West Midlands

This exciting and interactive event for KS4 students is an introduction to stop motion animation where pupils work in small groups to create models to be animated. They are taught how to use the software and get the chance to create their own storyboard and short film. As this will be a languages based session, pupils will be encouraged to use foreign languages in the film and create an MFL themed scenario.

This event is a full day event from 9.30am - 2.30pm.

 Schools receive a DVD of the animations after the event which could even create the basis for a LAFTAs entry to be submitted for CILT's annual competition.
 

Routes into Languages West Midlands are currently working with local Schools and Colleges as hubs to host language activities for other schools in the same area. The second of these activities will be a Year 9 language day with Shrewsbury Sixth Form College.

The event takes place on 21st January 9.30am - 12pm and pupils will have the chance to find out more about careers with languages including hands on sessions with local business people and university staff. Have a look at the programme below for more information.

This event is initially restricted to schools in the wider Shrewsbury area, however there is a waiting list for schools outside the area. Please note, places are limited and will be allocated on a first come, first served basis.

This event for Year 8 pupils and their parents will take place at Keele University with a series of workshops with the aim of encouraging GCSE uptake of languages and enthusing pupils and parents for languages. There will be emphasis on the fun element of learning languages as well as the advantages of having a language in the world of business and employment.

This is a two part project with the second phase, a two day residential for pupils and teachers held at Keele University. Parents will be invited to a celebration evening meal at the end of the residential phase.

 For more information please contact us at routes@aston.ac.uk or 0121 204 3872.

Routes into Languages West Midlands are currently working with local Schools and Colleges as hubs to host language activities for other schools in the same area. The first of these activities will be a Year 9 language day with King Edward VI College Stourbridge.

The event takes place on 15th December 1pm – 4pm and pupils will have the chance to find out more about languages at GCSE, A-level and beyond including a hands on session on careers with languages. Current college and undergraduate language students will be on hand throughout the afternoon to provide advice, support and guidance to pupils and a guided tour of the College in target language (from a choice of Spanish, French or German). Have a look at the programme below for more information.

This event is initially restricted to schools in the wider Dudley area, however there is a waiting list for schools outside the area. Please note, places are limited and will be allocated on a first come, first served basis.

Language Roadshows are offered by University of Warwick and feature an interactive language workshop combined with various life-skills activities (e.g. French and football, Spanish and Art, Italian and fashion) and/or language taster sessions focussing on particular languages and cultures.

Student volunteers and University language tutors will run these events at your school to stimulating interest in different languages and cultures.

The Language Shadow Scheme is open to Sixth Form students and staff across the region. Participants will be able to spend a morning, afternoon or whole day with a current language undergraduate or academic, attending lectures and finding out more about university life at their nearest Routes HEI.

The aim of the scheme is to improve understanding and better transition between A-Level and university study for students and staff in both sectors, all of whom can benefit from the discussions, the links and the up-to-date understanding of standards, practices and issues.

Applications are accepted from students and teaching staff either individually or in small groups of no more than 2 - 3.

The scheme starts in October 2010 and runs until April 2011 during University term time and subject to availability.

For more information please contact routes@aston.ac.uk or 0121 204 3872.

 Please note this activity is restricted to schools in the West Midlands consortium only. Please check the events page of your local consortium for similar activities.

Do you want to create a BUZZ about languages in your school?

Find your best Spelling Bees to compete in a national FOREIGN LANGUAGE competition. This involves 3 rounds before they reach the National Finals. The competition will be launched officially on the European Day of Languages (26th September) but you can get started sooner or join in when you can. All 10 regions in England and Wales are taking part; visit their pages by clicking on the Regional Consortia tab to find out about their regional heats.

The aim of the Spelling Bee is for students in Year 7 to practise and improve their vocabulary, spelling and memory skills in a foreign language (French, Spanish or German) and to raise the profile of languages through class, school, regional and now national competitions. Please download and read the Teachers’ Pack which will give you all the details you need to get started. In the meantime, here’s a whistle stop tour:

• Students will be given 50 words to learn at the first stage of the competition and a further 50 words will be added at both subsequent stages of the competition. Vocabulary will be relevant to the curriculum and for the National Final words will be related to the London 2012 Olympics. Vocabulary lists are available in the Teachers' Pack below.

• The competition should be launched in school in the autumn term and time should be spent teaching and practising the alphabet in the foreign language (paying attention to describing letters with accents, etc..)

• Unlike in a monolingual Spelling Bee, students will be given the word in English, They will first have to translate it into the foreign language and then spell it out correctly using the alphabet in the foreign language

• When participating, students will be given one minute to correctly spell as many words as possible

• Words should be allocated in random order

Time line:

Term 1 – Class competitions

Term 2 (by half term) – School competitions

Term 2 (March 2011) – Regional competition to be held at Aston University in Birmingham

Term 3 (July 2011) – National competition to be held at Homerton College, University of Cambridge 

The names of the winners at each stage of the competition should be submitted to routes@aston.ac.uk so that we can send a certificate to acknowledge their achievements. There will be prizes for the regional qualifiers as well as regional and national trophies to take back to school.

Regional winners will be entered into the National Spelling Bee Final to be held in July 2011 in Cambridge.

If you’d like your year 7s to compete in the Spelling Bee, please download and complete the registration form below and return to us by email at routes@aston.ac.uk, by fax to 0121 204 3874 or by post to Routes into Languages West Midlands, North Wing 820, Aston University, Birmingham B4 7ET.

If you have any questions please contact us at routes@aston.ac.uk or 0121 204 3872.

Get spelling now!

We are increasingly aware that when the time comes throughout a students' school career to make choices about which subjects to study, many pupils are heavily influenced by the opinions and desires of their parents. Many schools hold Options Evenings and Parents events to help students make an informed decision and to ensure parents are up to date with the options available to their children.

Perhaps uptake for languages in your school is low, you're not sure parents in your school recognise the importance of languages or you'd just like some help making the case for languages at key times in the academic year, Routes WM can help.

A Routes into Languages representative can attend your Parents' Event or evening with a current language undergraduate and deliver a bespoke visit to meet your needs. We can deliver a formal presentation as part of the event highlighting the importance of language learning with input from one of our Language Ambassadors, provide a Question and Answer session, or provide a stand as part of an information evening where parents and pupils can ask questions and collect information on a more informal basis. We are also open to suggestions if you would like something more specific and will do our best to meet your needs.

For more information please contact routes@aston.ac.uk or 0121 204 3872

Please note this activity is restricted to schools in the West Midlands consortium only. Please check the events page of your local consortium for similar activities.

Need help promoting languages at your school? Then contact the West Midlands consortium!

We can help spread the word that languages are exciting, fun and important by supporting options days, language days and careers events. Members of the consortium can visit your school to attend your event, give presentations or simply give advice about language learning. We can also bring current undergraduate students to talk to your students about their reasons for studying languages and what it's really like.

Our calendar is filling up so please contact us soon if you would like us to visit your school.

Please note this activity is restricted to schools in the West Midlands consortium only. Please check the events page of your local consortium for similar activities.
 

These 3-day courses are held at the University of Birmingham for gifted and talented/ particularly able Year 12 students combining an introduction to each language with an insight into Chinese and Japanese culture.