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Immerse yourself in foreign language in Birmingham
Region: West Midlands [More West Midlands news...]
Posted on: Tuesday, 02 Feb 2010
The latest Links local centre Lingua@hillcrest offers students of all ages exciting opportunities to be immersed in the foreign language and take part in engaging activities to increase their confidence, language skills and motivation.
The centre consists of a self-contained shopping village where the shops signs can be changed to French, German and Spanish and a fully equipped classroom. It has a separate entrance to the school and ample parking.
Two standard visits are available for students from Year 2 to Year 11. However the centre is happy to devise bespoke activities specifically for your students upon request.
The shopping visit: after passing through Passport Control with their passports (sent to you prior to the visit), students change their spending money into Euros. They then take part in a carousel of interactive, fun-packed small group activities to learn or practise the language required for shopping. Moving to the shopping village, they “shop till they drop” buying as many items as they can from the shops. They may also purchase souvenirs and refreshments with their Euros from the souvenir shop and café.
“Very beneficial. Children were buzzing about their visit. Staff thoroughly enjoyed it too and are more eager to use vocab within all aspects of the school day – not just MFL lessons” Alyson Paul, Deanery CE Primary, Sutton Coldfield
The Murder Mystery (suitable for Year 9 upwards) - Students compete in teams of police officers to solve the murder of the bank manager. After viewing the crime scene and news broadcast about the crime, they gradually collect evidence such as the contents of the victim’s wallet, CCTV footage and the bank and flight records. They carry out a chromatography test and interview suspects before presenting their evidence to the group.
“I have never seen our pupils so engaged” David Ramsell - Holly Lodge School, Smethwick
The centre also offers staff training, particularly for primary school teachers. There are two trained primary coaches who are able to deliver CPD sessions either at the centre or in your school and assist with planning, language training and methodology. “An excellent course. It fulfilled all our vocabulary needs as well as giving excellent teaching ideas” Donna McCarty – Northfield Manor Primary School - whole school staff CPD Introduction to Teaching Spanish – ½ day
Full details of the centre can be found on the website and by contacting the school on 0121 464 3172 or by email
