Languages in Action

Addressing the problem of KS4 take-up in MFL

The Languages in Action project was set up in order to address concerns over achievement in foreign languages in Wales and in particular over declining take-up post 14. The project was managed by CILT on behalf of the National Assembly for Wales Training and Education Department and in collaboration with ACCAC and ESTYN, and ran from 1999-2001.

Crucially it also involved developmental work with a variety of secondary schools from all over Wales. You can read reports on their action-research work in the bulletins below.

A number of specific issues were addressed by the project, most of which had been highlighted by a previous OHMCI/ESTYN report. These included

• Pupil Attainment
• The quality of teaching
• The place of languages in the Curriculum (including time allocation)
• Staffing Issues
• Languages and careers
• Boys' attitudes to languages
• The content of the curriculum

In this respect the project anticipated some of the issues which were to emerge from the Nuffield Inquiry into Languages.

There was also a specifically Welsh dimension to the report. In particular the relationship between the learning of Welsh and of MFL was a subject for investigation.

Key findings

1. The project was a successful one in that overall the participating schools reported a discernible increase in take-up and improvement in attitudes. It is noteworthy in this respect that no particular problem of negative pupil attitudes to language learning was identified. CILT Cymru concludes with some confidence that steps can be taken to turn around what is still a worrying situation.
2. There is, however no single solution which will fits the needs of all schools. Rather a combination of factors appear to have led to improvements. Examples of practical steps are listed below, and are included in the project bulletins.
3. CILT Cymru believes that there are some identifiable content or curricular areas which need to be addressed if schools are to respond to the challenges of a multilingual society. These include
   
   • the content and relevance of the languages curriculum
   • opportunities to
   • interact with native speakers (real and virtual)
     links between MFL and Welsh.
4. There are also important resourcing issues. We have identified in particular:
   
   • opportunities for greater use of ICT
   • promotion of good teaching through continuous professional development
   • provision of more tailored careers advice
   • teacher (and foreign language assistant) supply.

These are all issues which CILT Cymru will be seeking to address in its activities over the next few years.

Languages in Action, Issue 3, May 2001

Languages in Action, Issue 2, December 2000

Languages in Action, Issue 1, June 2000