NCS Language Ambassdor visits to Primary Schools
Year 8 pupils at NCS trained as langauge ambasssadors throughout Michaelmas and Hilary Term. They prepared culturally informative and language learning lessons in French and German, to be delivered to Yrs 3&4 at St Michael's Primary School, Oxford, in two afternooon sessions.
Aims
Aims: To develop the Yr8s leadership skills and to enable them to share their language knowledge and encourage the learning of languages in pupils outside NCS.
Prompted by a drop off in language provision in the local schools due to lack of funding. An opportunity for older pupils to act as mentors to younger pupils and widen their perspectives and encourage a love of languages.
Critical Factors: The provision of appropriate training and pupils to teach.
Local primary school children.
Background
The Head of Languages and the Director Of Educational Partenerships (DEP) identified an opportunity to extend the language and leadership experience for Yr 8 pupils at NCS and to broaden the language experience for local primary schools. The Head of Languages knew the Head at St Michaels so this seemed like a good starting point. This is the first year of this project, the idea is continue to offer this to St Michaels and to other local schools if possible.
Resources
Resources: Once a week contact with the Yr8s for Language Ambassador Training. The Head of Languages input and ovesight of the training and design of the course. IT use for presentations and interactive learning materials. Photocopying, printing.
20 hours in total for training with one staff member from the languages department.
4 Practise Lessons on NCS pupils. Approx 2.5hrs
Two staff members to accompany pupils to the partner school for an afternoon, twice a Year. Approx 6 hours.
One meeting with partner school with DEP and Head of Languages. 1 hour.
Several follow up telephone calls, Risk Assessment. Approx 3 hrs.
No financial contribution as the training was run as an after school club.
Impact
Assessmemt of NCS pupils against the PSB Grid for thier Leadership Skills Award
Feedback from the pupils and teachers at the partner school through a questionnaire.
Feedback for the 8 boys teaching the 2 x Y3 groups
‘’Year 3 were all extremely engaged by the short and engaging language tasks designed and delivered by the young men from New College School. I was very impressed by their use of technology which helped the children by linking visual images to words and by the way they had designed games which relied on repetition to help the children embed key vocabulary. This was an extremely positive experience for Year 3 and we all look forward to your return!’’
Feedback for the German lesson to a Y4 class:
‘’The presentation was engaging and well planned, he spoke with confidence and clearly conveyed the desired message. Subject knowledge and pronunciation was excellent. Bringing an artefact to demonstrate what German culture was like at Christmas time was a great addition as the children were able to get a clearer idea of the topic. I was also very impressed with the way he was able to speak with the children with a kind and approachable manner.
Overall, brilliant.’’
Pupil Involvement
Years 3&4 at St Michaels all took part girls and boys approximately 30 pupils in total
9 Year 8 Pupils at NCS - Boys
Frequency
The plan is to repeat this annually withSt Michaels Primary School and possibly offer it to other schools locally.