Slide 1

Bilingual education planning:

language allocationLanguage use in the classroom: one language or twolanguages?

2Using two languages in the classroom A key consideration is the nature of the linguistic balance between Welsh and English, and the intensity of Welsh-medium input required in order for learners to reach fluency in both Welsh and English over time

2.13 Welsh-medium Education Strategy

Garca, O. (2009). Bilingual Education in the 21st Century, 290-291 Bilingual education takes on many different forms, and increasingly, in the complexity of the modern world, includes forms where two or more languages are separated for instruction, but also forms where two or more languages are used together in complex combinations.

Notes: Garca emphasizes the complexity related to bilingual education today and raises an important question here: separate the two languages or bring them together.

Garca emphasizes the complexity related to bilingual education today and raises an important question here:separate the two languages or bring them together.

4Garca, O. (2009). Bilingual Education in the 21st Century, 290-291 What makes bilingual education complex is that one has to think not only of pedagogy, approaches, and methodology, but also of how to allocate, arrange, and use the two or more languages in instruction.

Research findings do reflect these comments by Ofelia Garcia about bilingual education internationally:

These are important decisions that teachers have to make on a daily basis ,- and that varies according to the nature and linguistic background of children and the community the school is situated.

There is an attempt to emphasize the Welsh Education Strategy as shown in the next slide.5Notes for Garca, O. (2009). Bilingual Educationin the 21st Century, 290-291

Research findings do reflect these comments by Ofelia Garca about bilingual education internationally:

these are important decisions that teachers have to make on a daily basis, and that varies according to the nature and linguistic background of children and the community the school is situated.

Language allocation in Welsh medium schools is explained in the following slide.

6Welsh-medium education between the ages of three or four and approximately seven usually means delivering provision primarily through the medium of Welsh.From seven to eleven years of age (Key Stage 2 of the national curriculum), English-language skills are also developed through appropriate use of the language as a subject and medium.

Notes: A key consideration is the nature of the linguistic balance between Welsh and English, and the intensity of the Welsh medium input needed for learners to be fluent in both Welsh and English over time.

Welsh Assembly Government. (2010)

Welsh-medium Education Strategy, para. 2.13

A key consideration is the nature of the linguistic balance between Welsh and English,and the intensity of the Welsh medium input needed for learners to be fluent in both Welsh and English over time.

7 Welsh-medium Education Strategy, para. 2.13

It is generally accepted that at least around 70% of curricular time should be through the medium of Welsh if learners are to acquire a sufficiently sound command of the language to enable them to use it across a broad range of contexts with confidence and fluency. The Welsh Assembly government accepts this guiding principle for Welsh-medium schools at primary and secondary level.

8Language allocation in the primary school.

In the following video a primary school head-teacher explains that language planning across the school is vitally important in order to implement effective bilingual education policy and practice.

Language allocation: primary school

10

Language Allocation in the Foundation Phase 3-7 years old

n=17 schools

This graph shows language allocation in the Foundation Phase.

These pupils are in the age range of 3-7 years old.

This data was collected by questionnaire from the selected schools across Wales.

There were 17 responses out of a total of 21.

The results indicate that Welsh is the medium of instruction in all areas of the Foundation Phase:-Personal and Social Development-Language, Literacy and Communication Skills-Welsh Language Development-Mathematical Development-Knowledge and Understanding of the World-Physical Development-Creative Development

Bilingual in this context refers to a dual stream school where there are two streams-Welsh-medium and English-medium-taught separately.11

Notes for Language Allocation in the Foundation Phase

This graph shows language allocation in the Foundation Phase.

These pupils are between 3-7 years old.

This data was collected by questionnaire from the selected schools across Wales.

There were 17 responses out of a total of 2112The results indicate that Welsh is the medium of instruction in all areas of the Foundation Phase:-Personal and Social Development-Language, Literacy and Communication Skills-Welsh Language Development-Mathematical Development-Knowledge and Understanding of the World-Physical Development-Creative Development

Bilingual in this context refers to a dual stream school where there are two streams: Welsh-medium and English- medium-taught separately.

Notes for Language Allocation in the Foundation Phase

13

Language Allocation in KS2 7-11 year old

n=17 school

This graph refers to the language allocation in Key Stage 2 (in the same schools as the Foundation Phase).

The pupils are aged between 7 and 11 years old.

The following categories were used to identify the language of instruction in different subjects:English, Welsh, Bilingual.

Bilingual in this context includes classes using Welsh and English within the same lesson, and also classes in which Welsh and English are used separately, for example, some topics in Welsh and others in English.

The results indicate that bilingual teaching and learning occurs in all subjects, namely:-Mathematics-Science-Design and Technology-Information Technology-History-Geography-Art and Design-Music-PE-RE-Personal and Social Education

Science and Mathematics are taught in English in one primary school-this is because these subjects are taught in English in the feeder secondary school.14Notes for Language allocation in KS2

This graph refers to the language allocation in Key Stage 2 (in the same schools as the Foundation Phase).

The pupils are aged between 7 and 11 years old.

The following categories were used to identify the language of instruction in different subjects:- English, - Welsh, Bilingual.

Bilingual in this context includes classes using Welsh and English within the same lesson, and also classes in which Welsh and English are used separately, for example, some topics in Welsh and others in English.

15The results indicate that bilingual teaching and learning occurs in all subjects, namely: - Mathematics- Science- Design and Technology- Information Technology- History- Geography- Art and Design -Music- PE- RE- Personal and Social Education

Science and Mathematics are taught in English in one primary school - this is because these subjects are taught in English in the feeder secondary school.

Notes for Language allocation in KS2

16Language allocation: secondary school

Language allocation in the secondary school.

The video shows the language co-ordinator in a secondary school discussing the importance of language planning.

Language allocation in secondary school is complex.

A number of key factors need to be addressed including:

-the bilingual skills of teachers-the bilingual skills of pupils-assessment procedures-the Local Education Authority's bilingual policy-aspirations of parents

Questions for discussion;How does your language policy address language allocation in different subject areas? Discuss how pupils bilingual skills are developed in Key Stage 3, KS4 and KS5 within your chosen subject.

17Language allocation in the secondary school.

The video shows the language co-ordinator in a secondary school discussing the importance of language planning.Language allocation in secondary school is complex.

A number of key factors need to be addressed including:-the bilingual skills of the teachers-the bilingual skills of the pupils-assessment procedures-the Local Education Authority's bilingual policy-aspirations of the parentsNotes for Language allocation: secondary school

18How does the language policy in your school address language allocation in different subject areas?

Discuss how pupils bilingual skills are developed in:

Primary school : Foundation Phase, KS2

Secondary School: KS3, KS4 and KS5 Questions for discussion19