Sgt Major puts pupils through their paces at languages showcase
Hundreds of students from local primary and
secondary schools were put through their paces at a special
language showcase event held at Yorkshire Air Museum.
Language lessons were moved out of the
classroom and the Second World War used as inspiration for the
special event organised by York St John University on 1 July. The
Yorkshire Air Museum at Elvington near York, provided the setting
for the new style of language learning where students were able to
test out their French and German language skills, as well as try a
whole host of new languages including Mandarin, Japanese, Arabic
and even semaphore.
The Languages Showcase was organised by Ann
Gregory, York St John Languages Centre Manager. 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 of the box.”
Instead of vocabulary tests and traditional
role-play, pupils were encouraged to imagine themselves making
contact with the French resistance, recounting stories as German
prisoners of war and acting as evacuees coping with food rations.
Students were also put through their paces as French was delivered
in the form of a drill by York St John lecturer and former military
man, Mark Sullivan.
Workshops took place around the museum, in
aircraft hangers and on board planes to help bring the languages to
life. Teaching sessions were delivered by primary and secondary
school teachers and staff and students from York St John
University.
For further information please contact Amy Hall, PR
& Communications Officer on T: 01904 876466 or E: a.hall@yorksj.ac.uk