November update

The term is flying past with Christmas approaching fast - how many shopping days left? It has been very busy since the October break. Unfortunately the ESOL event planned for October was cancelled due to low numbers which was disappointing. I am going to contact Colleges in the central belt to get some feedback with a view to planning another event. It may be that the timing, the day of the week or the venue were problems for people. I am working closely with Margaret Allan at SQA on this.
On a brighter note I attended a very interesting meeting of ESOL practitioners hosted by my own College through the East of Scotland Quality Network. Many current issues were discussed including the use of the additional funding and Community/College partnerships but from my own point of view really good feedback was given about support the Network could provide for ESOL. I have been discussing an online resource repository with Colin to allow practitioners to share materials. This was well received by colleagues at the meeting so I am keen to move on with this and hope to arrange a meeting with Colleg asap. This is something the Modern Languages network have also discussed as a need. We also discussed an event where good practice could be showcased through 'hands on' workshops where practitioners would demonstrate activities which work well in the ESOL classroom. 'Try it, it works.' This could be an idea for the afternoon session of College People's Week on the ESOL day. I am keen to set up an advisory group for ESOL and some of the colleagues at the meeting were happy to join, which is great. I will also recruit members from other parts of the country.
The second meeting of the Scottish Baccalaureate Design Team met in October. The design arrangements of the new qualification have been put out to consultation due to disquiet about the original design and the results of this should be published shortly. Work on exemplification of the inter-disciplinary project is now underway and will be discussed at the next meeting in January.
I attended the SALT conference on the 1st November which had a variety of interesting workshops. I supported my colleague Marie McCarney in the presentation of a workshop on Modern Languages in FE - Debunking the myth. The main aim was to inform the School sector about Language activity in FE so that they can advise their pupils about future study as well as alternative routes via College to University. It also focussed on School/College partnerships to enable a wider delivery of Advanced Higher and future collaboration to deliver the new Baccalaureate.
The third meeting of the ESOL Curriculum Working Party was on the 11th November and progress was made through meaningful discussion and interesting input from guests Phillida Schellekens and Euan Reid, the Chairperson of the National Panel. Each member of the Working Party has been given an aspect of the Curriculum to present at the next meeting on the 16th January - January is already looking like a busy month!!

New session update

The new session has been very busy. An ESOL event is planned for the 30th October in Stirling. This will be run in conjunction with SQA and will concentrate on the delivery and assessment of NQs in ESOL. The event is in response to requests from practitioners in general but in particular as a follow-up to College People's Week.
On the Modern Languages front I was invited to join the Qualifications Design Team for the Scottish Baccalaureate:Modern Languages and have attended two meetings since August. This is a really exciting development for Modern Languages and could offer opportunities for College/School links. Delivery of the new award will commence in August 2009.
I attended an ESOL Network meeting in Glasgow on the 1st October which was on the subject of Family ESOL. The meeting was very well attended and consisted of interesting presentations and workshops.
The annual SALT conference is on the 1st November and I am going to help my colleague Marie McCarney from Central College deliver a workshop on Modern Languages in FE. There is a wide choice of workshops on offer and it is a good opportunity to meet colleagues.
I am hoping to organise more events in the new year with a repeat of the ESOL NQ event in a different location and an event on the use of ICT in language teaching which would be of interest to both Modern Language and ESOL practitioners.

Modern Languages and ESOL update

The last three weeks have been very busy. College People Week was really interesting with some really good speakers. The numbers for Modern Languages were disappointing but this reflects small departments with lots of part-time staff who are not supported to attend events. The ESOL numbers in contrast were really good and it was great to have the opportunity to meet people and introduce the Subject Network.
The following week I attended the second meeting of the ESOL Curriculum Working Party. We had a very useful discussion and exchange of ideas looking at different areas of the Curriculum. We have now established a basis for future development and intend to send our initial ideas out to practitioners for consultation. We would like to consult throughout the process.
On the 12th June I visited Edinburgh's Telford College. I had been invited to give advice on appropriate units to offer on a range of courses and for a range of students including evening programmes. We discussed new HN Units, free standing vocational units and National Qualifications. I took the opportunity to demonstrate Practitioners Plus. We also discussed proposed PDAs in Modern Languages and I asked the staff to complete the SQA questionnaire on PDAs which is important for the validation process.
I was supposed to meet Anne Pia, the HMIE for ESOL on the 13th June but due to other commitments Anne postponed the meeting until August.
On the 20th June I attended the Modern Languages Network Annual Conference at Stirling University. There were around 20 delegates including colleagues who also teach ESOL (one was talking about the really good software she had seen domonstrated at College People Week - Crazy Talk!) I had a slot to demonstrate Practitioners Plus and to talk about the SCHOLAR pilot. There was a good deal of interest in both. It was a really good event. We also discussed a response to the Funding Council Report on Modern Languages - I have agreed to send this on behalf of the Network. I was also asked to contact Alex Salmond to ask him to meet representatives of the network to discuss the position of Modern Languages in Scotland. I will do my best on that one. Alex was in the year below me in school and still lives in our home town so if all else fails I can maybe sneak up on him in the butcher's or his other favourite place!
There are lots of interesting things happening with the Scottish Baccalaureate in Languages and ESOL, the new proposals for NQs, additional funding for ESOL, the ESOL Curriculum, the Funding Council Report on Modern Languages etc.
In among all of this I have just finished marking 160+ Higher German papers so I can safely say I am looking forward to meeting everyone on Thursday for our end of year bash and then to going on holiday for a while.

ESOL and Modern Language events

Last week was extremely busy but interesting. On Monday I attended the first meeting of the ESOL Curriculum Working Party. The task of the group is to decide on how the National ESOL Curriculum should look which is a significant task. It was agreed after a great deal of constructive discussion that before the next meeting in June we would look at other models such as the Canadian, the New Zealand, the English one alongside lessons learned. We would also look in detail at the Curriculum for Adult Literacy and Numeracy which had been suggested as a possible model. I think it is really positive that I've been invited to join the group as a representative from SFEU.
I spent Wednesday evening and all day Thursday in Glasgow for the launch of the new Free Standing Vocational Units in Modern Languages. SQA asked if I would run one of the three workshops at the event as I had been involved with the design team from the beginning. There was a great deal of interest in the event with 100 delegates and a waiting list with a further 100 people. FE was represented but the majority, as always, was from the schools sector. However I made contact with those from FE and gave my SFEU card. It is good to be involved so closely with new qualifications from the point of view of passing on accurate information to colleagues.
I was contacted by the HMIE for ESOL, Anne Pia. My name had been mentioned at the ESOL Assessment Panel and she wanted to meet me for a chat. I have arranged to meet her on the 13th June.
Questionnaires are coming in for the SCHOLAR project so it will be interesting to gather views from everyone who has used the materials this session.

Catching up after the break.

Today I have tried to catch up with things after the holiday. I sent my contribution to the ezine for Modern Languages and ESOL. I was asked to send a letter of endorsement to SQA for their new PDA in ESOL Tutoring so I have spent a bit of time looking at the details of the course and then writing a letter. I think the award will be a positive development as there are a great many unqualified tutors delivering ESOL, many on a voluntary basis. It will also allow centres delivering informal tutor training to offer accreditation.
In connection with the SCHOLAR project I have designed questionnaires for learners and tutors to evaluate the materials as I am conscious of the fact that learners will be disappearing shortly in the run-up the exams.
Murray has put some updates on PP for me.
Next week will be a busy week with the first meeting of the ESOL Curriculum Working Party on Monday and the launch of the new FSVUs in Modern Languages on Thursday with a pre-launch meeting for presenters on the Wednesday evening.

Current activities

I had an email from Dundee College asking about getting involved in SCHOLAR. This was in response to a visit I made there in January when I took the opportunity to talk about the project and a follow-up email. I have given them the information and contact details to get the students registered. It is probably a bit late in the session but if they are able to use the materials as part of their exam prep and then take part in the evaluation that would be good.
I did a session with the FVC staff, who are in my PDA group, on SFEU in general and the Subject Networks specifically. I demonstrated access to PP and showed a couple of the Networks as examples. I also encouraged them towards the discussion forum and asked them to think about sharing best practice. Most had never visited the site but were most interested and promised to register. I will visit the other PDA groups after the holidays and do the same. I will also ask for a slot at the next round of Lecturer Forums which will reach all lecturing staff.

Update on activity in Modern Languages and ESOL

The first meeting of the ESOL Curriculum Working Party is on 28th April at Scottish CILT at Stirling University. This should be an interesting meeting and I will report back.
I have been trying to push along the SCHOLAR partners but this is moving slowly at present probably a combination of staggered Easter holidays and candidates being prepared for oral exams and completing NABs. March is a busy month in that respect.
I had an email from Telford asking for help in the selection of Language units for different groups of students which I replied to. They said the information was really helpful - evidence for evaluation, Colin.
I'm doing some staff development next week in my own college (part of PDA) and will give a demo of PP and make sure the staff know about all of the subject networks.
Murray has added a few updates to PP including a link to Learning in 2 plus languages for ESOL.

