British Academy announces Schools Language Award Winners for 2015
Two Greek Supplementary Schools among the winners
The British Academy has announced the 2015 winners of its Schools Language Awards (http://www.britac.ac.uk/policy/BASLAs.cfm). From more than 150 applications submitted from across the UK, 14 prizes of £4,000 each are being awarded to schools and colleges – or institutions supporting them – for innovative projects aimed at increasing the numbers of students learning languages at higher levels. The awards are being made across both mainstream and supplementary sectors. A panel of judges assessed the originality, credibility and potential replicability of the proposals, with particular emphasis this year on building partnerships.
Among the 2015 winners is the project ‘Close-up On Heritage Language Learners: An Inquiry Learning Project’ that will take place in two Greek Supplementary Schools: the Leicester Greek School and the Greek School of the Greek Orthodox Community of Milton Keynes. The project, proposed by Dr Koula Charitonos and Marina Charalampidi, will involve work in partnership with two prestigious institutions in the UK: The Open University (www.open.ac.uk) and The British Museum (www.britishmuseum.org).
The project seeks to boost learners’ motivation and commitment towards studying Greek language at advanced level and to provide access to cultural experiences with an aim of capitalising on these to develop speaking and writing skills. The participants (GCSE and A’Level students) will use mobile and web-based technologies, i.e. platform nQuire-It (http://www.nquire-it.org), to explore their environment though inquiry learning activities. In addition to developing language skills, the programme aims to help young people develop skills (i.e. communication skills, digital literacy skills, inquiry skills) to ensure that they can take an active role in their learning. Essentially the project will foster a sense of belonging, values and citizenship amongst young people.
An Award Ceremony will take place at the British Academy end of November.