Yorkshire and the Humber

This day is designed to give Year 12 French students an experience of studying French at university, while also enhancing their in-class learning by focussing on a film in the current A-Level French curriculum.

Students will enjoy workshops led by French tutors which will draw out key themes from the chosen film, simultaneously deepening their knowledge of the film and French-speaking cultures and societies.

This is ideal for French students to experience language learning at a university as they begin thinking about applying to university.

Interested? Contact Esther Harper at e.r.harper@leeds.ac.uk

How do you get young people interested in modern languages?

How do you build up their linguistic abilities and confidence?

How do you increase the take up of languages at GCSE?

Eurofest is an exciting simulated international trade fair, developed by the Selby Modern Languages Forum, to encourage the active use of modern foreign languages.

Year 8 students from local schools sell products which they have designed themselves and run tourist information stands – and have a lot of fun at the same time.

Students practise their language skills in a realistic, but safe environment, speaking and listening in one or two languages, giving information, answering questions and writing down details.

And who are our foreign visitors? Students, university staff, PGCE students, native speakers and business partners.

Eurofest can not only help to boost students’ confidence and increase their motivation for languages, but also encourage them to develop enterprise skills – design, marketing and sales skills. Eurofest highlights the usefulness of language skills in business today, raising the career aspirations of the young learners and fostering closer relationships between schools, higher education and business.

Eurofest was run for the first time in June 2008 and it is now an annual event at Selby College. It was so successful that Eurofest has won a European Award for Languages in 2009 and was also awarded the Euro London Appointments Business Prize in 2009.

Contact languages@yorksj.ac.uk to book your place.

Postgraduate research students are available to visit your schools to deliver workshops on specific curriculum content across French, Spanish and German.

Sessions can be discussed and agreed in correspondence with Esther Harper e.r.harper@leeds.ac.uk and some of our most popular and successful workshops are on films such as El Laberinto del Fauno, Die Welle and La Haine, as well as other aspects of language and culture.

These workshops are deigned to stretch and challenge your students, enhance their curriculum learning and provide an experience of university-style teaching.

Current students of the university are available to visit your school to give a presentation to students about studying languages courses.

These interactive, lively and relevant presentations are tailored so they are relevant to students at all three secondary Key Stages, and are appropriate for groups of 50+.

Content will include information and advice about how a path into studying languages at university could be pursued, what possible career options could be available with a languages degree, as well as the general experience of studying a language at university.

Our specially-trained ‘Leeds Loves Languages’ ambassadors will share their own experiences and be available to answer specific questions about their subject area and their time spent living abroad as part of their course.

Contact Esther Harper for more information e.r.harper@leeds.ac.uk

Linguastars is back!

This two-day residential for Year 12 A-Level students provides those who are beginning to make decisions about what to study at university a chance to explore what studying languages could be like.

This year, in addition to a programme for A-Level students of French, Spanish and German, we are pleased to be opening up a new ab initio language strand, meaning those who may or may not be studying a language at A-Level can try out a new language (such as Italian or Russian) for the two days.

Day and overnight places are available to delegates (depending on home address) and alongside their language workshops they will enjoy a series of talks, taster sessions in language area studies and recreational activities.

Teachers who may be interested in advertising this to their students should contact Esther Harper e.r.harper@leeds.ac.uk

This event is designed to give Key Stage 3 pupils of French, Spanish and German an experience of learning languages in a university environment and to help them consider the importance of language learning, particularly as they decide which GCSE subject to take.

They will enjoy a series of activities in their GCSE language and have the opportunity to try out a new language, such as Russian, Italian or Japanese!

Your pupils will also hear from our languages students about their experience studying languages and spending time in different cultures.

This day is perfect for increasing pupils’ enthusiasm for languages and allowing them to think about languages beyond the classroom.

Contact Esther Harper for more information e.r.harper@leeds.ac.uk

This day is designed to give Year 12 German students an experience of studying German at university, while also enhancing their in-class learning by focusing on a film in the current A-Level German curriculum.

Students will enjoy workshops led by German tutors and postgraduate students which will draw out key themes from the chosen film, simultaneously deepening their knowledge of the film and German culture and society.

This is ideal for German students to experience language learning at a university as they begin thinking about applying to university.

For more information, contact Esther Harper e.r.harper@leeds.ac.uk

The University of Hull is working with Goole Academy, Beverley High School and Newland School for Girls to offer bespoke languages events for their students. 

Language tutors and student ambassadors will be working with the pupils to enhance their language skills and give them a taste of where languages can take them in the future.

For more information, contact routes@hull.ac.uk

Could you design a sports kit or a water bottle for the Rugby World Cup, incorporating a foreign language element?

Do you have the IT skills to make a video advert or business pitch to accompany your design?

If so… this competition is for you!

On September 25th, in advance of the European Day of Languages 2015, Routes into Languages Yorkshire & Humber will be unveiling a brand new Languages Design Competition, to tie-in with the Rugby World Cup.

The competition will be to design either a water bottle or a sports kit for the Rugby World Cup with a language element in the design.

The language used must be one of the languages that are taught as part of the curriculum in schools, (namely French, Spanish, German or ‘other’ language).   

The competition will be open to all secondary students and will be in two age group categories: Years 7-9 and Years 10-11. 4 pupils per group maximum.

Students in years 7-9 will be required to create an advert in the target language to promote their design and in Years 10-11 they will need to come up with a business pitch in the target language, both to be submitted in video format (maximum 2 minutes long).

The winning entry will receive a prize of £50 Amazon vouchers and a trophy. 2nd and 3rd places in each category will receive £25 Amazon vouchers. All participants will be given certificates of commendation.

To register your school’s interest, please complete and return the attached Registration Form to routes@hull.ac.uk. Please note that all schools must complete a Registration Form in order to participate.

Full details will be provided at the official launch on the 25th September, so watch this space…