Our newly launched Language Leaders’ Programme has given pupils in Year 9 the unique opportunity to develop their confidence in leadership whilst building upon their own language skills by effectively delivering engaging language lessons to pupils at Fairfield Prep School.
Spearheaded by Loughborough High School’s Modern Foreign Languages Department, the aim of the Language Leaders’ Programme is to inspire pupils to develop their linguistic skills and to nurture in others a love of foreign languages. Beginning in March, the programme encouraged the girls to translate their own classroom learning into a range of practical games, activities and learning materials to use to teach languages to young children.
During their final presentations, two groups of Year 9 girls visited Fairfield pupils in Year 2 to give them an introductory session to Spanish and German. From learning the alphabet to basic words, colours and animals, the interactive sessions used memory games to create a fun and engaging learning environment for Fairfield pupils.
Amelia, Edie and Kasa, pupils in the group who taught a session on Spanish said: “The pupils at Fairfield have been so engaged during the programme and I’ve enjoyed having small, one-on-one conversations with them. I was surprised by how quickly they’ve absorbed everything and started to pick up the languages we were teaching them.
“The programme has definitely helped to build my confidence, as well as general social skills, and it’s been great to put lots of time into preparing today’s session.”
Throughout the programme, High School pupils have shown initiative, creativity, and the ability to plan, resource and deliver taster lessons confidently to Fairfield students, in both Spanish and German. The girls have created resources in their own time and worked together to find ways to make learning effective for primary pupils.
Speaking about the Language Leaders’ Programme, Mrs Vanessa Baker, Teacher of French and German at Loughborough High School, said: “This is a new initiative which we hope to establish as a regular link between Loughborough High School and Fairfield Prep School. Our girls have drawn upon their learning in German & Spanish lessons and have engaged enthusiastically with the programme. They should be proud of their skills, commitment and willingness to engage both as participants and leaders.”
