Routes Into Languages Nicola Lumb School and College Services University of Leicester

Objectives  Promote increased take-up in learning languages and associated cultures in secondary and higher education, including the learning of a diverse range of languages.  Promote increased take-up of work and study abroad in language degrees and in other subjects, especially encouraging students to spend a year abroad during their studies.  Promote greater national capacity in those areas of employment that require proficiency in languages and intercultural competence, including careers where cultural mediation is a key asset, as well as careers in translation, interpreting, teaching and research.  Promote raised aspirations and attainment of students in secondary school and higher education, thereby widening access to language study and helping to encourage a broader social profile of undergraduates studying languages (gender, ethnicity, socio- economic background, diversity of languages).  Promote greater collaboration between participating universities, schools and key stakeholders, including cooperation between academic communities with different identities and between academics and managers in widening participation and careers services.

Routes East Midlands  Nottingham Trent University  University of Nottingham  University of Leicester  De Montfort University  Loughborough University

Events / Activities  Masterclasses  Revision workshops  Summer schools  Why study Languages talks  Adopt a class  After school clubs

University of Leicester activity  Why study language talks  Delivered by current Language ambassadors.  Any / all year groups to raise aspirations generally  Run at specific times of year to inform choices– before GCSE options and / or post -16 options.  Motivational – include element on study abroad opportunities as well as value of languages.  for more info or to book

 Adopt a class scheme  Aims are to:  raise the aspirations of pupils to learn a European language  help pupils to understand other cultures  raise aspirations to continue studying languages and understand the opportunities for travel and personal development  help pupils to understand the importance of language skills to gain employment in the future  3 year project  Work with 1 class  Year 7  Paired up with a second year Language ambassador – French, Spanish or Italian (could be a mix of 2 of these) University of Leicester activity

Adopt a class scheme  Ambassador goes into school once or twice during summer term to run interactive language activity (yr7)  Whilst on their year abroad, ambassador will keep in touch with their class through e-mentoring site – brightlinks. (yr8)  Content to include pictures, video clips, blogs, sound files, commentary etc.  On their return from their year abroad, ambassador to go back into school to do follow up session (yr9)  Also work with primary – year 4 - 6

Adopt a Class mascot

Masterclasses  Yr 10 to be run before Easter holidays  Yr 8 / 9 potentially to be run in summer term  Small group of students attend – 6-10 – to allow multiple schools to participate  3 or 4 different sessions to include 1 non-European Language.  Also includes working with current students and having a tour of the campus.

Your thoughts / ideas? Anything else we could be doing to support language learning in your school /college? Interested in University of Leicester activity contact me at For all other activities, contact –Mirella Santamaria Senior Lecturer History, Languages and International Studies - Project Manager, East Midlands Consortium – tel: