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Promoting the take-up of languages and student mobility

West Midlands

Mother Tongue Other Tongue Poetry Competition

Date: 
Saturday, 26 September, 2015 - 00:00 to Friday, 8 January, 2016 - 00:00
Event Type: 
Competition
Region: 
West Midlands
Location: 
West Midlands Schools

A multilingual poetry competition that celebrates cultural diversity and the many languages currently spoken in schools across the UK.

The aim of the Mother Tongue Other Tongue competition is to celebrate languages, culture and language-learning, giving secondary school students the opportunity to practise and improve their foreign language skills (any language they are learning in school) and appreciate their heritage, using poetry. The regional competition is being led by Routes into Languages West Midlands at Aston University, Birmingham, in cooperation with Writing West Midlands.

The idea was originally developed by the Faculty of Humanities, Languages and Social Science at Manchester Metropolitan University and Routes into Languages North West and due to its success, is now being rolled out across the country.

The competition

Mother Tongue entries will be in two parts: The first part is the poem. This can be an original, creative piece, or a poem or song that is ‘remembered’ – i.e. something in your first language that you recall, or that has been told to you by a relative. This can be in any language but English. The second part should be a short explanation of the inspiration behind the piece, where it comes from, or why it is important to the person submitting it (no more than half a page). This part must be written in English and is the part your entry will be judged on.

Other Tongue entries must be an original poem written in a language that is not the first language spoken by the person writing it. Entries are welcomed in French, Spanish or German.

Winning students from the West Midlands will be invited to the Regional Celebration Event in February 2016 and the National Celebration Event at Manchester Metropolitan University in June 2016.

How to enter

The competition opens from Saturday 26th September (European Day of Languages) and the deadline for entries is Tuesday 1st December 2015.

Please send your entries by email to routes@aston.ac.uk, or by post to Project Manager, Routes into Languages, School of Languages and Social Sciences, Aston University, Birmingham, B4 7ET.

The competition is open to all students in KS3, KS4 & KS5.

For more information on the competition, how to enter and for ideas of how to integrate this into your lessons, please find attached the Teacher’s Pack.

See www.mtot.org.uk  for further details and to download promotional materials, workshop ideas and resources.

 

Breakthrough A2 event (Year 12 Cultural Awareness Day)

Date: 
Thursday, 30 June, 2016 - 00:00
Event Type: 
Workshop
Region: 
West Midlands
Location: 
University of Warwick

Breakthrough A2 event (Year 12 Cultural Awareness Day)  – Thursday 30th June 2016

The purpose of the day is to provide your Year 12 students of French, German and Spanish with an insight into the wider aspects of studying a language in preparation for their A2 study of a cultural topic

Each session will consist of a short lecture followed by some language based analysis of a text, historical period, film or song before the students are given the opportunity to produce their own responses to the things that they have seen and heard. They will also have the chance to work with, and ask questions to, current language undergraduates at the University.

Teachers can book on to the event by sending an email to Annunziata Videtta a.videtta.1@warwick.ac.uk specifying how many teacher/student places they would like and for which language stream (French, German or Spanish).

For Year 12 students who would like to attend unaccompanied, there will be a minibus shuttle service leaving Coventry Rail Station at 9.30am and returning at 3pm.

Teachers who don't have access to a school minibus can also take advantage of the minibus service. There will be a student ambassador at the station ready to welcome students and teachers and take them to the minibus.

Student feedback from previous Cultural Awareness Days

The day was very useful as it helped me to decide that I want to study at university.

The day was really enjoyable and I got a good insight into studying languages at university.

I enjoyed meeting and working with people from other schools and it was great working with the student ambassadors

The whole event was very eye opening – I would definitely recommend it

It was fun and it’s made me more determined to go to university

Booking information: 

These events are designed to motivate and encourage your most able linguists and give them the opportunity to practise and extend their language skills.

We hope to see you at one or more of our events on campus this year. There is no charge for the events; however you will need to make your own way to and from campus.

If you have any questions or would like to book places on any of these events then please email Katherine.astbury@warwick.ac.uk

Year 9 Apprentice Day

Date: 
Wednesday, 24 February, 2016 - 00:00
Event Type: 
Workshop
Region: 
West Midlands
Location: 
University of Warwick

Following the success of last year’s event, we would like to invite Year 9 students of French, German and Spanish to attend a day where they will be given the opportunity to use their language skills in a business context. They will be working with current students at the university as well as teachers in the academic departments to develop their linguistic ability and discover how their skills might be of value to them in later life. 

Student feedback from previous Apprentice Days

I learnt about the importance of languages in a career and that you are more likely to get a better job if you learn a language

I enjoyed the day as we worked with people outside of our school and it has made me want to learn more languages fluently

“…a fantastic opportunity for students to challenge themselves not only linguistically but also on a personal level.” (Teacher feedback)

 

Booking information: 

These events are designed to motivate and encourage your most able linguists and give them the opportunity to practise and extend their language skills.

We hope to see you at one or more of our events on campus this year. There is no charge for the events; however you will need to make your own way to and from campus.

If you have any questions or would like to book places on any of these events then please email Katherine.astbury@warwick.ac.uk

 

Year 12 Language Day

Date: 
Friday, 29 January, 2016 - 00:00
Event Type: 
Workshop
Region: 
West Midlands
Location: 
University of Warwick

Bring your students to campus for the day to experience different aspects of language learning. During the day they will hear about the opportunities that learning languages can bring, take part in taster sessions of a new language, use the language that they are currently learning at school in a new context, explore the campus and find out about life at university and hear from student ambassadors about why they have chosen to study languages at a higher level.

