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Inspiring Language Learning: Edinburgh's Language Ambassadors Initiative

The Edinburgh Language Ambassadors initiative aims to foster interest in languages among school pupils. By providing engaging events and relatable role models, the program seeks to open up opportunities for language learning that might otherwise go unrecognized. Highlights include interactive sessions on Italian and French culture, engaging activities that promote understanding, and career discussions with multilingual professionals. Future plans include expanding engagement with state schools and introducing language assistants, all with the goal of valuing languages more in Scotland.

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Inspiring Language Learning: Edinburgh's Language Ambassadors Initiative

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  1. Edinburgh Language Ambassadors: an overview 05/11/10 Angela Gayton angela@ling.ed.ac.uk

  2. Summary • Inspiration – why do we need it? • Aims • Structure of organisation • Events so far • Future plans

  3. Inspiration • My own PhD research • The Scottish situation regarding language learning • An existing scheme at English universities • Run by Routes into Languages • Differences, however: no emphasis on recruitment

  4. Aims • Generate more interest for language! • Offer a broader languages provision than usually possible • Open up language learning to pupils who may not necessarily see it as something worthwhile to them • Provide role models who are close in age, who love learning/using languages • MAKE LANGUAGES MORE VALUED IN SCOTLAND

  5. Structure • I coordinate, so am responsible for recruitment • Language faculties • International Office • Undergraduates (not only studying foreign languages) • Recent graduates • Ad hoc meetings aimed at preparation for specific activities

  6. Structure (cont.) • Collaborations: • SCILT • U of E’s Widening Participation department • U of E’s International Office

  7. Events so far (1) • Italian taster session (2 groups of 20 P7 pupils) • Mind-mapping their impressions of Italy • Interactive presentation of the basics of the culture/language • Discussion of the two different ambassadors’ experiences of living in Italy • Chorus of practicing the sounds in Italian, and the basic words and phrases presented

  8. Events (2) • French extension session (2 groups of 20 P7 pupils) • Drawing their existing knowledge of French knowledge and culture in small groups • Ambassador discusses her experiences in the country with the pupils • Presentation of some more contemporary vocabulary than they would normally access in class • Matching game: new phrases to corresponding images

  9. You having a laugh ref? Tu te fous de nous?!

  10. Come on you blues! Allez les bleus!

  11. You look totally gorgeous in that! Tu as vraiment l’air canon!

  12. Events (3) • Languages circuits afternoon • 15 S1-2 pupils, broken into smaller groups to rotate around the 6 different language stations • German X Factor • Chinese horoscopes • Italian art • Arabic calligraphy • French famous people • Spanish cookery

  13. Events (4) • Linguistics session • 15 S3 pupils all studying for Standard Grade French • Translation activities • French-English • French-Italian-English • English-Abma (inspired by a previous UKLO task) • Aimed to make the pupils more confident in inferring overall meaning of a sentence/paragraph/text, without needing to understand every word.

  14. I gave the most expensive jotter to Michel. • You sent the sweetest text to Sandrine. • They climbed the most dangerous wall. • She arrived in the most romantic town. • We bought the ugliest mobile.

  15. Section 1: Translations in French • Ils ont décidé d’écrire le message le plus romantique sur le mur de Benoit. • Il a achété le cahier le plus laid. • J’ai grandi dans la ville la plus dangereuse. • Nous avons donné au prof le caramel au beurre le plus cher. • Elle a pris l’autobus le plus laid hier. • Tu as regardé le film le plus impolit. • Ils ont envoyé à Jean le texto le plus sanglant. • J’ai porté le gilet le moins soigné.

  16. To eat/mangiare • English • I eat • You eat • He/she/it/one eats • We eat • You eat • They eat • Mangiare • Mangio • Mangi • Mangia • Mangiamo • Mangiate • Mangiano

  17. Compare the French and Italian L’autobus le plus lent L’autobus il più lentowith the English The slowest bus • What are the differences in the word order?

  18. Le souris dangereux • Il topo pericoloso • The dangerous mouse • Les lapins dangereux • I conigli pericolosi • The dangerous rabbits • La chèvre dangereuse • La capra pericolosa • The dangerous goat

  19. Events (5) • Careers talk • 50 (approx.) S4-5 pupils • Panel set-up: 5 ambassadors representing French, Italian, Spanish, Mandarin, Arabic and Norwegian • Pupils were able to pose questions relating to languages and careers

  20. Events (6) • French extension activity • 60 S1 pupils, divided among 4 ambassadors • 4 activities consisted of: • French X Factor • 20 questions • Cultural stereotypes • Role play

  21. Future plans • Work with one state school consistently • Tandem schemes with schools in the target language countries? • Language clubs for lesser-taught languages? • Language assistants? • More careers events? • Longer-term art/drama/music/sport activities? • Funding…?

  22. شكرًا Vielen Dank! ありがとう ¡Gracias! Merci beaucoup! Grazie! 谢谢

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