together at a training event in Wolverhampton this weekend.
Wolverhampton City Council is organising its third Community Languages Conference in partnership with CILT (the National Centre for Languages) and Comenius West Midlands.
The free event, for teachers of community languages in the West Midlands and beyond, will take place at The Jennie Lee Centre, Lichfield Road, Wednesfield, tomorrow, Saturday February 2.
Run by the Community Languages team from the council’s Children and Young People section, the conference will be attended by the Deputy Mayor of Wolverhampton, Councillor Christine Mills, Children and Young People Chief Officer for Quality and Improvement, Mark Wyatt, and Head of Equalities and Diversity, Clare Gough.
The day will feature information updates on developments in languages nationally, regionally and locally, and a range of practical workshops, focusing on creative ways of maximising pupil interaction in the classroom.
Workshops include:
- using song to support and enhance learning
- using drama to enthuse and engage students
- using digital video to involve students in their learning
- practical approaches to assessment and supporting students’ progress
- effective use of a range of readily available resources
- information about languages in Key Stage 2 (age seven to 11).
Opportunities to find out about the different routes to Qualified Teacher Status and hear from recently qualified teachers about their experiences of training will also be available.
In addition, during the opening ceremony, teachers will be able to enjoy a performance by pupils who attend a Panjabi class at Bantock Primary School on Saturdays when the students present a traditional Panjabi dance.
The teachers can also look at resources available from a number of publishers and pick up useful free materials and information about forthcoming events for professional development as well as network with colleagues in the same field.
Community languages are taught in a number of mainstream secondary schools depending on the demand, and there are also classes taking place on Saturdays. A wide range of languages including Bengali, Gujarati, Hindi, Panjabi and Urdu are currently being taught.
Issued by the press office.