MFL teacher CPD online series

This year we’re launching our brand new teacher CPD series for MFL teachers nationwide. During the series our academics in the School of Languages, Cultures and Societies at the University of Leeds will share their knowledge and research of teaching MFL in Higher Education and provide teachers with insights into teaching languages at the University of Leeds as well as new tools and strategies which they can implement in the classroom.

These sessions are free of charge.

Translation teaching to support student employability on Wednesday 27 April 2022 at 16.00-17.00 (Online) delivered by Dr Martin Ward Lecturer in Chinese and Japanese Translation in the School of Languages, Cultures and Societies at the University of Leeds.

Graduate employability is a perennial concern for students and parents, and this is especially the case in MFL.  At the University of Leeds translation is taught broadly across different undergraduate language degree programmes, providing valuable transferrable and subject specific skills for language graduates. The Centre for Translation Studies at the university then offers a number of MA programmes providing professional training. This session will give an overview of the way translation is taught, its importance for, and role in, student employability and will provide teachers with examples of how they can use translation in the classroom. This session will be suitable for MFL teachers at GCSE and A-Level but Primary teachers are more than welcome to attend.

Book onto this session here.

Lights, camera, action: using foreign language film and TV series in the MFL classroom on Wednesday 9 February 2022 at 16.00-17.00 (Online) delivered by Dr Simone Lomartire, Lecturer in Italian in the School of Languages, Cultures and Societies at the University of Leeds.

This CPD aims at enriching MFL teaching and learning practices through a selection of extracts from iconic foreign language film and TV series, in the A-level context. We will look at a range of possible activities, teaching strategies, and theories which actively support language learning through filmic sources (e.g. CLIL). By the end of the session, participants will have consolidated their understanding of how foreign language film and TV series may be used in A level MFL teaching and learning, as well as linking these with other A-level subjects. This session will be particularly useful to those participants who wish to incorporate foreign language films and TV series in their teaching, with a view to gradually preparing students for a research-based essay and/or IRP in a foreign language film and TV series. This session will be suitable for MFL teachers at A-Level. Bookings for this session are now CLOSED. 

Developing MFL Speaking Skills in and out of the classroom on 1 December 2021 at 16.00-17.00 (Online) delivered by Dr Sofia Martinho, Associate Professor in Portuguese in the School of Languages, Cultures and Societies at the University of Leeds.

Teaching speaking skills can be daunting at times. For students, developing speaking skills in a foreign language can be quite scary as well. What type of activities get students speaking in the target language? How can we better support them in developing fluency? What open access e-tools are available to use in the classroom, at home and on the move to improve speaking? How can these be used by language learners and teachers? In this workshop we will address these questions and present some of the most effective free e-tools that can easily be used to learn and practice any Modern Foreign Language. Please come prepared to share one or two good strategies and e-tools to develop speaking skills in the MFL classroom and contribute to the discussion. This session will be suitable for MFL teachers at Primary, GCSE and A-Level. Bookings for this session are now CLOSED.

Approaches to MFL in higher education on 20 October 2021 at 16.00-17.00 (Online) delivered by Dr Bettina Hermoso-Gómez, Lecturer in Spanish, Portuguese and Latin American Studies in the School of Languages, Cultures and Societies at the University of Leeds.

The reduction in uptake of modern foreign languages together with the policy change in 2004 to allow schools to make language study optional after age 14 means that many students are not aware of the possibilities that lie ahead at University. This session will explore different pedagogical approaches to teaching MFL in higher education and give an insight into the innovative ways in which MFL are taught at university level. This session will be suitable for MFL teachers at GCSE and A-Level. Bookings for this session are now CLOSED.