Applying new thinking to language learning. Isabella Moore Exclusive

Lord Dearing’s Languages Review has highlighted the need for new thinking over the options for languages available to students within the new specialised Diplomas. He has stressed the need to develop suitable, contextually relevant courses which can be offered in Additional and Specialised learning.

One London FE College provides a good example of this new thinking on applied languages. Last September the College of North East London (CONEL) introduced an applied language element into three of their vocational areas: for nine groups in Business, one group in Science and one in Humanities. This move resulted in an additional 200 new language learners at the College.

CONEL is responding to employer demand by creating a tailor-made language learning programme for students preparing for careers as health workers. The provision is being designed to be appropriate as an additional specialist option for students who will take the Diploma in Society, Health and Development. The main output in terms of documentation is to be a ten-week Scheme of Work with a matching number of applied resources which it is hoped will be made available on CILT’s Vocational Languages Resources Bank (www.vocational-languages.org.uk).

CONEL have arranged to partner with four of the schools in their Diploma federation to teach the course in the summer term of this academic year and a case study will be produced by July.

Looking beyond the launch of the new Diplomas they have also decided to create a languages strategy for the college linked to the Olympics and Paralymics. CILT is working with LOCOG and others closely associated with planning for the 2012 Games, and will be supoprting CONEL this project as part of its work around the Olympics.

This work, which has been guided by CILT as part of its work supporting languages 14-19, lays some important foundations for embedding languages into vocational subjects which have not previously included any language content. With over 200 students already having benefited from learning a language in an applied context this academic year this is an approach which should serve as an inspiration to others.