Press Release

Further acclaim for creative language projects

12 September 2006
 
The innovation of award-winning language projects is being recognised again today following the announcement of a series of sponsored special prizes. Seven of this year’s European Award for Languages winners have been identified for their outstanding work in particular areas of language learning.

The Vocational International Project Sheffield receives £1,000 from the Alamo Group, sponsors of the Business Language Prize, awarded to the best project developing language provision to match the needs of business and employers. The University of Portsmouth receives the same amount from the Training and Development Agency for Schools (TDA) for its initial teacher education project Able Linguist Days.

Publishers Routledge are sponsors of the Adult Education Prize, which goes to Heriot-Watt University for its work bringing together teenage learners, interpreting students and community figures in a multilingual debate. This year’s EuroTalk Primary Education Prize is awarded to Oughtrington Primary School’s World of Books initiative where young learners enjoy language learning through story-time favourites.

The Spanish Embassy prize goes to the Junior Cambridge University Language Programme whose flexible approach encourages less motivated teenagers to learn languages. Debenham High School, Suffolk receives the French Embassy Prize for its Invade Orford project which involves English and French students in a re-enactment of the occupation of a local castle. The Community Languages Prize is awarded to Aveling Park School for its project which sees students teaching their language to primary pupils.

Winners will receive their Award from CILT patron Sir Trevor McDonald and Rt Hon George Reid MSP at a prize-giving ceremony at the Scottish Parliament on the European Day of Languages (26 September).

A further award of £2,000 from the Mary Glasgow Language Trust will be announced at the ceremony, which will include a multilingual debate and a community languages taster.