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Languages: Taking you further


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Presentation Overview
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Introduction
Let’s test your knowledge!
Why languages matter
The Scottish Baccalaureate in Languages:
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What is it and how is it assessed?
Feedback from learners
What skills will you develop?
External endorsement

• SCILT: who we are and how we can support you


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It’s a multilingual world…
Did you know there are 6,912 known
living languages in the world?
Test your knowledge, part 1…


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How many people in the world speak these
languages as their mother tongue?
French
Arabic (all varieties)

A) Almost 400 million
B) 309 million

English
Chinese (mandarin)

C) 65 million

Spanish
German

D) 100 million
E) 206 million
F) 876 million


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Test your knowledge, part 2 – Closer to home
Do you know how many languages are spoken by
young people in

8?

England…

300 languages

Scotland…

104 languages

Wales…

98 languages

Northern Ireland…

70 languages

13?

19?

39?

70?

98?

104?

144?

251?

300?


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How do we compare with our European
neighbours?
1) How many pupils in other EU countries study 2 or more
foreign languages in secondary school?
2) What is the percentage for the UK?
3) What percentage of pupils in the UK is not studying any
foreign language?


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Answers
Question 1: 60%
Question 2: 6%
Question 3: 51%


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What YOU need to know…(1)
• English is one of the great global languages of the 21st century, but it
will only take us so far.
• Only 6% of the world’s population speak English as a first language.
• 75% of the world’s population don’t speak any English.
• We live in a multilingual, multicultural world. Our engagement with
the non-English speaking world will remain superficial and one-sided
unless we develop our capacity in other languages too.
• In 2000 English represented 51% of language usage on the internet; by
2009 this was down to 29%. Steady growth in European languages and
Chinese.

English is not enough!


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What YOU need to know…(2)
“Language skills and an ability to work in a multi-cultural environment
are also valuable in an increasingly globalised workplace. Foreign
language proficiency adds significantly to a candidate’s portfolio of
skills, not just in terms of conversational ability, but also general
cultural awareness and sensitivity.” (CBI 2009)
‘In an increasingly competitive job market, it is clear that foreign
language proficiency adds significant value to a candidate’s portfolio
of skills, and can give them a real competitive edge when applying for
jobs’
(CBI Education and Skills Survey, 2009)


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Which languages?


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Where are languages explicitly needed?
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IT
creative and media
retail
law
finance
business
energies and utilities
manufacturing

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computer games production
construction
property management
engineering
tourism
hospitality
central and local government…..
and many more.


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What ALL employers want
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team-working
oral communication
problem-solving
intercultural skills

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interpersonal skills
presentation skills
organisational skills
time management

Language learning helps develop these transferable skills


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But it may not be “explicit”….
•‘an international dimension’
•‘ability to build relationships’
•‘awareness of cultural differences’


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The Scottish Baccalaureates in Languages
Design specification

Languages

Mandatory components:
• 2 AH Courses
• 1 Higher Course
• AH Interdisciplinary Project
Unit (graded A,B or C)

Must include:
• two eligible
modern/classical
Language Courses
• English/ESOL/Gaidhlig
Course


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Design specification
The Scottish Baccalaureates in Languages will be awarded at :

Pass or Distinction
Criteria for Distinction:
• Grade A in one eligible Advanced Higher Course
• Grade A in one other component of the Baccalaureate
• Grade B or above in all other mandatory components


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Advanced Highers
• Very significant and demanding qualification – “deep” learning
• Emphasis on analysis, research skills, independent study,
extended essay-writing/scientific investigations
• Provide a bridge between classroom-based learning at Higher
and self-motivated, proactive study at university
• UCAS has changed tariff scores to reflect the value HE places
on AH


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Interdisciplinary Project
•Encourage you to:
o apply your language knowledge
in relevant but unfamiliar
contexts
o develop the generic skills
needed for learning,
employment and life
o access different learning
environments

•Must show relevance of
languages to:
oCitizenship
oEnterprise
oEconomic development
oSustainable development
oEmployability

•You negotiate context and
theme


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IP - Assessment
Undertaken in three stages:

5 mandatory pieces of evidence:
- Project proposal

- Stage 1 (negotiation and
planning)

