In this project, Student Language Ambassadors will be linked with a class in a secondary school. While the student is on his/her year abroad, s/he will maintain contact with the class via email, sharing academic and (suitable) personal experiences.

In addition, to sustain contact over key rest periods, we organise the Adopt-a-Class Conference in January/February, at which pupils will get a chance to deliver a short presentation on a topic covered previously.

The Adopt-a-class activity is suitable for pupils from Year 9 and above. It aims to:

• Raise pupil awareness of language opportunities
• Familiarise pupils with life in another country
• Enhance pupils' cultural awareness
• Offer pupils authentic language material
• Disseminate information on student mobility schemes
• Increase language up-take in GCSE, A-level and University

This activity is suitable  to both Languages and Citizenship studies and there are many opportunities for cross-curricular activities. Please note that it will not be possible to choose the destination country of Student Ambassador. The objective is to familiarise secondary school pupils with the opportunity to study abroad, and highlight what it's like to learn the country's customs and traditions and be completely immersed in the language and culture.

Milestones for Year 2015-2016:

• Deadline for registering                     29 May 2015
• Introduce students and teachers to each other.
  Draw up agreements.                        May-June 2015
• Introduce students to the class       June-July 2015
• Students in contact with the class  Sept 15 - July 16
• Students re-visit the class                Sept 2016
   

 To register, please click here.

The University of Westminster are now accepting applications for GCSE Language Immersion Saturdays.

The University of Westminster’s Language Immersion Saturdays are an established annual event, aiming to promote practical language use amongst GCSE students. They have been designed to help learners develop their language skills and gain more practical expertise.
The languages offered are French, German, and Spanish. In each language, we are offering two back-to-back (= ie. repeat) workshops, giving students learning two languages the option of booking a workshop in both.
The events are part of the Routes into Languages initiative and are hosted by the Department of Modern Languages and Cultures. Each two-day workshop costs £30 and comprises 2x4 hours of teaching time. The workshops are not syllabus revision workshops, but are aimed to encourage learners to apply their language skills in different contexts and use them flexibly. We are aiming to increase students’ confidence and fluency. These events are hands-on sessions, giving students an opportunity to work with languages in real-life situations and practise key skills. 

For more information please contact Dr. Manuela von Papen.*  

*Please note that we are unable to accept email or telephone enquiries. Bookings can only be made by post.