ProspectusParents often ask us how they can help their son or daughter in their language studies.
The most important thingis to encourage them in their learning. Languages are now looked on very favourably in the job market and companies often actively look for people with some linguistic skills or knowledge of the culture of a country. With more and more people having the opportunity to work abroad learning a language becomes even more important. Having learnt one language it is easier to learn others. However the study of a language is not just to find a job. Travel for pleasure is part of today’s way of life and knowledge of a language – even a few words – will help!
Practical suggestions
When your son or daughter has to learn vocabulary encourage them to:-
Use the “look, cover, write and check” way of learning spelling
Make posters of the words and stick them up around the house!
Say the words out loud to you (even if you do not understand them!)
Make cards with the words in English on one side and in the foreign language on the other.
Make word puzzles for them. Write the words missing out all the vowels or the consonants or every third letter. Get them to make up the puzzles for you and you could learn at the same time as them.
Test them!
Reward them!!
When they have speaking tests coming up – including GCSE – encourage them to:-
Practise out loud. This could be to themselves or better into a tape recorder or to you. Again it doesn’t matter if you don’t understand. They need an audience.
Ask them to make notes on what they need to learn and gradually reduce these to key words until finally they can speak without prompts.
When they have coursework to be completed encourage them to:-
Use a dictionary or their textbook to check their spelling
Use grammar reference books to check tenses etc.
Use the study skills booklet for French,German or Spanish that they have been given. This has assessment guidelines etc.
Keep to deadlines!!!
To help with listening and reading encourage them to:-
Have a French, German or Spanish radio programme on. They may not understand anything at first but gradually they will begin to pick out key words and will at least pick up the sound of the language.
Use the school library to read magazines. We are building up these resources.
Ask to borrow readers held in the department
Bring in a tape and ask for extra listening practice.
Watch foreign language channels on television if you have satellite.
Use DVDs to listen to foreign languages.
Use the Internet. There is a wealth of material for language learning. A list of links is on the school web-site or can be accessed via www.linguascope.co.uk. This is a great site itself.
And last but not least!
The languages department organises a French, German and Spanish exchange every year. Participating in an exchange can be an incredibly rewarding experience for the whole family although it may seem to be a daunting experience at first. We have past students who are still in contact with their exchange partners after 10 or more years!! In fact whole families have exchanged!!
Sixth form pupils also have the opportunity to participate in work experience abroad. This has proved to be very successful in the past and students return full of confidence and ready to literally take on the world!
Other departments also offer visits to other countries as part of their curriculum work.