ESOL event in Inverness

I attended one of the SQA National Training Events for the new NQs in ESOL on Friday 14th in Inverness. The event was very well attended with around 65 delegates from schools and colleges in the Highlands and Islands. I was struck by the enthusiasm of these practitioners but also by the problems of isolation which many have - a large number work in departments of one. This was exemplified by the problems they have in complying with internal verification procedures. SQA have agreed to develop links between centres to mutually carry out I.V.
I was given a slot at the event to talk about SFEU and the Subject Network - some of the delagates were relatively new to lecturing and were not aware of SFEU. I was also able to speak to a number of people individually who were interested in the Swap Shop idea. I left a pile of business cards on the table with the ESOL materials and all were taken. It was very useful to have time to familiarise myself with the NQs (modelled on the Mod Lang ones but more flexible)and with some of the issues teachers and learners face. Higher ESOL has now been accepted for entrance by universities and colleges as an alternative to Higher English and Int 2 has been accepted by colleges for entry to NC and Highers Programmes. This is extremely significant for ESOL learners in terms of progression and articulation and is a positive response to these new qualifications. The entries for this year so far are three times the entries for last year (the first year of delivery). This is an indication of the rapidly growing demand for ESOL.
The event also gave me an opportunity to spend time with the Qualifications Manager, the Qualifications Development Manager, Qualifications Officer and the Senior Verifier from SQA. They are very keen to work with SFEU and for any support we can provide. I think we have established a good working relationship. Margaret Allan is also keen to set up a meeting between ourselves and LTS to discuss sector specific support. She has also agreed to read Colin's paper to the Scottish Government and to give her comments.

Modern Languages Update

I attended the Modern Languages Assessment Panel last Thursday. SQA are holding two Launch Events for the new Chinese National Qualifications (half day event for Access 3 on 25th April and whole day event on 8th May for other levels) and one for the new Free Standing Vocational Units in Modern Languages on 1st May. I have been asked to run one of the workshops at the Mod. Langs event, which will give me an opportunity to promote the Subject network and PP. Murray has put all of these events onto PP.
There was an interesting session on the Curriculum for Excellence proposals for Modern Languages. These are linked to the European Framework and would broaden out the language learning experience to engage learners and give a greater understanding of other cultures. The proposals also state the benefits of language learning e.g. the development of problem solving skills, the effective use of ICT, an enhanced understanding of the mother tongue, collaborative and independent thinking and learning. These benefits could be powerful when we are trying to persuade Course Teams to incorporate a language in their frameworks!

Free Standing Vocational Units: Mod Langs

Last Wednesday evening I attended a Qualifications Design Team meeting to dicuss the above units. Last year Access 3 and Int 1 levels were developed and validated and will be available for delivery from August 2008. Int 2 and Higher are in now draft form. I have been involved on a consultancy basis from the beginning and it has been an uphill struggle to represent the interests of our learners in FE. The dominant client group will be schools but there is a potential market in FE to replace the old NC Modules, to fill a gap in leisure/community/evening classes which NQs do not fill and also for use in some of the College/School links programmes for S3/S4 learners. I felt that the content of the drafts did not meet FE needs and after lengthy discussion along with the support of other team members we agreed on a re-draft with greater flexibility to suit different client needs.
There is to be a Lauch Event of the first two units with exemplar materials in May and I have agreed to run one of the workshops.

