North East

Dear language enthusiasts!

We would like to invite you to be part of an exciting project. We at Routes into Languages North East work to encourage language learning and the uptake of languages at higher education level among school pupils in the region. In order to do this, however, we need our Newcastle University students to work with us as Student Language Ambassadors.

The role of a Student Language Ambassador is dynamic, varied and, above all, fun! Your work might range from giving motivational talks in schools to providing administrative support in the office and from participating in festivals and other cultural events to delivering language taster sessions and mini-lessons. We regularly rotate our Ambassadors to ensure that everyone has the opportunity to participate in a variety of events. The role is flexible - you decide when to work according to your own availability. Full training is provided to successful applicants. You will be paid at a rate of £8.64 per hour – this excludes time spent travelling, but we will reimburse your travel costs if working off-campus.

Acting as a Student Language Ambassador serves to benefit you in many ways, both personally and professionally. Not only is the role a unique opportunity to network with others within and outside of the University, it will also enable you to develop a multitude of key transferable skills that will enhance your future employability. We are keen that you learn as much as possible in the role and offer additional training opportunities whenever we can.

To apply, read the attached job description and person specification carefully, complete the application form and email it directly to routesne@newcastle.ac.uk by no later than Wednesday 4th October 5:00pm. Alternatively, should electronic submission not be possible, please post the documents to:

Student Language Ambassador Applications
Language Resource Centre
Old Library Building
Newcastle University
NE17RU.

Please note that, if selected, the proposed dates for interviews and subsequent training are respectively the afternoons of Wednesday 11^th October and Wednesday 18^th October.

With best wishes,

Helen Kenny

Language Learning Support Officer
Newcastle University

Calling all language enthusiasts,

We would like to invite you to be part of an exciting project. We at Routes into Languages North East work to encourage language learning and the uptake of languages at higher education level among school pupils in the region. In order to do this, however, we need our Newcastle University students to work with us as Student Language Ambassadors.

The role of a Student Language Ambassador is dynamic, varied and, above all, fun! Your work might range from giving motivational talks in schools to providing administrative support in the office and from participating in festivals and other cultural events to delivering language taster sessions and mini-lessons. We regularly rotate our Ambassadors to ensure that everyone has the opportunity to participate in a variety of events. The role is flexible - you decide when to work according to your own availability. Full training is provided to successful applicants. You will be paid at a rate of £8.64 per hour – this excludes time spent travelling, but we will reimburse your travel costs if working off-campus.

Acting as a Student Language Ambassador serves to benefit you in many ways, both personally and professionally. Not only is the role a unique opportunity to network with others within and outside of the University, it will also enable you to develop a multitude of key transferable skills that will enhance your future employability. We are keen that you learn as much as possible in the role and offer additional training opportunities whenever we can.

To apply, read the attached job description and person specification carefully, complete the application form and email it directly to routesne@newcastle.ac.uk alongside a tailored CV and Letter of Motivation by no later than Tuesday 11th October 12.00 noon. Alternatively, should electronic submission not be possible, please post the documents to:

Student Language Ambassador Applications
Language Resource Centre
Old Library Building
Newcastle University
NE17RU.

Please note that, if selected, the proposed dates for interviews and subsequent training are the afternoons of Wednesday 19^th October and Wednesday 26^th October.

With best wishes,

Helen Kenny

Language Learning Support Officer
Newcastle University

[Edit 2023: please note that unfortunately the North East regional group is not currently running the Bee programmes. Please see the East of England page for more details about the support for the Foreign Language Spelling Bee]. 

An 80 strong host of Year 7 spellers, teachers and supporters descended on Newcastle University for the North East regional final of the Foreign Language Spelling Bee 2016 on the afternoon of Wednesday 20th April. Despite fewer schools taking part in the event this year, the competition remained fierce across all three categories of French, German and Spanish.

Following a welcome from Consortium Director Dr Elizabeth Andersen, the stage was set for the spelling to begin. There was much excitement as we witnessed a 'sudden death' round (a first for us here in the North East) of epic proportions which featured five straight minutes of superb spelling from two Chantry Middle School pupils competing to enter the French semi-final round. The refreshment break shortly afterwards was very much welcomed by pupils and judges alike!

Our congratulations go to the winners and runners-up in each category, all of whom will be representing the region at the national final in Cambridge on 1st July.

French

1. Imandi Kumarapeli (Royal Grammar School Newcastle)
2. Harsha Menon (Royal Grammar School Newcastle)
3. Esme Collin (Gosforth Junior High Academy)
4. Lauren Shepherdson (Gosforth Junior High Academy)

German

1. Kushi Rao (Royal Grammar School Newcastle)
2. Ananya Singh (Yarm School)
3. Sarah Mhando (Yarm School)

Spanish

1. Mehek Hathiramani (St Mary's Catholic School)
2. Aleksandr Vuletic (St Mary's Catholic School)
3. Cerys Williams (The Venerable Bede CE Academy)
4. Charlie Lamb (The Venerable Bede CE Academy)

Thank you to all North East schools who took part in the competition this year  at class, school and regional level and we sincerely hope it has been a positive experience for pupils and teachers alike. We are also grateful to our excellent team of judges, comprising academic staff members Miss Ariane Bogain of Northumbria Univeristy, Dr Franck Michel, Dr Elizabeth Andersen, Dr Patricia Oliart and Lucy Hill of Newcastle University, in addition to Student Ambassadors Nicolas and Marcus. Fellow Student Ambassadors Amy, Ben, Liam and Lucy made sterling work of operating the FLSB programme and ensuring that all ran smoothly on the day.

60 school children and teachers attended the North East Great Languages Bake Off Competition Final at The University of Sunderland on Monday 21^st March.

Further to the success of the 2013 and 2015 competitions, this year over 55 school children from across the North East region produced videos featuring a recipe in French, German and Spanish and were invited for the competition final on campus where they presented their video entries and shared with the audience the process of making them.

University of Sunderland Routes Strand Leader Jenny Hayes, who devised and ran the event, explained: “The students rose to a tough challenge that required them to apply a wide range of cross-curricular skills that spanned from speaking in another language to filming techniques and from cooking skills to ICT based video production”. The judges were very impressed with the number of high quality entries that were received. The competition winners - Nunthorpe Academy with 'Religieuse au Chocolat' - received prizes of a beautiful chocolate and strawberry cake and a trophy.

Jenny was aided in the organisation of the competition by Student Language Ambassador Catia Garcia, who increased her employability skills by planning, liaising and coordinating a group of fellow Student Ambassadors. For more information about organising a similar event please contact Jenny Hayes at jenny.hayes@sunderland.ac.uk.