The case for Chinese & the International Dimension in

Southampton schools

Mary Higgins29 May 2012

Overview

• Introduction

•The Southampton context

•The case for Chinese

•How to make it work?

A Great City

needs to be ambitious………it needs to be a

Learning City

Learning Masterplan

• Does Southampton not need a Learning Masterplan to complement the physical city Masterplan?

• To address the city’s major learning opportunities and strengths, and its significant threats and weaknesses?

• To capture the imagination of our city learners and their families?.....and to inspire confidence?

• To set out our a clear ambition, aims and values?

• To align learning and skills as indivisible from the projected economic development of the city?

Key question…

What education will best prepare our young people to ensure Southampton develops and thrives?

Some vital components

•Maths

•Physics

•A language

•Literacy

•Employability

•High achieving

•Ambitious

Why Chinese in Southampton?

•A thriving international port

•China is second largest economy in the world

•China has the fastest growing consumer market in the world

•China offers employment opportunities

•Local Chinese community

What makes language learning difficult?

•Learner motivation

•Teacher supply

•Complexity compared to other subjects

•Grammar!

•Lack of confidence / ambition

•Suitable resources

Effective language learning

•Start young

•Convince society/parents

•Train teachers

•Banish myths

•Promote progression

•Make it accessible/relevant & explore the human dimension~ intercultural exchange

The Master said…

“In learning and straightway practising is there not pleasure also?

When friends gather round from afar do we not rejoice?”

Thank you