Update on activity in Modern Languages and ESOL

In light of the additional funding to be given for ESOL Colin, Jennie, Genevieve and I had a short meeting after the main meeting last week. We would like to apply for some of the money to enable SFEU to support ESOL in as effective way as possible. There are a number of issues: a shortage of provision which is not meeting the growing demand, a large number of small departments often with part-time staff and some in remote areas, a reliance on community provision often staffed by unqualified (or qualified at a basic level) volunteers, companies employing migrant workers with poor English skills. We have discussed the use of online learning or web conferencing to augment provision, online resources to support the new PDA aimed at upskilling staff particularly in the voluntary sector. We are conscious of not spreading ourselves too thinly (this is potentially a huge area) and we decided to focus on the issue of employees. Companies are not willing to spend money on ESOL training but there are serious issues of Health and Safety which we feel could be used as a lever. We are currently concentrating on the vocational areas of Construction and Tourism/Hospitality but there is also demand in the Food Processing industry. Jennie already has excellent online resources which could be used very effectively. Colin has written a very good paper to present to the Scottish Government, which will be developed in light of our discussion but is going to register interest with Peter Beaumont as a starting point. We will probably have to move fairly fast as the impression is that the previous additional funding was divided up very quickly and had to be used within a fairly tight time scale.
Next week I am going to Inverness to attend a national training event for ESOL NQs. This will be a good opportunity to gain an overview of practitioners' difficulties in delivering the new courses and possible support required. In the Highlands and Islands there are particular problems with small, remote departments which don't have the support networks of the Central Belt. I will do my best to promote the Subject Network and encourage people to get involved with Practitioners Plus.
I have agreed with Colin to postpone the ESOL event at SFEU until August/September.

Making ESOL contacts

There are big developments in ESOL with additional funding of £9million promised to increase provision. Colin has been talking to me about the possibility of bidding for some of the money to support practitioners.

On Thursday (21st Feb.)I met Margaret Allan (SQA DEvelopment Manager - NQs), Jennifer MacDougall (Development Officer? new PDA) and Alan Wilson (Qualifications Manager). They were all really enthusiastic about working with SFEU and about any support we can provide.

I was given a detailed folder on the NQs with a CD of support materials for all five levels. There has been a huge increase in entries for NQs. Because they are new units and because of the nature of ESOL delivery (often small departments with a large number of part-time staff and many isolated) there are difficulties. SQA are running national training events to exemplify standards. These are very over-subscribed. I was invited to attend the event on the 14th March in Inverness. Margaret was very keen for me to attend and it will be an excellent way to make contacts and promote the network as well as getting up to speed with the issues. The location is also good as the Highlands and Islands come into the isolation category.
SFEU ESOL event - Margaret was really enthusiastic about this. A date at the beginning of May would be really good if possible. I am thinking of an introduction of the network with a demo of Practitioners Plus and the Swap Shop followed by input from Margaret on NQs with workshops on standards, then a short session on the PDA and finally a session on ICT (maybe a Same Time demo or something else ). Margaret seems to think we will be inundated with applicants - SQA will help to promote it through their database. She was also suggesting another event later in the year to concentrate on tailoring assessments to specific areas of interest. If we are successful in getting some funding maybe it could support events.
I talked about Same Time and they thought it had definite possibilities as additional support in isolated areas and perhaps in the workplace. They were concerned about individual use as not everyone has access to a PC.
Margaret is unaware of ESOL developments for SOLAR. E assessement could also be very suitable for the new PDA.
ESOL for work units are being developed (workplace assessed). I told Margaret about the HN units for ESOL (she did not know they existed). As well as Construction, Care, Tourism and Hospitality she also mentioned food processing (fish industry esp. in north) and Beauty Therapy in Shetland!! I think if we are able to benefit from materials produced in Construction that would be excellent.
Shortage of provision is a big issue particularly in the Highlands and Islands. It is not clear exactly how the initial additional £5 million has been spent or how much impact it has had - too early I suppose. Upskilling of staff esp. volunteers is an issue - hence the new PDA which will be available in August.
In addition to the contact with SQA I have been invited to join the ESOL Curriculum Working Group which will be really valuable. The membership includes representatives from the Scottish Government, HMIE, the Funding Council and SQA. The next meeting is in April.
On the Modern Languages front I have two Qualifications Design Team meetings this week, one on HN units and one on new Free Standing Vocational Units. I am one of only two FE members on the latter so it is important to negotiate the best possible units to suit FE as well as school candidates.

Project

I currently have three partners for the project and following a visit to Dundee College I am hopeful that they will come on board. I have set up a Discussion Forum on the Forth Valley VLE with access for staff and learners in the different centres to enable topic based disussion to take place in French. I would like to incorporate Crazy Talk in the discussion forum to add further interest. It has been a slow process to get access details for the students from SCHOLAR and at the moment I am using the College one in FVC as a temporary measure.
Next week I have a meeting at SQA with the Qualifications Manager for ESOL. This should be a very useful and informative meeting - there is a lot of activity in ESOL and additional funding has just been announced to try to meet the high demand for classes.

Blogs for Subject Mentors

Taking part in training session on the use of blogs. This is a trial blog.