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#UKEdChat Q1
With many young children entering school with poor language skills, at what stage should they be taught other languages beyond their own? See https://t.co/awbdgRobaT
Pls use the hashtag & A1...
#UKEdChat Q1 again
With many young children entering school with poor language skills, at what stage should they be taught other languages beyond their own? See https://t.co/awbdgRobaT
Pls use the hashtag & A1...
#ukedchat A1: In our system the chn start to learn Language 2 from the age of 6. (30mins a day) - most are not native English speakers but enjoy learning another language. They cope with it well and it can strengthen their understanding of L1 too!
#ukedchat A1 From the earliest age possible, 3 or 4. Just the concept that there are different ways of saying things/that there are people who talk differently in the long term improving inclusion/tolerance...😁
#ukedchat I agree that it really helps to develop tolerance! I wouldn’t start formally teaching L2 until later (5/6 maybe) but they should def be exposed to other languages as soon as possible
#UKEdChat A1 As soon as possible. I am multilingual- I speak 8 languages and my kids are multilingual too. Never had any problem with them. We speak Hindi at home and they can switch languages easily.
#UKEdChat Q2 again
How can school celebrate and share the various national languages that families bring from various cultures?
Pls use the hashtag & A2...
#UKEdChat A2: We had an International Breakfast - everyone brought in a typical food from their country, and shared it with other classes. We made flashcards to teach words relating to breakfast as well. It was fantastic (and delicious 😋)
#ukedchat Q2 by valuing those languages, giving ch an opportunity to share them, discuss them, draw parallels between languages and celebrate the skill of codeswitching in a daily basis.
#UKEdChat A2 Respect and celebrate the fact that the kid can speak more than one language, if they struggle in English, encourage them to think in their language and help them translate.
#ukedchat A2 We have a ‘language of the month’ to focus on each month. Great impact, even if it’s just chd. answering register in various languages across the terms, creates a real buzz over the many languages spoken across school.
#ukedchat Q2 by valuing those languages, giving ch an opportunity to share them, discuss them, draw parallels between languages and celebrate the skill of codeswitching in a daily basis.
#UkEdChat A2: Getting the parents involved is an essential way to raise the profile of other languages. Cooking workshops/arts and crafts/storytelling - the children are always so excited and engaged by it!
#ukedchat Q2 we had an assembly called We all smile in the same language at which ch were encouraged to share something in another lang. Didn’t have to be their ‘home’ language but fir many it was. So popular we had to have a second one as ran out of time.
A2 I tell my class how amazing they are to know more than one language just as one of my favourite teachers told me and the rest of the class of 8-9 year-olds. I thought it was normal! #UKEdChat
#UKEdChat A2 I say hello in the beginning of my lesson in a different language everyday. Student whose language we use that day feels really proud and is always eager to tell us how to pronounce it. Sometimes we take it further and discuss the culture etc
#ukedchat Q2 we had an assembly called We all smile in the same language at which ch were encouraged to share something in another lang. Didn’t have to be their ‘home’ language but fir many it was. So popular we had to have a second one as ran out of time.
#ukedchat A2 Having prominent local figures from different backgrounds - small business owners, local councillors, engineers....a good cross section, come in and talk to students/bring in examples of their culture/cuisine etc.
#UKEdChat A3: I really think this is something that requires a specialist teacher (unless you are yourself fluent) - it can be incredibly intimidating to have to teach a language you don’t know yourself. Many schools aren’t willing to/able provide this
A1 Many of the chn I teach did not speak English before starting school. They pick up the language quickly. In Yr 4 they enjoy learning French and pick up key words and phrases. Most of them say "Bonjour ca va?" each morning at register time. I reply en francaise! #UKEdChat
#UKEdChat Q3 again
Do you think that language learning has the status and resources needed to teach effectively in our schools?
Pls use the hashtag & A3...
