Languages: Taking you furtherLanguages: Taking you further

Presentation OverviewPresentation Overview• Introduction• Let’s test your knowledge!• Why languages matter • The Scottish Baccalaureate in

Languages:• What is it and how is it assessed?• Feedback from learners• What skills will you develop?• External endorsement

• SCILT: who we are and how we can support you

It’s a multilingual world…Did you know there are 6,912 known living languages in the world?

Test your knowledge, part 1…

How many people in the world speak these languages as their mother tongue?

French

Arabic (all varieties)

English

Chinese (mandarin)

Spanish

German

A) Almost 400 million

B) 309 million

C) 65 million

D) 100 million

E) 206 million

F) 876 million

Test your knowledge, part 2 – Closer to homeDo you know how many languages are spoken by young people in

8? 13? 19? 39? 70? 98? 104? 144? 251? 300?

England…

Scotland…

Wales…

300 languages

104 languages

98 languages

Northern Ireland…

70 languages

How do we compare with our How do we compare with our European neighbours?European neighbours?

1) How many pupils in other EU countries study 2 or more foreign languages in secondary school?

2) What is the percentage for the UK?

3) What percentage of pupils in the UK is not studying any foreign language?

AnswersAnswersQuestion 1: 60%

Question 2: 6%Question 3: 51%

What YOU need to know…(1)What YOU need to know…(1)• English is one of the great global languages of the 21st century,

but it will only take us so far.• Only 6% of the world’s population speak English as a first

language. • 75% of the world’s population don’t speak any English. • We live in a multilingual, multicultural world. Our engagement

with the non-English speaking world will remain superficial and one-sided unless we develop our capacity in other languages too.

• In 2000 English represented 51% of language usage on the internet; by 2009 this was down to 29%. Steady growth in European languages and Chinese.

English is not enough!English is not enough!

What YOU need to know…(2)What YOU need to know…(2)“Language skills and an ability to work in a multi-cultural environment are

also valuable in an increasingly globalised workplace. Foreign language proficiency adds significantly to a candidate’s portfolio of skills, not just

in terms of conversational ability, but also general cultural awareness and sensitivity.” (CBI 2009)

‘In an increasingly competitive job market, it is clear that foreign language proficiency adds significant value to a candidate’s portfolio of skills, and

can give them a real competitive edge when applying for jobs’(CBI Education and Skills Survey, 2009)

 

Which languages?

Where are languages explicitly Where are languages explicitly needed?needed?

• IT • creative and media • retail• law• finance • business• energies and utilities• manufacturing

• computer games production

• construction• property management • engineering • tourism • hospitality • central and local

government….. and many more.

What ALL employers wantWhat ALL employers want

• team-working• oral

communication• problem-solving• intercultural

skills

• interpersonal skills• presentation skills • organisational skills• time management

Language learning helps develop these transferable skills

But it may not be But it may not be “explicit”….“explicit”….

•‘an international dimension’

•‘ability to build relationships’

•‘awareness of cultural differences’

Design Design

specificationspecification Mandatory components:• 2 AH Courses• 1 Higher Course• AH Interdisciplinary Project Unit (graded A,B or C)

LanguaLanguagesgesMust include:• two eligible modern/classical Language Courses• English/ESOL/Gaidhlig Course

The Scottish Baccalaureates in The Scottish Baccalaureates in LanguagesLanguages

Design specification Design specification The Scottish Baccalaureates in Languages will be awarded at :

Pass or Distinction Pass or Distinction

Criteria for Distinction:

•Grade A in one eligible Advanced Higher Course

•Grade A in one other component of the

Baccalaureate

•Grade B or above in all other mandatory

components

Advanced HighersAdvanced Highers• Very significant and demanding qualification –

“deep” learning• Emphasis on analysis, research skills,

independent study, extended essay-writing/scientific investigations

• Provide a bridge between classroom-based learning at Higher and self-motivated, proactive study at university

• UCAS has changed tariff scores to reflect the value HE places on AH

Interdisciplinary ProjectInterdisciplinary Project• Encourage you to:

o apply your language knowledge in relevant but unfamiliar contexts

o develop the generic skills needed for learning, employment and life

o access different learning environments

• Must show relevance of languages to: o Citizenship o Enterpriseo Economic development o Sustainable

development o Employability

• You negotiate context and theme

IP - IP - AssessmentAssessment

Undertaken in three stages:

- Stage 1 (negotiation and planning)

- Stage 2 (carrying out)

