Extending the learning of languages

Historically, learners of new languages in New Zealand schools were mainly students in years 9 to 13.

Since the mid-1990s, many more students in years 7 and 8 have begun to learn new languages.

The Ministry of Education wants to ensure that students maintain their progress in learning languages as they move to new schools, especially as they move from year 8 to year 9.

The International Language Series

The Ministry of Education contracted CWA New Media to develop the International Language Series.

Hai! An Introduction to Japanese
Oui! An Introduction to French
!Sī! An Introduction to Spanish
Ja! An Introduction to German

These multimedia programmes support the teaching and learning of Japanese, Spanish, French, and German in years 7 to 10 and are particularly aimed at teachers of years 7 and 8 who are not language specialists. The 20 units of teacher and student materials include audio and video components, lesson plans, and support material, each unit being sufficient for three half-hour lessons.

The programmes use communicative methodology to provide a structured, lively, authentic, and enjoyable introduction to each language and culture at curriculum levels 1 and 2. The learning activities and peer-assessment opportunities aim to build student interest, confidence, and skills in language learning.

A typical unit explores the theme My Family. Students learn how to introduce their family members and ask others about their family by watching a short videotape of a family meeting. Supplementary video material shows footage of local family life with opportunities to compare this with life in New Zealand. Print and audio materials support the video segments and reinforce the learning.

Teachers' comments
Many schools are using the International Language Series, and teachers are delighted by the success of the programme.

It's hard to believe the interest among students and the community. People ... bring their knowledge of a language, a culture, or a country to school. We've had visits from grandparents who went to Spain, exchange students living with host families in the community, the local policeman who went to Japan. The parents are so enthusiastic. They just can't believe that such a small rural school could provide their children with such an opportunity.

Sue Sloan, Hinds School

All the students ... learn languages, including students with special needs. The levels are mixed, so we buddy-up students who struggle a little. The sessions are sacrosanct as far as the kids are concerned. We are committed to languages.

The impact hasn't just been on their ability to speak and understand the languages they're learning. There has been a change in the school climate and atmosphere. There is tolerance and understanding. The students have an empathy for languages. They want to listen to the other languages spoken by our students.

The students do well because they haven't had a chance to fail at this. It's a whole new thing that has come into their lives.

The focus is on actual speaking. We don't panic ­ nowhere does it say that the students have to "master" this at a certain time. My job is to turn them on to languages, not to turn them off.

Delwyn Bain, Principal, Maeroa Intermediate

Looking back five years ago, we were concerned. We could see that students whose families had come into the area from other countries were sticking together at breaks and at lunch time. They were not mixing with the rest of the students. We felt that there might be some lack of acceptance of them. Now, we see them mixing in with everything we do, we have a place where they can stick their chest out and be proud of where they come from. It all comes back to climate, and that is something that you work at. We see second-language learning as a brick in the building, in the foundation of our school.

Harry Friedel, Avonhead School

Support for schools and teachers
This is provided by the language advisers and also through information on the Ministry of Education's online resource centre, Te Kete Ipurangi (TKI), at www.tki.org.nz/r/intlanguages/

Case studies from schools that have extended their language-learning programmes are in development and will be published online in 2003.

Hao! An Introduction to Chinese
This new programme in the series will be available in late 2003. It will follow the same model as the existing programmes. Schools need to consider the availability of Hao! An Introduction to Chinese as they review and develop their plans for new language learning in 2004.

Ordering the International Language Series

These programmes are described together with the item numbers for ordering them (either as a whole set or by the parts of any set) on pages 6 and 7 of the September 2002 issue of Resource Link. Please contact Learning Media Customer Services (email: order@learningmedia.co.nz) to order the series materials.

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