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Shaping the Future of Modern Foreign Languages in Education

Online Event 9 March 2022, 9:00am - 4:00pm

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Overview Agenda Speakers Sponsors Supporters Audience Learning Outcomes Benefits Testimonials
Day 1
9:00am
Online Registration
9:30am
Chair’s Welcome Address
Natalie Earl, University of East London
9:40am
Keynote Address: Scotland’s Changing Languages Landscape
  • Examining the history of Modern Languages in Scottish schools
  • Considering how the 1+2 policy has brought about a higher profile for languages and language learning
Louise Glen, Senior Education Officer, Education Scotland
10:00am
Case Study: Developing An Innovative Model Of Spanish Teaching In Primary And Secondary Schools
  • Inspiring pupils to love learning languages, increasing the take-up of languages in KS4 and KS5 and improving students' results
  • Teaching the same language at primary and secondary level and ensuring a seamless transfer between settings
  • Making use of local consultants and external agencies to support the teaching
  • Promoting strong inter-school networking and running regular subject-specific training for staff and language improvement classes for staff and parents
  • Assessing the impact of the Hackney project in improving language learning in Hackney and the culture of local school communities beyond the classroom
Bernadette Clinton, Hackney Services for Schools
10:20am
Case Study: Overcoming The Barriers Facing Modern Languages Teaching In Primary and Secondary Schools
  • Examining Parkwood Primary School as a case study for language learning
  • Reflecting on challenges and progress of implementing new Modern Foreign Languages initiatives
  • Looking at the application of the Hackney project, and the benefits of this collaboration
Paul Thomas, Parkwood Primary School
10:40am
Questions and Answers Session
11:05am
Break and Networking
11:35am
Case Study: Broadening Horizons: Culture And Challenging Texts In The Modern Languages Curriculum
  • Addressing the role of culture in Modern Languages teaching
  • Examining the role of challenging texts as a way of engaging students with target language cultures
  • Looking at the role of technology in promoting students’ engagement with such texts (both spoken and written) as a complement to their classroom learning
  • Drawing on three recent projects conducted in secondary schools in England, discussing the outcomes of the projects in relation to current policy and official guidance relating to the teaching of Modern Languages
Dr Robert Woore, Associate Professor in Applied Linguistics, Oxford University
11:55am
Case Study: Encouraging Pupils To Learn A Modern Foreign Language By Bringing University Students Into School Classrooms
  • Delivering face to face mentoring in secondary schools to support the Welsh Government’s Global Futures Strategy, 2015-2022
  • Adopting the project internationally and adapting it in England to promote language learning
  • Broadening the horizons of pupils in KS3 by highlighting opportunity for international mobility, home and away, for those with language skills
  • Offering classroom experience to University students, widening the pool of language activists in schools
  • Working with the Welsh schools on multilingual resources to support the new Curriculum for Wales
Professor Claire Gorrara, Professor of French Studies, School of Modern Languages, Cardiff University
12:15pm
Keynote Address: An Evidence Based Approach To Using Quizzing Tools And Promoting Retrieval Practice In Language Lessons
  • The value of using retrieval practice and low stakes testing to make language learning sticky 
  • The learning benefits of using quizzing tools 
  • Popular formative assessment ideas used in language classrooms 
  • The power of audio feedback in a multi-modal approach to learning
Joe Dale, Independent Languages Consultant
12:35pm
Questions and Answers Session
12:55pm
Lunch and Networking
1:40pm
Keynote Presentation: Tracking Changes, Developments And Trends In Language Provision In UK Higher Education
  • Assessing the impact of challenges including Brexit and the Covid-19 pandemic on modern language units in UK universities
  • Surveying the languages currently on offer on undergraduate and postgraduate degree programmes
  • Tracking the location of modern languages provision within broader university structures
  • Getting feedback from respondents on how they felt about the future of modern language degree programme provision
Professor Emma Cayley, Chair, University Council of Modern Languages
2:00pm
Keynote Address: Re-evaluating Policy And Attitudes Regarding Language Learning And Multilingualism To Address The Languages Crisis
  • Assessing the impact of Brexit and scrapping compulsory languages at GCSE on attitudes to school language learning
  • Language ability as a core competence and a valuable aspect of a well-rounded education
  • Improving the National Curriculum to include more detailed objectives for Key Stage 3 languages
  • Reinstating two forms of language-learning qualifications to enable recognition of languages for which GCSEs are unavailable
  • Improving staffing and funding in education and ensuring that languages departments are proactive in widening participation and promoting beginner language opportunities
  • Considering ancient and modern languages as complementary rather than competing disciplines as part of a plurilingual approach


Megan Bowler, Higher Education Policy Institute
2:20pm
Keynote Address: Increasing The Uptake Of Languages
  • Overview of existing initiatives across the UK
  • Proposals for further initiatives
  • A new web portal for languages
Professor Neil Kenny, Lead Fellow for Languages, British Academy
2:40pm
Questions and Answers Session
2:50pm
Break and Networking
3:00pm
Keynote Address: The Digitisation Of Language Education – Lessons Learnt From UK Higher Education During The Pandemic
  • The impact of the enforced move to digital delivery of teaching and learning activities: what has it been like to study and teach languages during the pandemic?
  • Particular areas of concern: online assessments and the year abroad
  • Discussion of potential challenges and opportunities post-pandemic: what have we learnt during the pandemic and what might we want to take forward? Opportunities for the development of digital skills in educators and students
  • Considering the potential impact on the wider sector, on transitions and outreach activities
Sascha Stollhans, Educational Consultant
3:20pm
Keynote Address: Defining The Language Content For Assessment And Its Effects On Curriculum Design
  • Identifying the language that can be included in assessments (such as the GCSE) may seem to some like a secondary activity, relative to the 'real purpose' of teaching a language: to engage and motivate learners with new cultures and genuine communication
  • This presentation aims to show how defining language content is critical not only for designing curriculum and assessments, but also for instilling a sense of progression and achievement
Professor Emma Marsden, Department of Education, University of York
3:50pm
Questions and Answers Session
4:00pm
Chair's Summary and Close

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