New approach to languages welcomed
25 January 2019
New approach to languages welcomed
UCAC education union has responded positively to Welsh Government’s announcement about the role of languages in the new curriculum.
Rebecca Williams, UCAC’s Deputy General Secretary said, “Placing English and Welsh in the same domain as International Languages, opens the door to a new approach to teaching languages. It could also put a fresh emphasis on the appreciation of cultural and linguistic diversity more generally.
“It has been evident for some time that we need to start teaching languages to children at an earlier age, so we welcome this proposal on the condition that sufficient training is provided for staff.
“Likewise, reports such as Professor Sioned Davies’s have made it plain that there’s an pressing need to improve techniques for teaching Welsh, particularly in schools where the medium of instruction is predominantly English. This too will necessitate a range of training options, on a large scale, with considerable urgency.
“The new curriculum will place an emphasis on the ability to communicate and will provide opportunities across the curriculum to develop those skills – beyond specific language lessons, and beyond the classroom. It will acknowledge that everybody is on a ‘continuum’ in terms of their linguistic skills – whether in English, Welsh or another international language.
“As a union, we will be pressing Welsh Government over the coming months for detailed information about the assessment arrangements, and especially about the opportunities for training.”
ENDS
Notes
- UCAC is Wales’s own education union. It represents teachers, headteachers and lecturers in all education sectors across Wales.
For further information please contact:
Rebecca Williams: 07787 572180 This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.