LANGUAGES
Language engagement
“The decisions you make for the delivery of German to be able to read the documents and about what interests them rather than what is
the national curriculum reflect the values of carry out the relevant research. So it is also a prescribed,” she said. “Students will be able to
our society, so the government has made an intellectual discipline,” Ms Cartwright added. devise their own topics.
important statement in deciding that languages She said language learning should not be “We have also taken a lot of advice from
do not need to be compulsory at key stage 4. perceived as something which is difficult. teachers about the listening and reading
“The government effectively got rid of “These days, languages can be taught elements, and one thing they have said is
language learning in secondary schools in many ways, and pupils can use emails, questions should be set in English, and that
believing that this would engage more webcams and watch foreign programming on the test should not be about understanding the
young people. But you don’t motivate cable TV, so it should be much easier.” question.”
people by telling them not to do something. This greater flexibility in teaching methods Furthermore, speaking and written work can
No government would dream of making will be reflected in changes at GCSE, where be submitted electronically via OCR’s online
mathematics learning optional, so why should there will be more opportunities for teachers repository.
languages be any different?” to decide what is covered, and a bigger choice She added: “Our primary concern is that
But what leads to successful language of short courses, carrying half the value of a we have had this opportunity to refresh and
learning? GCSE. Rather than covering the full gamut update GCSEs in terms of content and the
“Personal engagement is probably the of speaking, listening, reading and writing in differing requirements and learning styles that
most important factor,” Ms Cartwright said. a particular language, candidates doing the have come in over the last 20 years.”
“For example, when you go on holiday and short course will be able to focus on speaking In this diverse society it is community
can speak the language of the country you’re and listening, or reading and writing, allowing languages that could flourish in schools,
visiting, it helps you to engage in the culture just their best skills to be assessed, and they with thousands of pupils bringing a wealth
in a way you wouldn’t be able to otherwise. can choose a short course to complement any of knowledge in everything from Arabic and
It helps you to appreciate the ‘otherness’ other languages they are learning. Urdu, to Polish, Czech and Lithuanian.
“Community languages are always needed
in the public services, in hospitals and schools.
‘
The British are not bad at learning languages, as
The problem lies in the fact that native
speakers cannot always get qualified teacher
is often suggested, but there are motivational
status to teach others, so we need to develop
career development and progression for these
problems. For language learning to fl ourish we
students,” Ms Cartwright said.
Community languages, such as Gujarati, are
need someone to say that it matt
taught in supplementary and Saturday schools,
or differences in culture and helps you to Reforms to GC
’
ers alongside culture and traditions.
“In some communities, such as Somali
and Turkish, these are taught to supplement
SE languages will see less the work being done in mainstream schools,
understand people.” prescription in oral exams, giving pupils because parents and the whole community
She added that a lack of language and teachers more control over what is want their children to reach their full
knowledge could be very limiting covered, explained Christine Peakman, OCR’s potential,” Ms Cartwright said.
academically. “For example, pupils learn about qualifications group manager in the languages “These are parents who are highly
Hitler and Nazism in history all the way to and literature qualification team. Speaking tasks committed to education, and learning their
university, but they would struggle to continue can be completed outside the classroom setting home language sends out an important
with this as far as Master’s Degree level for added real-life relevance. message to children about how important it is,”
because this would require a knowledge of “Speaking and writing units will be more she added.
SecEd
DELIVERING INNOVATION
17
IN QUALIFICATIONS
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