200 likes | 316 Vues
Scottish Policy to Promote Bilingualism and Progression. Margaret Allan, Qualifications Manager – NQ Languages SQA Ùghdarras Theisteanas na h-Alba IATEFL, March 2012. The Scottish Context: ESOL and Gaelic. Bilingual language learners Context for learning Recent Scottish policy
E N D
Scottish Policy to Promote Bilingualism and Progression Margaret Allan, Qualifications Manager – NQ Languages SQA Ùghdarras Theisteanas na h-Alba IATEFL, March 2012
The Scottish Context: ESOL and Gaelic • Bilingual language learners • Context for learning • Recent Scottish policy • Impact on progression • Scottish Qualifications to support progression
The linguistic congruences • ESOL • Gaelic – Gaelic fluent / Gàidhlig Gaelic (Learners) • Levels of bilingualism: developing to fully-functioning bilinguals • Support through Education: - First language maintenance - Varieties of delivery - Opportunities for progression
Parallel contexts for learning - informal • ESOL - in ‘host’ community, ie Scotland - linguistic ‘isolation’ - access to English language media - with ‘jagged profiles’ • Gaelic - ‘family’/ community - rural / urban - access to Gaelic media - strong Listening skills
Parallel contexts for learning - formal • ESOL and Gaelic provision: - in schools; in Gaelic Medium / Gaelic Units / ‘mainstream’ - in community classes - in colleges - in the voluntary sector
Recent Scottish Policy • Gaelic – Gaelic Language Act (2005) • ESOL – Adult ESOL Strategy (2007) • (‘1 + 2 Languages’ (2011)) • Shared commitments: - to education - to supporting bilingual learners to access and contribute to society - to progression opportunities
Gaelic Language Act Key principle - Language acquisition through education Expansion of: • Gaelic-Medium Education (GME) at pre-school, primary and secondary levels • Gaelic Learner Education (GLE) in schools • Gaelic education for adults and in vocational situations Support for Gaelic Language Plans
Adult ESOL Strategy for Scotland Vision: ‘…encouraging active citizenship in a diverse and pluralistic society… opportunity to access high quality English language provision…to enable them to participate in Scottish life...central to …a democratic voice …to contribute to the society in which they live...’
Three pillars of Adult ESOL Strategy • ‘ESOL curriculum framework ...be fully linked to ...the SCQF’ and that ‘summative assessment ... promotes articulation to mainstream programmes, and ...employment opportunities’ • Professional pathways for ESOL teachers • Targeted financial support for ESOL delivery across Scotland
SG Policy impact on SQA - 1 SQA ESOL Strategy: development of • ESOL NQ Framework and support materials • ESOL for Work qualifications • TESOL awards and training materials
SG Policy impact on SQA SQA Gaelic Education Strategy • SQA Gaelic Language Plan - Extension of the range of subject examinations available in the medium of Gaelic - continued support for Gaelic qualifications - qualifications to support and encourage Gaelic (Learners) for adults
12 Doctorate 12 11 Masters SVQ5 11 10 Honours Degree 10 9 Ordinary Degree 9 8 HND / HE Diploma SVQ 4 8 7 Advanced Higher HNC / HE Certificate 7 6 6 SVQ 3 Higher 5 Intermediate 2/Credit SG SVQ 2 5 4 Intermediate 1/GeneralSG SVQ 1 4 3 Access 3/Foundation SG 3 2 Access 2 2 1 1 Access 1 Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework: supporting bilingual learners Schools FE/HE Work-based Higher SVQ 3 6 6
SQA Qualifications to support bilingualism and progression Currently, within SCQF: • NQ ESOL Framework, SCQF 2 - 6 • ‘ESOL for Work’ qualifications, SCQF 4 & 5 • ESOL NQGA development, SCQF 4 & 5 • TESOL qualifications, SCQF 6, 9 & 10 • NQ Gaelic (Learners) and Gàidhlig, SCQF 3 -7 • Gaelic for Work Purposes, SCQF 3 - 7 • Single skills Gaelic Units SCQF 4 & 5
Curriculum for Excellence - Languages • Successful language learners • Confident language users • Responsible multilingual citizens • Effective communicators
Curriculum for Excellence – SQA support for bilingualism and progression ESOL and Gaelic / Gàidhlig: • Review and development of NQs • Specialist representation on languages’ decision-making groups • Revised QA processes
Harnessing the potential of ESOL & Gaelic bilingual learners Social advantages: –access to two cultures –more tolerance towards/interest in other cultures • Linguistic advantages: –early awareness of sounds, words, sentences –enhanced language learning abilities –earlier reading • Cognitive advantages: –mental benefits: how children use their brain in many situations. (from Antonella Sorace, Univeristy of Edinburgh)
Why support bilingualism? Fluent users of English • confident using higher order language skills, aware of the importance of context and audience • able to access all aspects of the curriculum Greater awareness of how language operates: • development of literacy skills, especially decoding • learning of other languages Enhanced problem solving abilities: Maths/ICT Heightened creative potential: writing and critical understanding (from SEALCC: ‘Learning in 2+ Languages’)