#UKedchat Q2 songs, rhymes, role plays with ch who spoke the same language. A Polish ch read a poem; other Polish speakers laughed as it was funny! A ‘cool’ read a poem about a silly donkey in Arabic. Another ch read a poem in Greek that mum had written out phonetically for her.
I think knowing another language makes you smarter - not just because you know another language but also how you can understand nuance, humour and what drives us as humans. Totally anecdotal, but that my feeling. #ukedchat
As soon as possible - nothing formal to start with - pure oral work - oracy comes before literacy - but will help with own language development I think
A2: I have lots of pupils from different countries in my form. As a music teacher, when it’s a pupil’s birthday ‘Happy Birthday’ is now sung 5 times. 1st English, 2nd Welsh, 3rd Italian, 4th Arabic, 5th French and we even added a 6th today in Sindhi from Pakistan! #ukedchat
#UKEdChat Q4
How can schools best support pupils who arrive from various cultures, where the local language is unfamiliar to them?
Pls use the hashtag & A4...
A3: It certainly doesn’t have the status it should. Since moving to mainland Europe and learning how many languages chn learn at a young age is astonishing. Embarrassing how little we value it back home #UKEdChat
#UKedchat Q3 I am in a fortunate position as I teach at two schools where language learning is given status and where I am supported. Until this year I have had a (small) budget to spend. I am also experienced with lots of my own resources. I also spend my own money!
#ukedchat A4: I always make an effort to learn a few important words in their language (or if they’re confident, get them to teach me/the class) - very important for making them feel valued and included in the class
A3 We have a scheme for teaching French across KS2 and the subject leader is fluent having spoken French from a very young age. She teaches French to another class too. #UKEdChat
A4: I teach in a 1:1 school where each pupil are given their own iPad. The translation tools have really assisted the pupils who are new to speaking English. #ukedchat
#UKEdChat Q4 again
How can schools best support pupils who arrive from various cultures, where the local language is unfamiliar to them?
Pls use the hashtag & A4...
#UkEdChat Q3 however I do know that languages don’t have the same support in all primary schools. After lots of investment training teachers leading up to 2010, the funding was cut when the curriculum was shelved, and all the skills shared were left to stagnate.
#ukedchat A3 I think it's massively underappreciated. I lead at a #SEMH school, no MFL on the curriculum....we look at other cultures etc. In humanities/PSHE but I do wonder if this is an issue in any other #SEMH#SEND schools..??
A1. As soon as possible. So many links can be made between languages and word roots that I think it helps to develop an understanding of your first language too. #ukedchat
A4 in the maths department we had glossaries printed off for various languages that were placed on the desks to refer to when communicating with a student #ukedchat
#UKEdChat Q5
How do schools engage with local dialect, local languages and local idiosyncrasies to celebrate local cultures?
Pls use the hashtag & A5...
A4 We have a teacher who teaches new arrivals for one lesson each day x three days per week. She teaches key words and phrases. Learning is hands on which means everyone can participate. In class the use of visual cues helps in different subjects. #UKEdChat
A4. Pairing new students up with students who are good language role models- students who are confident and articulate to help the new student to develop the new language #ukedchat
#UKedchat A4. As an English teacher this can be especially challenging. I teach in a 1-1 iPad school where pupils can use translation apps to help them in class. I have also seen my school successfully budgy up new pupils with a pupil from the same culture to help with language.
#UKEdChat Q5 again
How do schools engage with local dialect, local languages and local idiosyncrasies to celebrate local cultures?
Pls use the hashtag & A5...
#UKEdChat A4 Be encouraging, appreciate that they can speak other language and are trying, be a good listener and give them words/ vocabulary they can use in different contexts
A5 celebrations of cultural holidays. We had Diwali and Chinese New Year assemblies for example led by the students. Followed by cultural lessons in pshe and food in the canteen.very eye opening. #ukedchat
#ukedchat A5 By getting out and experiencing it first hand. I'm a proud resident of Middlesbrough, some students had never been on the Transporter bridge or climbed Roseberry Topping....don't assume students living in your area have been to local places of interest!!
