The latest Routes into Languages East project enjoyed a very exciting launch last week – on the pitch, during half-time of the Norwich v Chelsea premiership match. It’s the latest Language & Football venture – based on Arsenal Double Club, it uses football to motivate pupils to learn languages.
This new project, backed by Norwich City Spanish defender, Daniel Ayala, will give students the chance to learn the language via Norwich City themed lessons and workbooks.
The project has been developed by Routes East in partnership with Norfolk County Council and Norwich City FC's Study Support Centre and will initially support 20 students from City Academy Norwich who are learning Spanish.
The programme is aimed at encouraging students to develop their understanding of the Spanish language and culture and the students at City Academy, Norwich have already starting learning some Spanish in extra lessons and on their own, using the CULP4SC (Cambridge University Language Programme for Schools & Colleges) materials, that have been part of Routes East activity for the past three years, in readiness for the programme.
Spanish Double Club will see Year 8 pupils take part in two hours of Spanish lessons each week, all themed around Norwich City. One hour will be in the classroom and one will be out on the pitch combining Spanish with football skills.
This project brings together three of the five Routes East partners, as the University of East Anglia will be providing the Student Language Ambassador, Chris Holmes, who will be the main deliverer of Spanish, working with Norwich City FC Study Centre Manager, Paul Wickens.
The new programme kicked-off with a special fiesta event at the Study Support Centre on Monday, with pupils enjoying Spanish food-tasting and a chance to sample Spanish culture, followed by a guided tour of the stadium in English and Spanish before preparing to be journalists at a press conference with Daniel Ayala see http://www.itv.com/anglia/strength-to-strenght84926/ They each introduced themselves in Spanish and asked him questions in both languages about Spain and about himself (including one on his salary, which he declined to answer!). The day was attended by David McNally, Chief Executive of Norwich City Football Club and Maria Jose Eguskiza from the Spanish Embassy Education Office together with Dr Tony Morgan, Director of Routes East and Sarah Schechter, Project Manager.
Lessons will be held at City Academy every Friday from 24 February.
