Respect for all: Celebrating linguistic wealth

This activity was used with pupils in key stage 4, years 10 and 11.

Context

This school is a large mixed 11-18 comprehensive in an inner-city location. A small proportion of pupils have knowledge of a language other than English; some of these pupils are from minority ethnic groups.

Aims

• To enhance the status of languages other than English spoken by pupils at the school
• To acknowledge and promote achievement in languages by pupils from minority ethnic backgrounds by enabling them to gain a qualification in languages that are not part of the school's curriculum.

Activity objectives

• To gain a qualification in a language not normally taught at the schools
• To engender understanding and respect for the language skills of pupils.

Activity description

French is taught in this school, but a number of pupils have knowledge of another foreign language as a result of their heritage. Languages spoken include Arabic, Cantonese Chinese, Greek, Gujarati, Italian, Panjabi, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, Swahili, Turkish and Urdu. The school created a learning support scheme to help pupils obtain a qualification, such as a GCSE, in these languages.

After initial assessment by expert staff, pupils are offered learning support outside normal teaching provision. This includes self-study materials, tape loans, ICT-based study, after-school lessons, contact with native speakers who help on a voluntary basis, and work experience where pupils can use the foreign language.

In addition, the school celebrates the linguistic wealth among its pupils. There are prominent displays in the school with details of pupils who are competent in a language other than English and the qualification they have gained. Pupils' linguistic achievements are also reported in a newsletter.

Commentary

This scheme has helped to create a positively integrated school community. As well as encouraging pupils to develop their linguistic skills, the scheme enhances the status of a wide range of foreign languages. In achieving a qualification, pupils from different ethnic and linguistic backgrounds gain greater confidence and self-esteem.

Resources

The modern foreign languages schemes of work can be found at www.standards.dfes.gov.uk/schemes
The online national curriculum can be found at www.nc.uk.net

Modern foreign languages introduction

All subjects and activities

Respect for all introduction