Many schools have found that including a special languages event in the school year is an excellent way of motivating both children and staff, of raising the status of languages within the school, as well as offering parents an additional opportunity to be involved in their child’s learning.

Working towards a goal in this way, be it for a performance or collaborative celebration, has proved to be extremely beneficial for children’s confidence and self-esteem. It is also a fantastic opportunity to develop skills across the curriculum.

Special events can also be a great way of schools working together, either in clusters or across Key Stages.

Questions 

- Can you see an opportunity in the school calendar for a special languages event in the forthcoming year?

· Who might be involved in this? What support or assistance might you need?

· Are there any members of the local community or any local businesses who might like to contribute to a special celebration?

Activity

Read the article French, food and fun! List the people who would have needed to be involved in this project.  

Which colleagues on your staff have special talents you might invite to contribute?

How might you involve secondary colleagues?

How long would you need to prepare for a project of this sort? Which organisational issues would you need to consider?

How would you adapt a project like this for your own school context?