Student feedback from previous language taster days

I like languages more than I did when I came in!

I loved the tour and looking at how university life is

I have decided that I want to study French and Law at university

 

Booking information: 

These events are designed to motivate and encourage your most able linguists and give them the opportunity to practise and extend their language skills.

We hope to see you at one or more of our events on campus this year. There is no charge for the events; however you will need to make your own way to and from campus.

If you have any questions or would like to book places on any of these events then please email Katherine.astbury@warwick.ac.uk

Year 10 Language Taster Day

Date: 
Wednesday, 9 December, 2015 - 00:00
Event Type: 
Workshop
Region: 
West Midlands
Location: 
University of Warwick

Bring your Year 10 students to campus for the day to experience different aspects of language learning. During the day they will hear about the opportunities that learning languages can bring, take part in taster sessions of a new language, use the language that they are currently learning at school in a new context, explore the campus and find out about life at university and hear from student ambassadors about why they have chosen to study languages at a higher level.

Student feedback from previous language taster days

I like languages more than I did when I came in!

I loved the tour and looking at how university life is

I have decided that I want to study French and Law at university

 

Year 9 Language Taster Day

Date: 
Wednesday, 25 November, 2015 - 00:00
Event Type: 
Workshop
Region: 
West Midlands
Location: 
University of Warwick

Bring your Year 9 students to campus for the day to experience different aspects of language learning. During the day they will hear about the opportunities that learning languages can bring, take part in taster sessions of a new language, use the language that they are currently learning at school in a new context, explore the campus and find out about life at university and hear from student ambassadors about why they have chosen to study languages at a higher level.

Student feedback from previous language taster days

I like languages more than I did when I came in!

I loved the tour and looking at how university life is

I have decided that I want to study French and Law at university

 

Programme: 

Year 8 Language Taster Day

Date: 
Wednesday, 21 October, 2015 - 00:00
Event Type: 
Workshop
Region: 
West Midlands
Location: 
University of Warwick

Bring your Year 8 students to campus for the day to experience different aspects of language learning. During the day they will hear about the opportunities that learning languages can bring, take part in taster sessions of a new language, use the language that they are currently learning at school in a new context, explore the campus and find out about life at university and hear from student ambassadors about why they have chosen to study languages at a higher level.

Student feedback from previous language taster days

I like languages more than I did when I came in!

I loved the tour and looking at how university life is

I have decided that I want to study French and Law at university

 

Deutsch International - German Cultural Day for Year 8 & 9

This event is fully booked
Date: 
Wednesday, 9 March, 2016 - 00:00
Event Type: 
Workshop
Region: 
West Midlands
Location: 
Aston University, Aston Triangle, Birmingham

Aston University invite you to campus for this fun and interesting German cultural event for Year 8 and 9 pupils from 10.30am - 3.30pm on Wednesday, 9th March, 2016.

 

The day will feature native German speakers from Austria and Switzerland who will deliver language and culture workshops to small groups of pupils. Pupils will then design their own posters and present what they have learnt to the larger group at the end of the event. Representatives from the Goethe Institut will be in attendance to judge the winning group.

 

Alongside the pupils' sessions, the Goethe Institut will provide CPD training for teachers. A buffet lunch is provided for staff and students.

 

These events are fully funded and therefore FREE to attend. There are a maximum of 80 places on this event and we can offer each school up to 10 places. Late cancellations are charged at £5 per pupil.

 

This event is fully booked and registration is now closed.

¡Fiesta Hispánica! - Spanish Cultural Day for Year 8 & 9

This event is fully booked
Date: 
Wednesday, 10 February, 2016 - 00:00
Event Type: 
Workshop
Region: 
West Midlands
Location: 
Aston University, Aston Triangle, Birmingham

Aston University invite you to campus for this fun and interesting Spanish cultural event for Year 8 and 9 pupils from 10.30am - 3.30pm on Wednesday, 10th February, 2016.

 

The day will feature native Spanish speakers from countries outside Spain who will deliver language and culture workshops to small groups of pupils. Pupils will then design their own posters and present what they have learnt to the larger group at the end of the event. Representatives from the Spanish Embassy will be in attendance to judge the winning group.

 

Alongside the pupils' sessions, the Spanish Embassy will provide CPD training for teachers. A buffet lunch is provided for staff and students.

 

These events are fully funded and therefore FREE to attend. There are a maximum of 80 places on this event and we can offer each school up to 10 places. Late cancellations are charged at £5 per pupil.

 

This event is fully booked and registration is now closed.

 

Booking information: 

Registration is now open please click the button below to register.

Journée de la Francophonie - French Cultural Day for Year 8 & 9

This event is fully booked
Date: 
Tuesday, 26 January, 2016 - 00:00
Event Type: 
Conference
Region: 
West Midlands
Location: 
Aston University, Aston Triangle, Birmingham

Aston University invite you to campus for this fun and interesting French cultural event for Year 8 and 9 pupils from 10.30am - 3.30pm on Tuesday, 26th January 2016.

 

The day will feature native French speakers from countries outside France who will deliver language and culture workshops to small groups of pupils. Pupils will then design their own posters and present what they have learnt to the larger group at the end of the event. Representatives from the French Embassy will be in attendance to judge the winning group.

 

Alongside the pupils' sessions, the French Embassy will provide CPD training for teachers. A buffet lunch is provided for staff and students.

 

These events are fully funded and therefore FREE to attend. There are a maximum of 100 places on this event and we can offer each school up to 10 places. Late cancellations are charged at £5 per pupil.

 

Registration has now closed as this event is fully booked.

 

 

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