Presentation:Presentation:

Learning Languages Learning Languages

at Shimna Integrated College in at Shimna Integrated College in Year 8Year 8

Which languages do children Which languages do children learn?learn?

2 languages from:2 languages from:

FrenchFrench IrishIrish GermanGerman SpanishSpanish

Each student has 2 hours a week for each Each student has 2 hours a week for each language in 1 hour blockslanguage in 1 hour blocks

How do they learn?How do they learn?

Through the “Target Language” (TL)Through the “Target Language” (TL)

as much as possibleas much as possible

Skills that children are Skills that children are developingdeveloping

to to listenlisten in the TL in the TL to listen and be able to respond to basic to listen and be able to respond to basic

words and phraseswords and phrases to be able to to be able to say say basic words and phrasesbasic words and phrases to be able to to be able to readread & & writewrite basic words and basic words and

phrasesphrases

In Year 8 we concentrate on speaking In Year 8 we concentrate on speaking and listening skills in classand listening skills in class

How do they learn?How do they learn?

Listening/repeating & practising the Listening/repeating & practising the languagelanguage

Using gamesUsing games Making it funMaking it fun Making it as “hands-on” and interactive as Making it as “hands-on” and interactive as

possiblepossible

(Student participation is very important)(Student participation is very important)

Examples:Examples:

students may come up to the board to take students may come up to the board to take part in gamespart in games

mime/ dramamime/ drama learn rhymes & songs in the T.Llearn rhymes & songs in the T.L sample food from T.L countrysample food from T.L country

Extra-curricular ActivitiesExtra-curricular Activities

Language Clubs at lunchtimeLanguage Clubs at lunchtime

(Language Assistants from Germany, (Language Assistants from Germany, France, Spain, Ireland)France, Spain, Ireland)

Trips: open to students in year 9 and Trips: open to students in year 9 and aboveabove

(trips to Spain, Germany, France and the (trips to Spain, Germany, France and the Donegal Gaeltacht)Donegal Gaeltacht)

Examples of some topics Examples of some topics that we cover:that we cover:

Name / Age / BirthdayName / Age / Birthday family / petsfamily / pets where you live / countrieswhere you live / countries school & transportschool & transport your home / roomsyour home / rooms hobbies / sportshobbies / sports the timethe time food & drinkfood & drink

Why learn languages?Why learn languages?

According to a recent study young people According to a recent study young people in the UK are at a serious disadvantage in in the UK are at a serious disadvantage in the labour market. Why? The UK the labour market. Why? The UK workforce suffers from a chronic shortage workforce suffers from a chronic shortage of people with usable language skillsof people with usable language skills

70% of British companies conduct 70% of British companies conduct business with other countriesbusiness with other countries

BUT BUT : Only 15% of UK Nationals speak : Only 15% of UK Nationals speak another language fluentlyanother language fluently

A knowledge of a language(s) can A knowledge of a language(s) can significantly improve your employability.significantly improve your employability.

Why?Why? Because language students are Because language students are better at oral and communication skills better at oral and communication skills both in both in EnglishEnglish andand otherother languages. languages.

Also: learning and speaking Also: learning and speaking another language(s) bringsanother language(s) brings

new friendshipsnew friendships improves relationshipsimproves relationships helps to create a better atmosphere helps to create a better atmosphere

overall as it helps to break down barriersoverall as it helps to break down barriers

How can I help my child with How can I help my child with language learning?language learning?

put behind you any negative experience put behind you any negative experience you had of learning languages. Things you had of learning languages. Things have changed!have changed!

try to take an active interest in your child’s try to take an active interest in your child’s language learninglanguage learning

check that your child is doing 1 written and check that your child is doing 1 written and 1 learning homework a week for a 1 learning homework a week for a languagelanguage

A learning homework:A learning homework:

learn words or short phraseslearn words or short phrases ask them (if they want !) to tell you the ask them (if they want !) to tell you the

words /phraseswords /phrases encourage them to say the word, then encourage them to say the word, then

cover it up and say it, maybe write out the cover it up and say it, maybe write out the wordword

think of a song / rhyme / story to help think of a song / rhyme / story to help remember wordsremember words

For more informationFor more information

information will be available on the school information will be available on the school website website (www.shimnacollege.org.uk)(www.shimnacollege.org.uk) under “Languages”under “Languages”

list of the topics coveredlist of the topics covered core vocabulary to learncore vocabulary to learn extended vocabularyextended vocabulary tips for parents on how to help your childtips for parents on how to help your child links to useful websites for language links to useful websites for language

learninglearning

Please contact us at the College if you Please contact us at the College if you need further assistance or clarificationneed further assistance or clarification

(or if you haven’t got access to the (or if you haven’t got access to the internet)internet)

Thank you for supporting Thank you for supporting language learninglanguage learning