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London Richmond Regional Support Group |
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Session
5: 2 May 2007 Session
4: 21 March 2007 Session
3: 1 February 2007 Session
2: Wednesday 15 November 2006 Session
1: 21 September
2006 Session
5: Story telling in MFL teaching This was our final, and well attended session for this academic year. Christine Capon began by summarising the year in terms of the sessions ran and informed delegates that she would be sending around a questionnaire during the second part of the summer term for people to comment on the effectiveness of the sessions, as well as note any suggestions they might have. Christine introduced Jenny Carpenter to the group and Jenny launched straight into an activity. During the course of the session, Jenny engaged the group with a variety of text including rhymes, stories, songs and non-fiction text. Most of the activities required audience participation, which despite it being the end of the day, we all gladly took part in. There was a wealth of ideas for different types of text which we all scribbled down frantically! Jenny also demonstrated the use of puppets, a variety of props related to the texts and a magical story telling coat! The session concluded with a question and answer session and an opportunity to take a closer look at the books etc that Jenny uses. We were all very grateful for the comprehensive booklist which she also provided for texts in French, Spanish and German. Session
4: Using the Primary Languages website Christine Capon opened the session and thanked Katie Barber at Kew Riverside for hosting the session. She introduced Joe Brown from CILT and also Paul Saich from Comenius London who came to offer his support to the RSG. Joe began by asking the group to consider what sort of support it would like the Primary Languages website to provide and after some small group discussion a list was identified. Joe went through the list and identified which of them could be met through the Primary Languages website and which through the NACELL website. We were very fortunate in being able to hold this session in the newly built ICT suite at Kew Riverside School. We were also a very privileged group as we were the first RSG to have a live demonstration of the Primary Languages website. Joe took us through the site and showed us its various sections and just how to use it. From the outset the group was very positive about the site and were keen to “have a go” themselves and so after about 20 minutes we were all afforded the opportunity to scrutinise the site independently at individual terminals. Joe was able to spend time with individuals to help them navigate the site. After about half an hour we reluctantly came back together so that Joe might show us some other useful sites which could be located through the NACELL site. The Northumberland grid for learning with its stories for KS2 was particularly inspiring. Christine Capon thanked Joe for leading the session. Everyone present agreed that it had been a very worthwhile session and that they would be disseminating the information to colleagues. Session
3: Actions, Songs and Rhyme in language teaching Emma Read, the Primary National Strategy consultant for MFL lead the session on using song, action and rhyme in the teaching and learning of MFL. This was a very practical session, where everyone joined in with actions and songs. It was felt to be very useful and provided tips and techniques that people were eager to try in the classroom. Emma demonstrated how well known tunes can fit most lists of vocabulary to be learnt. She also showed how to make learners aware of different sounds in French words, therefore fulfilling Frame work objectives. There were regular opportunities to share ideas and practice between colleagues. Emma ended the session by showing useful websites and promoting upcoming courses for MFL. Session
2: Teachers Talking French –
improving your classroom language This was a lively and well attended session, answering a request from many teachers about how they might improve their own language skills for classroom use. Christine Capon greeted everybody and thanked Trafalgar Junior for hosting the session. She went on to introduce David Buckland, from Teachers Talking French who spoke about the audio CDs his company had produced to help teachers improve their language skills. David talked about his own background and how the idea for the CDs came about. The group discussed the benefits of class teachers teaching their own French and the benefits of using the target language as much as possible. David then went on to demonstrate the CDs and explain how to use them. After a question and answer session, David went on to explain the cost of the course. He announced that were schools to buy them as a group, they would be available at a discount price. Christine Capon also went on to draw attention to other resources for improving your language skills, including CDs which accompany the Early Start Pack, courses run by CILT and Comenius and other language skill resources held centrally at the Languages for Life Room at the Teacher’s Centre in Twickenham. The session concluded with a chance to network over a glass of wine and some nibbles.
Christine Capon (AST) started the meeting with an outline of the main intercultural objectives which could be met through Language Day events. She then described a Bastille Day celebration she has organised for several years - she shared activities and useful resources. Richard Smith explained how French is being taught in his school whilst also showing how as Language Coordinator he makes best use of native speakers to enrich the school curriculum and introduce other languages into the school. Trafalgar hosts one or two students every year in September so they joined us for the meeting and had interesting contributions to make. As well as providing taster language sessions in lunch hours, helping out on Languages Day the students give the children a great insight into life in their countries. Richard also mentioned an amazing theatre company who present French or Spanish shows in schools - the website is www.europeantheatre.co.uk if you are interested. They will also give language based drama workshops. Richard went on to share some very quick, easy ideas to mark Languages Day which were much appreciated by busy teachers! Julie Mansfield gave a snapshot of last year's Languages Day at Collis School by presenting a slide show of pictures taken on the day. It was good to discuss how such days can be funded and how cooperative local businesses are in supporting such events often leaving schools with very little costs to pay. Parents are also a huge resource at these times - often covering many languages and willingly coming into school to bake, create, play games, talk to the children about their lives or even keep a photographic record of the day. Tiffany Petty brought the session to a close by outlining Collis Primary School 's plans for a Japanese Day on the 29th September. She gave out a list of useful organisations and websites, highlighting how helpful the Japanese Embassy and Japan 21 had been in sending free resources. An interesting session where it became clear that Language Days are rich occasions with great cross - curricular benefits and huge opportunities to meet the intercultural awareness objectives of the framework.
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Coordinators: Christine Capon, Hampton Hill Junior
School; Tiffany Petty, Collis Primary School