Fulwell Junior School

Faculty of Aspiration Year 5 & 6

Why do we teach languages in school?

Share your thoughts.

On holiday?

How would you use your language skills on holiday?

But I don’t go to France on holiday, why should I learn French?

Are languages just for holidays?

When we speak a foreign language what other skills are we demonstrating?• Confidence – attempting to use a language requires this.• Communication – demonstrating an ability to listen and respond.• Intelligence – showing you can work out word meanings, making

connections with known words. • Resilience – showing your determination to communicate with

others.• Understanding – recognising not everyone will speak your

language., being sensitive to cultural differences.

Aspirations

What does this word mean?

Dictionary definition

Aspirations – a strong desire, longing or aim. A goal or objective that is strongly desired.

Can learning a language help us achieve our goals?

What are your future aspirations?

Could a foreign language help you achieve your goal?

I want to be a footballer – I don’t need to learn a language!

How might a language help a footballer?What skills does he need?

Can you make suggestions?

I want to be a doctor, how can a language help me?

Can you convince him?

I want to be a TV Presenter –

what good would a language be to me?

What do you think?

I want to run my own business – I’m sure I don’t need to learn a language!

Languages are good for business!

What percentage of the world’s population do you think speak English?

What percentage don’t speak English at all?

What percentage of UK employers are satisfied with young people’s language skills?

Were you right?

What percentage of the world’s population do you think speak English? 6% of the population. Are you surprised?

What percentage don’t speak English at all? 75% of people

What percentage of UK employers are satisfied with young people’s language skills? 24% are satisfied. What % are not?

Languages are good for business!

What percentage of businesses say that lack of language skills are a barrier to expansion?

Out of ten, how many companies worry that cultural differences affect their work?

How did you do?

What percentage of businesses say that lack of language skills are a barrier to expansion? 66% (approx. 2/3) of businesses.

Out of ten, how many companies worry that cultural differences affect their work? 8/10 companies

What do these facts tell us about language and business?

Stand out from the crowd!

Only 38 out of 100 people in Britain speak a foreign language – having language skills can put you ahead of the competition.

Can you think of a situation where knowing a language could help you get a job?

Use your skills.

Employers are often looking for staff with conversational abilities to do simple things.

Can you think of ways knowledge of a language could be of use to an employer?

Perhaps you could:

Welcome foreign visitors to the office/building.

Answer the phone to foreign customers.

Read e-mails/orders from foreign countries.

Communicate with colleagues in offices across the world.

I want to be a pop star! Languages – No way!

Fabulous Fact: When One Direction went on tour they vowed to learn

20 common words in the languages of the countries

they visited, so that they could speak to their fans.

I want to race around the world, will I need languages?

Fabulous Fact

Ellen MacArthur, ‘ I absolutely could

not have competed at the level I did if I

hadn’t spoken French fluently.’

I want to be an Olympic Diver

Fabulous Fact:

Olympic medal winner,

Tom Daley, achieved an A

in his A level Spanish

exam. He is now able to

participate in Spanish

interviews.

I want to be a writer, I don’t need to learn a language.

Fabulous fact:

J.K.Rowling has a French and

Classics Degree. She often

uses French words in her

stories. E.g. ‘Beauxbatons’

which means ‘beautiful

wands’ ‘Fleur Delacour’

which means ‘flower of the

court’.

Let’s see some languages in action!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7agyvCgwDuc

Once you can speak can one different language, you have developed the skills needed to crack the code of any new language.

Languages can take you further!

Studying languages at University can lead you to surprising careers.

Research has shown that the average salary of people who had studied languages at university was higher than graduates of engineering, maths, physics and astronomy.

Real-life Linguists

Real-life linguists

Real-life Linguists

Real-life Linguists

Do you have

• Here in the North East there are some really good jobs for people with language qualifications.• Imagine you are looking for people to join your company. • Design an advertisement for a job in one of the following companies.• What would be the requirements of the job?• How would you persuade people to work for the company?Be sure to read the information given carefully. Look for clues as to the skills employees would need to have.

TASK

• Make your advertisement eye-catching and clear – you don’t want to waste time with people who are not qualified to do the job!

• Future Careers

• Have you discovered a company you would like to work for?

• Which company interests you? Why?

• Based on this topic, why do you think we teach languages in school?

Extension- Select the company you would like to work for, making sure you know what the requirements of the job would be.

• Write a personal statement highlighting your skills and explaining in detail why you would be an asset to the company. Why should they employ you? Why would you be good at this job?

See where languages can take you!!

What are your future aspirations?

Could a foreign language help you achieve your goal?

Language skills add value to your job…

..and money to your pay-packet!