The Linguist is a languages magazine for professional linguists, translators, interpreters, language professionals, language teachers, trainers, students and academics with articles on translation, interpreting, business, government, technology
Issue link: https://thelinguist.uberflip.com/i/1149191
@Linguist_CIOL AUGUST/SEPTEMBER The Linguist 17 FEATURES value of all languages. Learners submit poems in their mother tongue or a language they are learning in school. SCILT publishes winning entries in an anthology. 4 Word Wizard. A spelling competition for learners of French, German, Spanish, Gaelic and Mandarin in lower secondary school, aiming to increase pupils' intrinsic motivation for language learning. SCILT monitors uptake of language exams, and noted that between 2015 and 2017, entries at Higher Grade in all available languages (French, German, Italian, Mandarin and Spanish) increased. For Advanced Higher, the increase continued into 2018. However, without further research we could not be sure to what degree the increases were linked to these initiatives. Evaluating the impact At this point, UCMLS/SCILT secured funding from the AHRC Modern Languages Fellowship Fund to conduct an initial impact study. A number of pupils, teachers, UCMLS representatives, local authority development officers and employers who had participated in at least two initiatives, including the Business Brunches, were interviewed. The headline findings are: 3 • Stakeholders rated the initiatives as positive overall. The importance of SCILT, as a coordinating body with dedicated staff time to support promotional initiatives, was highlighted as a crucial factor. • Business Brunches received the most positive feedback with verifiable evidence of impact on learner attitudes. Several schools reported an increase in uptake in the senior phase and this was confirmed by the statistical evidence on language entries. • Participants in Language Linking Global Thinking reported an increased awareness about life in another country and culture, and enhanced motivation through the use of authentic materials in their lessons. • We had limited feedback from our interviewees on Mother Tongue Other Tongue. However, anecdotal evidence from the annual awards ceremonies indicates that participating pupils and parents, many of them from areas of high social deprivation, really valued the competition. • Word Wizard competitors reported increased motivation and self-confidence, but our evidence suggests that participation was often restricted to a few individuals in each participating school. Overall, it thus had minimal identifiable impact, and given the high administration costs, SCILT discontinued support at national level beyond 2018. However, resources are available online for schools to organise their own competitions. Between them, Business Brunches and Language Linking Global Thinking reached approximately 3,000 learners over a four-year period (2015-2018), during which time there was an upward trend in Higher and Advanced Higher examinations. While we are not able to claim a direct causal link, we are confident that participation in one or more of the initiatives (Business Brunches in particular) was a contributory factor. So what are our first thoughts on the findings? Collaboration is key – we need to work across all education sectors with one voice, but also form strategic partnerships outside education. Working together is efficient in terms of time and resources, and has greater potential for wider impact. Central coordination, in this case provided by SCILT, is another essential factor for the effective organisation of promotional initiatives at national level. For Scotland, this is crucial because outside the major cities there are large distances between schools, universities and other stakeholder organisations. Looking ahead, greater use of digital platforms and small-scale local events may help to increase participation from schools, including those in remote locations or areas of social deprivation. We also think the findings point to a need for a dedicated fund to set up and coordinate a positive media campaign across all education sectors and wider society to reinforce the relevance of languages in every aspect of social life. Notes 1 McPake, J, Johnstone R, Low, L and Lyall, L (1999) 'Foreign Languages in the Upper Secondary School: A study in the causes of decline'. Scottish CILT: Stirling; bit.ly/SCILTFLUSS 2 Doughty, H (2007) 'S3 Pupils' Career Aspirations and Views on Language Learning, Scottish Languages Review 15'; bit.ly/sciltdoughty 3 Doughty, H and Spöring, M, with Holmes, B (2019) 'Working Together for Languages', evaluation report; bit.ly/MLLFworkingtogether GAINING RELEVANCE Secondary school pupils are inspired by SCILT's Business Brunches initiative, which has led to an increased uptake in languages © SCILT