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Activities beyond the classroom: gifted pupils in modern foreign languages
Enrichment possibilities for pupils who are gifted in modern foreign languages can extend beyond the school day. Gifted pupils are often eager to learn through contact with other pupils of similar abilities across year groups and through sustained contact with adults. Enrichment possibilities include internet clubs, where pupils can prepare news reports about a country, using up-to-the-minute online information. Competitions give gifted pupils opportunities to be creative and to apply their knowledge and skills in a novel context. Encouraging pupils' involvement in competitions often plays to their strengths. Another enrichment opportunity is participation in language festivals, where tasters of different languages are offered throughout the day, giving pupils insight into different writing systems and grammatical systems. Extended day language provision (for example, in Latin, Japanese or Italian) is often very successful.
Modern foreign languages master classes
Schools and language college groups may wish to establish master classes at different levels. Master classes have the advantages of bringing together pupils of similar ability and the capacity for rapid progress in small groups.
Master classes can take place from key stage 2 upwards and might take the form of:
different skills at exam level, for example, focusing on verbs, perhaps one a term in key stages 3 and 4
grammar workshops, for example, focusing on verbs
drama workshops, providing a springboard for creative use of language
context-based learning, for example, geography through German, design and technology through Spanish.
Other possibilities are:
work with primary pupils, which can focus on language awareness, or extension of the provision available at primary school
work with teacher-training institutions, which may provide an intensive one-day language learning experience for a target group.
Arranging activities outside the school in the general guidance
