Language Challenge

Since the European Year of Languages began in 2001 people across Europe
have set themselves language challenges. They are a useful way to boost
language learning, for example encouraging as many pupils and parents as
possible to say hello in a new language on the European Day of Languages,
or a longer term challenge to learn a new language for a holiday.

Which language challenge will you set for yourself?

Which challenges will your pupils set themselves?

Click below for ideas on:

Showcase and celebrate the language learning going on in your school

Learning a New Language

Language Awareness

Intercultural Understanding

Links
Showcase and celebrate the language learning going on in your school

 Older children teaching younger children a finger rhyme

Click here for some examples in French and German MAKE A LINK
TO THE FINGER RHYME PAGE

 performing a short sketch for other classes

 making a digital video to share with other classes

 performing a traditional song

For some traditional French songs try:

http://comptine.free.fr/

Click here for a list of some shorter and longer songs and rhymes on
this site. MAKE A LINK TO THE SONGS PAGE

For sheet music and words of some songs from around the world go to:

http://www.mamalisa.com/

 writing a poem, role play or story for younger pupils/students in the

school

 writing and performing your own song

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Learning a New Language

You could use the languages spoken by pupils in the class or the:

BBC Quick Fix Languages at www.bbc.co.uk then select Languages then

scroll down and select Going Abroad > Quick Fix Languages

The Quick Fix Languages pages include sound files of words and phrases.

Newbury Park School website at http://www.newburypark.redbridge.sch.uk

then select Enter the site > Language of the Month

The Newbury Park site includes video footage of children speaking their
Home language

 Taking the register saying ‘yes’ or ‘no’ in the new language.

 Saying ‘hello’ and ‘goodbye’ at the beginning and end of sessions in

any language(s) you choose.

 Saying please and thank you

 Counting from 1 to 10 in a new language

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Language Awareness

Use the possible themes below to compare languages, for instance asking:

What is similar to English or other languages the class know?

What is different to English or other languages the class know?

You can use the languages in the classroom or the links to other languages in
the section: Learning A New Language.

 Counting from 1 to 10 in one or more languages

 Organising a ‘language wall’: invite parents, carers and staff to add a

message in a language they speak (with a translation if possible) on
large sheets of paper which can be displayed in the entrance hall.

 In the site http://www.schoolslinks.co.uk/resources_dl.htm click on ‘dual

language’ or ‘home’ for free, colourful print-yourself posters on
greetings, places round school, words for days of the week, colours
etc. The www.mantralingua.com site is a commercial alternative which
includes items like talking posters!

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Intercultural Understanding

 Introducing traditional games from other countries, for some ideas go

to http://www.topics-mag.com/edition11/games-section.htm

For some French or German Games click here MAKE LINK TO

FRENCH AND GERMAN GAMES PAGE

 Holding a European Day of Languages assembly (there are ideas on

the Teachernet site at www.teachernet.gov.uk then select Teaching and
Learning > Assemblies and then Search for European Day of
Languages).

 Conducting a languages survey of children and staff and presenting the

findings, e.g.

o through a world map marking on the countries of origin of

languages spoken
o through data handling in maths
o write a page for the school website celebrating the languages
spoken in school.

 Involving a parent or visitor in presenting a language/culture taster

session.

 Holding a food tasting session

 Using Euros for activities in numeracy or for other activities.

Downloadable Euros available from:

http://jt44.free.fr/mno/monnaie2.pdf

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