Page 13 - link magazine

The Link Magazine • October 2005 13
School instills love of languages
The A level and GCSE results in August illustrated a dramatic decline NumberSense
in the number of students taking modern foreign languages, but
Westlea School is well ahead in educating the next generation of
French speakers.
Maths and English Learning Centre for 6-16 years olds
By 2007 all primary schools must direct teaching and through speak-
offer a modern foreign language ingandlisteningatdifferenttimes,
in Years 3 to 6 so that by 2012 every such as morning registration. Delivers help for your children at the time they need it
Key Stage 2 child will have had "Our role is to capture the en-
five years of French, German, Span- thusiasm for learning that primary 0800 028 3720
ish or Italian. school children have," said Louise.
However at secondary levelchil- "They don't have inhibitions to www.numbersense.co.uk
dren willbe able to drop languages speak French using role play and
beyond Year 9. games, singing, learning through
Most primaries will be employ- doing and participation. At the
ingvisitingteacherssharedbysev- same time we're discussing what WordPerfect
eral schools with support from verbs and nouns are which helps
teaching assistants and parents. their English grammar.
But Westlea have achieved a "It's wonderful to see how the
headstart because teacher Louise children grow in confidence with a \
u and,
Miles is a fluent French speaker, new language, especially when we www.clip.org.uk
having worked in France before took Year 6 to Normandy in July."
taking a teaching qualification at Danielle Owen, who started at Penhill Learning Centre
the University of the West of Eng- Ridgeway School in September, left
land on one of the few specialist Westlea having learnt French for Offering courses in: Flash MX,
language courses available, two years. "I've really enjoyed
Dreamweaver MX, Photoshop Elements,
Premier Elements (video editing), HTML

A// courses: £35 every six weeks. Take between
1 and 3 months to complete book based course
with tutor support. Two hours in length each week.
Courses take place on Saturdays 9.30am to 1.30pm
Contact us on 01793 704931
for further information or via the website

Louise Miles with some of the West/ca French learners
Headteacher Suzanne Seaton learning French, especially
said, "the proposals for modern through word games using the
foreign languages at primary level computer white board. When we
have been coming for some time went to France we had to go to the
and when Louise applied for a va- market. It was great when the shop-
cancy, we knew we could make an keepers understood us. 13th October
early commitment. The children "It's made me feel confident
have taken to learning French like about learning French at second-
ducks to water, they love it." ary school."
Louise is supported by two other Mark Bateman, 9, in Year 4, has
French speaking teachers and a had one year's language tuition.
teaching assistant with a degree in He said, "we've been writing let-
French and Russian. A third ters in French and English to chil-
teacher is training to join the lan- dren at a school in the Loire. We
guage team. tell each other about computer
Westlea started teaching French games and DVDs and also about
two years ago. From September all our schools. It's interesting they
Key Stage 2 children will receive don't go to school on Wednesday
one hour's French each week via but have to go on Saturdays."

Learn juggling and circus skills
Develop your eye-hand co-ordination, try new tricks,
r J meet nice people and have a good time
Q The Swindon Juggling & Circus Skills Club
meets weekly on Tuesdays at The Crossroads
Details from •
Old Railway Museum. Faringdon Road.
Jake 7pm - 8pm: 9 to 12 year olds - £3
r ^ on Rm
080
771
%/• 8pm: teenagers and adults -£4 (£3 unwaged)
t
i a r _- Turn up. Equipment provided or bring your own