Modern Languages: update on new qualifications

New National Qualifications Support learning – assessment follows the curriculum Support aims, purposes and principles of Curriculum for Excellence Provide progression from Experiences and Outcomes and maximizes curriculum continuity between levels Build on existing strengths of reputation, standards, reliability and validity of Scottish qualifications Provide more flexibility and choice Support teacher professionalism Enable the sharing of standards

Qualifications developed in a more strategic way – starts with learning, process is iterative Each stage informs the next – on-going process of exploring issues/developing thinking, seeking advice/guidance and then testing proposals Open and transparent – draft documents published at each stage (both for information and feedback) Wide range of engagement – from formal groups to Liaison Team visits to target activities Ongoing engagement – feedback from web Robust quality assurance – involving partners at each stage How we are developing qualifications

Timelines Nat 4/5 draft Course Rationale and Summary Nat 4/5 draft Course Specifications Higher draft Course Rationales and Summaries Higher draft Course Specifications Nat 4/5 draft Unit Specifications Acc 2 and 3 draft Courses Rationales and Summaries Access 3 Course Specifications Higher draft Unit Specifications Nov 11 Nat 5 draft Course Assessment Specs Nov 11 Acc 2/3 draft Unit Specifications Dec 11 Nat 4/5 draft Unit Support Packs Jan 12 Publication of final Specifications - Apr 12 Assessment support and exemplification

National 4 and National 5 Course Rationale and SummaryJan 2011 Course SpecificationApr 2011 Unit SpecificationsAug 2011 Course Assessment SpecificationNov 2011 Course and Unit Support NotesJan 2011 Assessment Support and exemplification

Modern Languages: Course structure CourseAccess 3National 4National 5Higher Modern Languages Understanding Language Using Language Added ValueCourse Assessment

New qualifications: proposed structure ReceptiveProductive Understanding LanguageUsing Language ReadingWriting ListeningTalking Units are organised by receptive and productive modes of language Units are points of assessment Integration of skills in assessment

Modern Languages - Key Features provides progression from Modern Languages Experiences and Outcomes and same Course structure and Unit titles Access 3 - Higher will allow learners to draw on, integrate and apply the language skills learned throughout the Course in the Added Value Unit Modern Language Assignment provides flexibility to apply language skills in contexts relevant to learners, such as social media, job-related topics or through thematic approaches provides opportunities to use a broad range of contexts provides opportunities to integrate skills

Key Features of Course Specification Modern Languages is about understanding and using language through listening and talking, reading and writing. Units are points of assessment and skills-based N4: 2 Units (focused on understanding and using language), plus 1 Added Value Unit (assignment that integrates and applies 4 languages skills) N5: 2 Units (focused on understanding and using language) plus 1 Course Assessment (question paper [reading, listening and writing]) and performance [talking]) Broad contexts

Unit Specifications Available at N4 and N5 (Higher end of Nov; Acc 3 end of Dec) Outcomes – what the learners achieve in the Unit Assessment Standards – what the learners must do to achieve the Outcomes Evidence Requirements – details about the nature of evidence to be gathered

Using Language (National 4) Use straightforward spoken language in a modern language by: Identifying basic ideas and content in at least one of the following familiar contexts: citizenship, society, learning, employability, and culture Using a basic structure for ideas and content that is mainly appropriate to purpose and audience Using knowledge of language by applying basic features of grammar, pronunciation and appropriate register Conveying basic meaning to a sympathetic listener with sufficient accuracy Evidence of talking can include learner interactions, such as conversations, discussions or presentations, and can be presented in either oral or digital form, such as a podcast.

Further details… Course Assessment Specification National 5: Detail on components of Course Assessment Question paper and non-question paper components Weightings Course and Unit Support Notes N4 and N5 Guidance on delivering Units and Course

Modern Languages for Life and Work Award Available at SCQF levels 3 and 4 Practical and relevant contexts Personal development – employability skils 3 Units, 2 of which existing SQA Units Opportunity to use 2 languages Available to Centres August 2012

Engagement Feedback is sought in the following areas: the grouping of skills across the Units the broad contexts for the Course how to assess skills in an integrated way skills to be assessed in the performance and question paper

Development Process

Quality Assurance and Engagement Review of Courses Coordination Group (internal & external) Languages Curriculum Area Review Group QDT English, Gàidhlig, and Literacy SWG QDT ESOL SWG QDT Latin SWG QDT Media SWG QDT Modern Languages SWG

Qualifications Development Model Subject/Curriculum Area Expertise: QDT & CARG Course Design: Design principles Technical Writing: QDCs assisted by SWG Assessment Expertise: SQA Qualification

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