Latest articles
03.03.2021
Take part in the webinar "Covid-19 and language education: Making home schooling motivating and fun”
ECML webinar for parents/carers, teachers and others involved in supporting the home learning of children and young people, especially those whose first language is not necessarily the language of schooling
Dr. Déirdre Kirwan
The Covid pandemic continues to dominate our lives and although schools in some countries are open again, there are still many young people who are learning from home, on a full or part-time basis. Linking to the theme of learner autonomy from the previous ECML webinar, Covid-19 and language education: Two challenges, one response, this latest webinar will focus on resources for the home-schooling of children and young people and how these can be successfully adapted to meet the needs of learners whose first language is not the language of schooling.
Déirdre Kirwan, ECML expert within the project Inspiring Language Learning – why it matters and what it looks like for children age 3 to 12 years and co-author of Engaging with Linguistic Diversity: A Study of Educational Inclusion in an Irish Primary School (2019), will present a range of practical ideas, many of them from the ECML’s Treasure Chest of Resources for learners, parents and teachers, which help ensure that home learning:
- is learner-centred, motivating and fun for everyone involved
- develops learners’ plurilingual repertoires - not only the language of schooling, but foreign languages and children’s home languages
- supports young people’s wellbeing despite social isolation
- gives parents/carers confidence in supporting their children’s learning
- includes self-management tools to develop learner autonomy and track progress
Please note: the webinar will be held in English only
PLEASE REGISTER HERE
22.01.2021
“Inspiring language learning and teaching in the early years – Why it matters and what it looks like for children age 3-12”: new resource website for pre-primary and primary teachers and educators
The European Centre for Modern Languages (ECML) of the Council of Europe is pleased to announce the completion in both English and French of its resource website “Inspiring language learning and teaching in the early years – Why it matters and what it looks like for children age 3-12” (www.ecml.at/inspiringearlylearning), an output of the ECML programme “Languages at the heart of learning” (2016-2019).
This website is packed with resources and strategies for teachers and educators in the pre-primary and primary sectors to help young children develop their linguistic and intercultural competences. These resources take account of the linguistic repertoires of children – the different languages they encounter at home, at school and in society – so that they can engage successfully with linguistic and cultural diversity. They are underpinned by a set of key guiding principles, also available on the website.
Users will become more aware of the benefits of early language learning in the context of multilingual classrooms and can choose from an extensive bank of practical classroom materials and inspiring stories, organised into three age groups (3-6, 6-9, 9–12-year-olds).
These pedagogical resources respond to the growing demand for support in early language education, ensuring language learning which is stimulating and enjoyable for learners and teachers alike.
“Inspiring language learning and teaching in the early years –
Why it matters and what it looks like for children age 3-12”
(www.ecml.at/inspiringearlylearning)
Click on the links below to go directly to the different resources:
23.04.2020
World Book Day (23 April): explore the digital collection of the ECML!