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C'est la guerre as French resistance tackled
WHILE growing up in the modern world it is increasingly important for school students to have a grasp of foreign languages.
But to help them prepare them for the 21st century a group of Yorkshire pupils were taken back in time as their lessons moved out of the classroom and into scenes from the Second World War.
Yorkshire Air Museum, in Elvington, near York, provided the setting for a new style of language learning for more than 500 pupils from primary and secondary schools across the city.
Young people taking part were able to test their French and German as well as being introduced to a whole host of new languages including Mandarin, Japanese, Arabic and even semaphore.
Instead of vocabulary tests and role-playing of everyday situations, pupils were asked to imagine themselves making contact with the French resistance, recounting stories as German prisoners of war, acting as evacuees packing their suitcases to escape an air-raid or coping with food rations.
The workshops took place around the museum, in aircraft hangers and on board planes as teachers attempted to bring the languages to life.
Pupils were also set the challenge of making their own helicopters while communicating in French or German, learning about global food in the 1940s and taking part in a military style drill.
The museum was a former bomber command station during World War II and used by the French heavy bomber squadrons.
Its history meant it provided the perfect setting for pupils to take part in role-playing games in French, based on the story of Charlotte Gray from a novel about a young Scotswoman who becomes involved with the French resistance during the war. The story is thought to be based on the exploits of Nancy Wake, codenamed the White Mouse, a member of the Resistance in wartime France, and British secret service agent Pearl Cornioley.
Yesterday's Languages Showcase event was organised by York St John University languages lecturer Ann Gregory with teaching sessions being delivered by primary and secondary school teachers along with university staff and students.
She said: "I have always encouraged the learning of languages for real purposes in out-of-the-classroom situations and contexts, and I also love the opportunities to be creative in teaching and learning by thinking outside the box.
"I retire this year and I hope that with this event I will be leaving schools in York with a legacy rather than a swansong.
"My hope is that although not every group of linguists will have access to an airfield, this is a replicable activity which could be scaled down and the ideas used in individual schools."
Having invited pupils from both primary and secondary schools to work together, organisers also hope it will help the 11-year-olds to make the transition when they switch schools.
Teacher Rob Peacock from Wigginton Primary, near York, which took part, said: "The activities have been really interactive and the children have been really enthusiastic. By having the Second World War linking into the languages it helps to give the children a better understanding of them.
"They have also had the opportunity to learn about a lot of different languages for the first time such as Arabic and Japanese."
The event has been been part-funded by Routes Into Languages, a network based at Hull University and run by the region's universities which aims to encourage more people to study languages through school and into higher education.
Where the Dickens is knowledge?
Too many children are leaving education without knowing who Miss Havisham (from Dickens's Great Expectations) is, or who was in charge at the Battle of Waterloo, says Schools Minister Nick Gibb.
He told a Reform conference yesterday that knowledge has been "relegated" from the education system in favour of teaching "skills".
The Minister called for changes to ensure all children were taught about great literary figures, facts and dates. He added: "The rich language of Shakespeare should be the common property of us all. The great figures of literature that still populate the conversations of all those who regard themselves as well-educated should be known to all."
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Saturday 26 May 2012
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