Teachers 'ill prepared' for language tuition

Many teachers do not have the confidence or skills needed to teach foreign languages in primary schools, a new report claims.

The government announced on Thursday it will spend £50m on a new language programme for 7-11 year olds.

Minister for schools Andrew Adonis published the languages framework and said the funding package will go into schools and local authorities for 2006-2008.

The announcement follows a pilot which taught languages to pupils in almost 1400 primary schools across 19 local authorities.

Every LEA have now been set the target of making foreign language teaching available to all 7-11 year olds by 2010.

But an evaluation of the pilot scheme, also published today, said the plans faced a series of "challenges".

"Teacher capacity is a key factor if national roll out is envisaged," according to the report, conducted by academics at the
universities of Warwick, Reading and Newcastle.

"Class teachers' confidence in teaching languages remained fairly low," the report said, "despite the majority having obtained some form of qualification."

"Training addressing linguistic competence as well as methodology was found to be vital in addressing this aspect."

The report said adequate resources were crucial for all teachers to ensure the success of language teaching.

Languages were most often taught by non-specialist teachers in the pilot project.

But Thursday's report said where there were enough staff for teachers to be supported by a native speaker or specialist, this can work well.

Adonis said the funding pledged by government will ensure the programme can be delivered through the provision of resources, local coordination and training for existing teachers and teaching assistants.

Additional funds will support initial teacher training with a language specialism he said.

Currently less than half of all primary schools are offering some form of language lessons.

The new framework provides learning objectives and teaching activities across the four years of Key Stage 2 and focuses on key skills such as speaking, reading and writing.

The minister said he was keen to follow the example of other countries in teaching languages at an earlier age when they can be absorbed easily.

"We know that younger children have the ability to absorb and learn new languages," he said.

"They are enthusiastic and eager to learn about our ever changing world and unlike in later years, there appears to be no
gap in enthusiasm for languages between boys and girls at primary level.

"That is why, in common with our partners and competitors in other countries, we must shift the emphasis in language learning to give young children a firm foundation for later learning."

CILT, the National Centre for Languages, welcomed the new framework as a "reassurance of the government’s commitment to primary languages".

Isabella Moore, director of CILT said: "The development of languages in the primary sector is long overdue, and brings us into line with practice in other European countries.

"At a time when languages are facing such difficulties in the secondary sector, it sends out the crucial message that they are an important part of every child’s education, a normal, natural and valuable part of preparation for life in a globalised society.

"There are huge challenges ahead in making primary languages a reality, but for the benefit of our young people whose lives will be increasingly touched by an international dimension, we should grasp this important opportunity to enrich the curriculum."