Black Country Regional Support Group

Coordinator: Henriette Harnisch, Room PA103, Wolverhampton Science Park, Glashier Drive, Wolverhampton WV10 9RU
Tel: 01902 824414 Fax: 01902 824418
Email: H.Harnisch@wlv.ac.uk

West Midlands Regional Consultative Group is a networking and discussion group hosted by the West Midlands Regional Support Groups.

Regional Support Group sessions

Session 1: Tuesday 31 October 2006
Title: Resources Fair – A showcase of publishers’ resources to support primary MFL delivery
Speaker(s): Various Publishers
Venue: Molineux Stadium, Wolverhampton
Time: 14.00-17.00

The Black Country Regional Support Group for Early Language Learning staged a Primary Languages Resource Fair on October 31st 2006. Dr.Henriette Harnisch opened the event by welcoming both publishers and many primary practitioners as well as other local authority advisers.

Over 25 publishers displayed their materials and demonstrated some of the latest language learning resources and ideas for classroom practice. All attendees had the opportunity to take part in demonstrations, to view and evaluate the variety of resources available. Demo sessions allowed some publishers to show more thoroughly their resources.

Proformas have been created for the evaluation of resources for non-specialists, which will be shared through RSGs and Comenius.

The session was a great way of starting the academic year and a statement of the level of support available to all involved in delivering and/or planning for the implementation of the primary entitlement. All attendees agreed on how well organised the event was and how they appreciated the opportunity to take part in demonstrations as well as networking.

Session 2: Wednesday 6 December 2006
Title: Festivals from all around the world – linking languages with customs and cultural traditions fro KS2 learners.
Speaker(s): Emilia Quaranta and Emma Peducelle
Venue: Wolverhampton Science Park – Armstrong Room
Time: 16.30-18.00, refreshments from 16.00
Come and browse our reference library for primary languages

Dr Henriette Harnisch opened the event by thanking and welcoming all present and providing an overview of the RSG activities as well as introducing the two speakers for the session, Emilia and Emma, who then  gave an overview of the session and shared with all the purpose of the event.

The speakers started by providing an overview of the intercultural strand and the importance of developing children’s awareness of other cultures with a great emphasis on the benefits of this in support to our attempt to develop children as citizens. Emilia and Emma shared with the audience the view that children become more aware of what is going on in their own life, appreciate their values and beliefs by exploring, reflecting and comparing these to those of others.

The sessions them moved on to demonstrating a variety of activities which would encourage appreciation of other cultures through exploring various festivals typical of some cultures, such as Christmas, Saint Nicolas, German Christmas traditions, Christmas in Brazil, Christmas in Bangladesh, etc. They also provided the audience with many examples of free on line resources that could be used during a typical school day to encourage intercultural understanding.

Throughout the session there were clear links made to the KS2 Framework and a discussion on how well know teaching and learning techniques could be used in ELL took place after each activities, as well as encouraging and inviting the attendees to share their experiences.

The session ended with the speakers providing a pack containing some resources and a list of useful websites.
 
Session 3: Thursday 8 February 2007 *to be rescheduled*
Title: ICT in the primary MFL classroom – exploring how ICT can support MFL in an appropriate, cross-curricular fashion
Speaker(s): TBC
Venue: Wolverhampton Science Park, JISC Training Room
Time: 15.00-17.00, refreshments from 14.30

Session 4: Thursday 17 May 2007
Title: Fun with languages – ideas for games, songs and other fun activities for primary languages
Speaker(s): Emilia Quaranta, Rita Davidson
Venue: Wolverhampton Science Park
Time: 16.00-18.30

Session 5: Tuesday 5 June 2007
Title: Developing International Links for Primary
Speaker(s): Nigel Pearson, CILT Language Teaching Adviser
Venue: Wolverhampton Science Park
Time: 16.00-18.30

This session will look at how establishing links with the primary schools abroad can bring primary languages alive.

Session 6: Tuesday 10 July 2007
Title: Podcasting and Early Language Learning
Speaker(s): Andy Pearsall
Venue: Wolverhampton Science Park
Time: 16.30-19.00

NACELL Regional Support Groups are funded by the DfES and co-ordinated by CILT, the National Centre for Languages in support of the National Languages Strategy.