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Press release

21 September 2007

 

Rap project wins European language award for Sunderland

 

St Aidan’s Catholic school, Sunderland has won a prestigious European Award for Languages for its innovative language project. Students have adapted teaching topics into rap music and the confrontational dialogues are used to encourage them to practise their French.

 

The students use computer software to give the songs accompanying animations and to record the lyrics which is then combined with music. The computer programs allow the students to listen to the track repeatedly and correct each other’s pronunciation. The project has been very effective in encouraging reluctant pupils to practise speaking in French.

 

The judges said of the Audacity and Kar2ouche initiative, named after the technology it uses, ‘The project benefits from collaboration with the music department and the creation of a product establishes a clear need for rehearsal. The rhythmic speaking helps pupils to memorise the key language’.

 

Modern foreign languages teacher, Arezki Aoune said, ‘I must say I felt great pleasure when, on a dull day sorting admin, I received a phone call from CILT confirming the award. I am grateful to CILT and to my school for supporting me whenever I embark on any of my “adventurous projects”! Merci Beaucoup!’.

 

Winners will receive their Award from at a high profile prize-giving ceremony at the Millennium Stadium, Cardiff on 20 November 2007 and will be celebrating their success with further activities on the European Day of Languages on 26 September.

 

The application period for the next round of awards runs from 26 September to 1 February 2008.

 

 

 

 

For further information contact:

Simon Power

Temporary Press Officer

CILT, the National Centre for Languages

prtemp@cilt.org.uk

020 7395 0850

 

Notes to Editors

   

1.       Audacity and Kar2ouche

St Aidan’s Catholic School, Language College and 6th Form Centre, Sunderland.

St Aidan’s Catholic School is a popular boys school in Sunderland. It has an school roll of 920 students in KS3/KS4 and another 280 in KS5.

Language(s): French & Spanish

www.staidanscatholicschool.co.uk

www.cilt.org.uk/eal/audacity.htm

   

2.        CILT, the National Centre for Languages

CILT, the National Centre for Languages seeks to promote a greater national capability in languages, supporting and developing multilingualism and intercultural competence in all sectors of society. CILT manages major initiatives in support of languages.

 

It works closely with partner organisations in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland and supports language networks throughout the UK. It is a key partner in the implementation of national languages strategies and plays a significant role in languages initiatives at European level.

www.cilt.org.uk

 

3.       European Award for Languages

Also known as the European Label, the Award is a Europe-wide initiative supported by the European Commission recognising projects which demonstrate an innovative, effective and replicable approach to learning languages. CILT, the National Centre for Languages is the UK co-ordinator of the initiative, which has recognised over 1,030 innovative projects across Europe since the end of an initial pilot phase in 1999.

 

2007 sponsors:

 

BBC Languages

Collins

Euro London Appointments (Business Language Prize)

EuroTalk Interactive (Primary Education Language Prize)

French Embassy (French Language Prize)

Germany Embassy (German Language Prize)

Heinemann

Italian Embassy (Italian Language Prize)

Mary Glasgow Language Trust (Mary Glasgow Award)

Oxford University Press

Routledge (Adult Education Prize)

Spanish Embassy (Spanish Language Prize)

Training and Development Agency for Schools (Initial Teacher Education Prize)

www.cilt.org.uk/eal

 

4.       European Day of Languages – 26 September

The European Day of Languages provides a focus for encouraging people to:

·  Start learning a new language

·  Take part in events celebrating learning and speaking other languages

·  Consider the benefits that language learning brings

 

Co-ordinated in the UK by CILT, the National Centre for Languages, the European Day of Languages has been established as an annual event by the Council of Europe. This comes as a result of the enthusiasm with which it was celebrated during 2001, the European Year of Languages, and the need to continue to develop language capability across Europe.

www.cilt.org.uk/edl