b small launches Young Language Learner Award
b small publishing have recently announced an award called the Young Language Learner Award. We have a guest blog from Naomi Weeks, who works for b small and introduces us to this exciting opportunity.
I really wasn’t interested in language learning in school. I barely remember my Primary school French lessons, and in Secondary school my German lessons were dreaded each week with the knowledge it would be another hour spent pouring over a dull textbook and rehearsing the difference between ‘der’, ‘die’ and ‘das’.
Whilst many teachers and schools recognise the importance of language learning (and I know there are many brilliant language teachers out there whose efforts are much more engaging than just reading from textbooks!), sadly, over the past 20 years, language GCSEs taken have fallen by more than 40%. This is a worrying trend that is echoed by the abandonment of the Erasmus+ scheme and a school system that offers students far less international language tuition hours per week compared to other nations.
Motivation to study a foreign language is key to perseverance, and reasons for learning that language must come from our own values and interests, rather than compulsory learning.
That’s why I KNOW if I’d have had the option when I was little, participating in the Young Language Learner Award would have completely altered my viewpoint on language learning.
I relish (as much then as I do now) any chance to be creative and immerse myself into a creative project. Coming up with a story, illustrating it and sending it off to a nationwide competition is EXACTLY what I would have wanted to take part in at school, and best of all – it would have ENCOURAGED me to understand properly, in French or German, what I was writing, and in turn would have pushed me to want to learn new words and phrases that I could include in my story.
The whole point of YLLA is to have FUN with language learning. Speaking to previous entrants, I was amazed how many said that the idea of the prizes didn’t matter so much to their children – it was the fun of coming up with a story, writing and illustrating it, and sending it off that had captivated them. It just goes to show how vital that element of fun is when it comes to learning a new language!
Many teachers, tutors and educators now register their classes for entry to the awards. This is so encouraging to see and we love getting submissions through from a whole class who have enjoyed using the awards as a class activity.
This year, we’ve sent free posters to libraries to encourage local residents to enter, have introduced exclusive teacher packs, and hope to see more entries than ever before!
By Naomi Weeks
b small publishing’s Young Language Learner Award is open to children aged 6-11 in the UK, and encourages children to send in a story or comic written in a language other than a mother tongue. The award is currently open now and runs until 10th June.