The Languages Company briefing in association with Links into Languages was interesting....

This briefing in languages in Primary and Secondary School detailed how far languages have come and how far they still need to go. Key themes included:
- transitioning between the Key Stages and onto languages for life
-How language learning is becoming part of Languages and Communication as part of the new primary review
- How language teaching in KS2 will follow the same Listening and Speaking, Writing, Intercultural Understanding, Knowledge about Language and Language Learning Strategies structure
- How performance indicators assess take up and progress, monitoring both between schools and within schools versus other subjects
- How research into language teaching and investing in CPD for language teachers is vital
- How a NFER survey has revealed great progress in primary even before the statutory requirement for languages in primary comes into force in 2011
- How the new diploma will work
- Some news on the new Open School for Languages

USA based 2009 teaching conference reveals...

how Chinese is becoming mainstream in schools. School visits to Chicago schools, music, ealy language learning workshops, supply of Chinese teachers - it was all covered and more. Use the link to find out more.

How are perfect pitch and learning Chinese associated?

The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America has published a study showing fluency in a tonal language such as Chinese helps develop perfect pitch.

"In my experience, musicians in China don't regard perfect pitch as anything remarkable because it's very common," says Deutsch the pyschologist author of the research.

The programme of the SSAT Chinese Conference 3rd 4th July 2009

Join teachers and school leaders for the Chinese education event of the year. This two day conference is held at the British Museum (day 1) and Lambeth Academy, London (day 2), and includes keynote speeches, interactive sessions and hands-on workshops delivered by experienced Chinese teaching practitioners, practical sessions aimed at schools new to China, and an exhibition of educational resources.

Research on Learning Chinese in Australian Schools reveals more expert knowledge needed

See both the full report and the summary on www.learnosity.com

Mandarin Chinese does need good oral and aural practice. Unlike for French, German and Spanish, pronunciation is key. Without good pronunciation you cannot be understood; it is not just a matter of having a bad accent. Curricula, teacher training and resources for children learning Chinese must take this into account. Contact us for suggestions, we know how to tackle the problems detailed in this report.

The CiLT primary languages show concludes that primary languages really have arrived.

See http://www.cilt.org.uk/news/latest/2009/11_03_pls.htm for more information on a very successful conference for primary teachers leading the way in language learning

Everyone should have access to Mandarin at a local school says the schools Minister

"I want to develop Confucius classrooms and further develop Mandarin in comprehensives. There should be an opportunity for everyone to access Mandarin at a local school," he said. Chinese pupils have the best results of all ethnic groups in national curriculum tests at 11, with 86% reaching the required standard compared with 80% of white British children. The figures include recent immigrants who do not have English as a first language.

Mandarin Chinese grows in Primary schools

Mandarin lessons

PUPILS at a Caversham school are learning Mandarin after school.

Teacher Anna Zhenping Yu Hurst was invited to teach the classes at Micklands Primary School after returning from a family trip to her home province of Quzhou in October.

Mrs Zhenping Yu Hurst, whose son Oliver, eight, attends Micklands, took photographs to show pupils.

Her classes cover basic language and expressions, Mandarin characters and traditional Chinese songs and stories.

Mrs Zhenping Yu Hurst, who lives in Reading, said: “The children are very keen to learn about Chinese culture. I am teaching eight classes to start with and this may be extended if the level of interest continues.”

Pioneering school starts Mandarin Chinese in KS1

St Paul's in Manchester has hired a full time teacher.

Headteacher Don Berry said: “We are very excited by the work that Zhang Zie has begun with our pupils. We are delighted to have her at the school.

“Miss Zhang is teaching our Key Stage One pupils and we are using a method by which she gives them short bursts of Chinese lessons throughout the day, so that we maintain the children’s attention and interest and don’t overwhelm them. We think that learning Chinese will put our children in a very strong position for their future education and careers.”

Praise for pre-school Chinese programme one year on, but the non-interactive approach is questioned.

Animation Insider worries about the pedagogy of Ni Hao Kai Lan. January 26 2009

Although Ni Hao, Kai-lan still has a tendency to feature characters who speak fluently in Chinese yet whose dialogue remains entirely untranslated, but only on occasion, the terminology that is translated ties well into the episode's central story. At first I thought this balance was a breakthrough in preschool television, refusing to baby its viewers and allowing them connect the dots on their own; but I'm starting to wonder if there's a limit to what you can offer a viewer to take in on his own, before he simply shuts out any information he deems as partially incomprehensible. Ni Hao, Kai-lan does a good job in blending the everyday with the multicultural, but the series frequently puts itself at risk of being too good for itself. The risk isn't always necessary, but when it is, children's television is usually better off for it.