- Project plan

- Stage 2 (carrying out)

- Presentation of project
findings/product

- Stage 3 (review and
evaluation including
own learning)

- Evaluation of project
- Self evaluation of generic/cognitive
skills development


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Sample IP Case Studies
1. FL teaching methods in Scottish and French primary schools
2. How foreign films shape Scottish audiences’ perceptions of
other European nations and cultures
3. Support for foreign students: Scotland vs. France
4. Languages in international finance
5. Created a play in French about AIDS and how it affects
Francophone countries in Africa
6. Developed e- magazine to support e-twinning project


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What are learners saying?
• “I’ve really enjoyed doing my project. All the self-evaluation involved has
been especially interesting and useful since in Advanced Highers we rarely
get the opportunity to step back and review our work. The freedom
allowed by the template of the project has allowed me to cultivate my ideas
with independence which will help prepare me for more independent work
at university.”
• “Personally I have really enjoyed the flexibility of this project as it has
allowed me to combine my two main interests in the form of a project that
doesn’t get in the way of my other school subjects. I have thoroughly
enjoyed learning so many new skills and discovering new ideas which will
be beneficial for future research and studies in university.”


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 My report writing and use of specific subject has become more
sophisticated in English and Modern Studies. Also, my vocabulary and
understanding of grammar has increased in both written and spoken
Italian.
 According to many of my teachers there has been a noticeable
difference in my ability to use different research techniques (focus
groups, questionnaires, ICT support and in literature).
 Due to the nature of the project and the circumstances of my studying
Adv. Higher Italian I have an increased ability to work independently
and demonstrate leadership skills working in groups and with younger
year groups.
 I myself have noticed that whereas previously I tended to ask for help
as soon as I encountered any problem, now I am more likely to
independently find a logical solution.”


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Skills Development
Success in HE

Scottish Bacc
• Research skills: analysis and
evaluation

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Application and Analysis of ideas,
knowledge and theory

• Interpersonal Skills:
negotiation and collaboration

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Logical and critical thinking

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Literacy and language skills

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Numeracy skills

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Personal and social skills

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Learning skills

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Synthesis and Evaluation

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Vocational and practical skills

• Planning: time, resource and
information management
• Problem-solving/critical
thinking
• Presentation Skills
• Autonomous Learning/selfevaluation


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Support from Higher Education
The interdisciplinary project is valuable for it will enable the
potential applicants to universities to develop independent study

skills and to develop project management skills closely related to
their academic interests.
Dr Simin Abrahams, Senior Policy Officer,

Universities Scotland


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Support from Business
•Turning to the languages
baccalaureate, I must emphasise the
value of multilingual employees to
businesses […] Ensuring there are
opportunities for those with language
qualifications helps build competitive
advantage in companies.

•If everything else is equal you are
always going to choose as a business
partner the people and organisation
who communicate best with you.
That is why I personally welcome the
introduction of the Languages
Baccalaureate.

Iain McMillan, Director, CBI Scotland

Ron Hewitt, Chief Executive,
Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce


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Support from SCILT
• Wiki forum ‘Bac-Chat’
• Discussions with pupils / teachers
• Presentations to staff/managers/parents
• Help with finding external partners or
accessing research
• Promotional events


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SCILT: supporting the languages
community

Professional
Development

Information
Service

Research and
Statistics

Promoting
Languages


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Conclusion
• The Scottish Bacc offers you a new and rewarding learning
experience
• There’s lots of external support for both you and your
school
• Whether it’s to further study or into work after S6, the
Bacc will give you the edge
• Taking your languages further will bring a whole range of
benefits and open the doors to the world (and that goes
for the scientists too….!)
• So….A quote from Nelson Mandela….


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Six Good Reasons for taking your language
learning further…
It’ll get you a job
It’s exciting
It gets you places
You’ll meet loads of new people
You’ll find out more about yourself
You can enjoy new cultures
In the words of Nelson Mandela….


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Thank You – Please get in touch
[email protected]

www.strath.ac.uk/scilt
http://twitter.com/scottishcilt
http://sciltedl.blogspot.com/
SCILT – Leading on Languages