Visit to Fulford School Alternative Languages day, 21.10.10
York St John University were delighted to take part in Fulford School’s Alternative Languages Day for year 10 students on 21st October 2010.
Tutors and students from the University delivered sessions in Japanese language and culture, Greek and BSL. The Japanese tutor also arranged for York Taiko drumming group Kaminari to take part. The variety of activities on offer helped to keep the pupils motivated in the course of an intensive schedule.
BSL with Heather Marshall, 2nd year Joint Honours student (Education studies and Languages)
Comments from pupils included:
Sign language was amazing!
It was something new and exciting.
I learnt a lot from it and would love to do it again.
We learnt interesting things like having life from a different perspective.
I liked this lesson the most and learnt a lot and I am still able to use it now.
Japanese calligraphy with Molly and Luke (1st year Joint Honours students)
Comments from pupils included:
The calligraphy was the best – it was very fun and interesting.
It was really fun and the people running it were really friendly.
It was really good and I didn’t realise it took that much skill.
I enjoyed this lesson – it was very creative and it engaged me.
There wasn’t too much or too little to do and you could choose what to do first.
Origami with Beth and Amy (1st year Joint Honours students)
Comments from pupils included:
I enjoyed making the sumo wrestler.
I loved making the water bombs!
I liked making the swans etc.
The origami was fantastic!
It was great making something we could keep.
Kaminari Taiko drumming workshop
Comments from pupils included:
It was good because they let you get involved and the drumming was exciting.
Playing the drums was my favourite because it was a totally new experience.
I had an amazing time doing the drumming.
It was fun playing the drums and listening to the professionals.
Comments about the Greek and Japanese tasters (unfortunately we took no photos!):
I liked the Greek quiz on places/cities in Greece.
It was hard singing the song in Japanese because it was so fast but it was good.
I liked learning the new alphabet and numbers.
I really enjoyed learning how to speak the language.
General comments about the day:
I really liked the variety of languages available and the fun way in which we learned them.
I liked everything: it was a great experience and learning opportunity.
Tutors and students were impressed by the behaviour and attitude of the Fulford pupils, who showed interest and respect throughout.
It was a mutually beneficial event, helping to strengthen links between the university and the school, which are all the more important in the current economic climate. This event was made possible with Routes into Languages funding, which is now drawing to an end, but has enabled YSJU to offer a wide range of very successful language initiatives for schools since 2007.
Alison Organ October 2010