A2: National languages day, all staff & children encouraged to greet each other in another languages, greetings in various languages around the school & in classrooms. #UKEdChat
#UKedchat A4. As an English teacher this can be especially challenging. I teach in a 1-1 iPad school where pupils can use translation apps to help them in class. I have also seen my school successfully buddy up new pupils with a pupil from the same culture to help with language.
A3. Definitely doesn’t seem to have the status among students in my school for some reason. They are not enthusiastic about learning languages. A number of parents are also not positive about MFL when I meet with them. Not sure what the solution is #ukedchat
A2 As a language teacher I am always saying small words such as ‘thank you’, ‘good morning/afternoon’ etc in multiple languages and students try to guess the language. Those who speak the language feel proud and often correct me on my pronunciation! #UKEdChat
A6. Cross-curricular work and using classroom routines to introduce high-frequency vocabulary and phrases to build spontaneous talk repertoire. #UKedchat
#UKEdChat A6 class teachers can use languages for day to day tasks - register, lining up, counting, giving out jobs - as well as PE warm ups with minimal language but maximum effect as languages are seen as useful and day to day rather then kept in a ‘lesson box’
A5. Giving students the opportunity to share information about their cultures and languages if they want to. We have a boy from Bangladesh who taught students in his tutor group to write their names in Bengali. The students loved it. #ukedchat
#UKEdChat A6 encourage staff to share their lang skills. Not just the language teacher! There are v talented staff - not just teachers - in schools. TA had a degree in Fr/Sp that no one knew about until I asked. She loved using her languages but wouldn’t without ‘permission’
A6. Where you have more than one student in class with the same language, allow them to discuss ideas and answers in their first language when having discussion time #ukedchat
#ukedchat A6 As a science teacher you have a wealth of stuff looking at Latin via periodic table/genus-species/etc. Give students opportunities to expand on this...!
Early next week I'll be reading @TeachingAwards applications and shortlisting with fellow judges our 'nominees' for the ICT / Technology Award. What a privilege; very inspiring. #TeachinAwards#ukedchat#ThankATeacher
A7 I rather liked getting students to explain the key processes (maths) in their own language. Everyone learns something new in a completely different context #ukedchat
A7. By being great role models, using language themselves, looking for the cross-curricular opportunities to show that another language can be the medium through which pupils can access another subject area... #UKedchat
#ukedchat A7 By highlighting the importance of communication as a life skill and promoting inclusion. I had a tutor group who wanted to learn sign language as we had two deaf students joining our school, some went on to study sign level 1/2. I was quite chuffed!
@ukedchat signing off now. Lost a game of chess and have to stay way from technology for 24 hours. Wil check notifications tomorrow after 9pm. Tonight's chat was fun. #ukedchat
A7: Promote languages in their subject, students paired with working partners to help them with their reading, writing, listening & speaking. #UKEdChat
A8: Always had this problem with phonics and parents (digraph, phoneme etc). I ran a phonics workshop for them at the start of the year and now they’re much more on board, and supporting the learning at home! #UKEdChat
@ukedchat signing off now. Lost a game of chess and have to stay away from technology for 24 hours. Will check notifications tomorrow after 9pm. Thanks for tonight's chat #ukedchat
A8. By not assuming a common understanding of language/jargon. Even parents (and teachers for that matter!) without language barriers struggle with the jargon when moving on to a new school - we need to remember this and take it back to basics #ukedchat
#UKEdChat A8 I think it’s important that we communicate what words we use mean. As a teacher I need to ask questions about words - connectives or conjunctions? Article or determiner? Terms change and I do think definitions and examples can be very helpful!
A8 provision of key terms and glossaries from all departments that can be given to parents and students. Will be a pain to create but once done,it's done! National initiative??? Surely already been done? #ukedchat
#UKEdChat A8 parent workshops where carees work with ch are really helpful for this and enables greater understanding not just of vocabulary but also processes.
