Student volunteers from the University of Warwick worked with Arden School in Solihull to organise two language days on the University campus, on 6th and 20th February. These days involved about 25 Year 10 and 11 pupils, and aimed to focus on strategies and tactics to improve their language results at GCSE and also to raise awareness of the opportunities and skills obtained by studying languages.
The pupils worked in small groups, each with a volunteer 'mentor' who was a current undergraduate studying languages at Warwick. The mentors were able to discuss issues around the study of languages and to relay some of their own personal experiences of learning a new language. The mentors then supported the groups in working through some exercises around language learning. The days also included short workshops, given by University staff, on languages which the pupils may not have come across before.
