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Language Immersion Programme
BackgroundLiss Junior is one of six feeder schools for Bohunt which are involved in the DfES funded Language Pathfinder project. The other schools being Liphook Junior, Greatham Primary, Grayshott Primary, Liss Infant and Liphook Infant.
The aim of the project is to identify ways in which modern foreign language teaching can successfully take place in primary schools.
Bohunt is a language college and two years ago began to support the language development of the year 6 pupils in four of its feeder schools. This was achieved by providing foreign language classes, taught by Bohunt staff, in the feeeder schools. This approach proved most successful in providing a range of language lessons, (French, German and Spanish) which were enthusiastically received by the children, but it did not address the fundamental problem of fitting modern foreign language teaching into a full primary curriculum.
Pilot Immersion Programme
In the summer of 2003 a pilot immersion programme was trialed in the six feeder infant and junior schools. Language assistant staff from Bohunt worked alongside teachers in the feeder schools providing a range of language activities in support of the lessons. A language development group was set up to co-ordinate the activities that would take place. The assistants were introduced to each school and observed the schools in action before they began their support activities. In one school a questionnaire was sent to the children involved in the pilot, before the programme started, and at the end, to determine how the pilot had influenced pupils attitudes towards learning a foreign language. The languages supported were French and German. The work was done in years 2,3 and 4. Again the children were most enthusiastic but this time the teaching staff were also involved and they too were inspired by the work of the language assistants.
Pathfinder Project
An application was made by the pyramid schools to be considered for inclusion in Hampshire's Language Pathfinder status bid. The pyramid was included and Hampshire's bid was successful.
In late July 2003 two language assistants were recruited to provide French language support across the pyramid feeder schools.
From September classes in the feeder schools will take place following their existing national curriculum plans, modified to allow for the inclusion of instructions and pupils' responses, in French where possible.
Future Developments
As the Immersion programme develops we intend to post updates on this site.
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Useful resources
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Minutes of Steering Group July 2003
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Minutes of ELL Group October 2003
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Minutes of Steering Group October 2003
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Minutes of ELL Group December 2003
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ELL Report January 2004
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Minutes of steering group March 2004
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