- Stage 3 (review and evaluation including own learning)

5 mandatory pieces of evidence:

- Project proposal

- Project plan

- Presentation of project findings/product

- Evaluation of project

- Self evaluation of generic/cognitive skills development

Sample IP Case StudiesSample IP Case Studies1. FL teaching methods in Scottish and French

primary schools2. How foreign films shape Scottish audiences’

perceptions of other European nations and cultures3. Support for foreign students: Scotland vs. France4. Languages in international finance5. Created a play in French about AIDS and how it

affects Francophone countries in Africa6. Developed e- magazine to support e-twinning

project

What are learners What are learners saying? saying? • “I’ve really enjoyed doing my project. All the self-evaluation

involved has been especially interesting and useful since in Advanced Highers we rarely get the opportunity to step back and review our work. The freedom allowed by the template of the project has allowed me to cultivate my ideas with independence which will help prepare me for more independent work at university.”

• “Personally I have really enjoyed the flexibility of this project as it has allowed me to combine my two main interests in the form of a project that doesn’t get in the way of my other school subjects. I have thoroughly enjoyed learning so many new skills and discovering new ideas which will be beneficial for future research and studies in university.”

My report writing and use of specific subject has become more sophisticated in English and Modern Studies. Also, my vocabulary and understanding of grammar has increased in both written and spoken Italian.

According to many of my teachers there has been a noticeable difference in my ability to use different research techniques (focus groups, questionnaires, ICT support and in literature).

Due to the nature of the project and the circumstances of my studying Adv. Higher Italian I have an increased ability to work independently and demonstrate leadership skills working in groups and with younger year groups.

I myself have noticed that whereas previously I tended to ask for help as soon as I encountered any problem, now I am more likely to independently find a logical solution.”

Skills DevelopmentSkills DevelopmentScottish Bacc

• Research skills: analysis Research skills: analysis and evaluationand evaluation

• Interpersonal Skills: negotiation and collaboration

• Planning: time, resource Planning: time, resource and information and information managementmanagement

• Problem-solving/critical thinking

• Presentation SkillsPresentation Skills

• Autonomous Learning/self-evaluation

Success in HE• Application and Analysis Application and Analysis

of ideas, knowledge and of ideas, knowledge and theorytheory

• Logical and critical thinking

• Literacy and language Literacy and language skillsskills

• Numeracy skills

• Personal and social skillsPersonal and social skills

• Learning skills

• Synthesis and Evaluation Synthesis and Evaluation

• Vocational and practical skills

The interdisciplinary project is valuable for it

will enable the potential applicants to

universities to develop independent study skills

and to develop project management skills

closely related to their academic interests.

Dr Simin Abrahams, Senior Policy Officer,

Universities Scotland

Support from Higher EducationSupport from Higher Education

Support from BusinessSupport from Business• Turning to the languages

baccalaureate, I must emphasise the value of multilingual employees to businesses […] Ensuring there are opportunities for those with language qualifications helps build competitive advantage in companies.

Iain McMillan, Director, CBI Scotland

• If everything else is equal you are always going to choose as a business partner the people and organisation who communicate best with you. That is why I personally welcome the introduction of the Languages Baccalaureate.

Ron Hewitt, Chief Executive,

Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce

Support from SCILTSupport from SCILT• Wiki forum ‘Bac-Chat’

• Discussions with pupils / teachers

• Presentations to staff/managers/parents

• Help with finding external partners or accessing research

• Promotional events

SCILT: supporting the languages SCILT: supporting the languages communitycommunity

Professional Development Research

and Statistics

Information

Service

Promoting Languages

ConclusionConclusion• The Scottish Bacc offers you a new and

rewarding learning experience

• There’s lots of external support for both you and your school

• Whether it’s to further study or into work after S6, the Bacc will give you the edge

• Taking your languages further will bring a whole range of benefits and open the doors to the world (and that goes for the scientists too….!)

• So….A quote from Nelson Mandela….

It’ll get you a job

It’s exciting

It gets you places

You’ll meet loads of new people

You’ll find out more about yourself

You can enjoy new cultures

In the words of Nelson Mandela….

Six Good Reasons for taking Six Good Reasons for taking your language learning further…your language learning further…

Thank You – Please get Thank You – Please get in touchin touch

s.breslin@strath.ac.uk

www.strath.ac.uk/scilt http://twitter.com/scottishcilt http://sciltedl.blogspot.com/

SCILT – Leading on Languages