OOH LA LA! BUDDING LINGUISTS CHOSEN FOR SPECIAL COURSE

TWO budding linguists from a Hucknall school are off to improve their French at a weekend language school.

Year ten students Aimee Hadman (15) and Emma Crump (15), of the Holgate Comprehensive on Hillcrest Drive, are at Caythorpe Court in Lincolnshire from today (Friday).

They will be there until Monday alongside 38 students from across Nottinghamshire and will participate in a number of language learning activities in French, under the guidance of course tutors.

The aim of the course is to raise the profile of language learning in the county and to encourage pupils to carry on studying a foreign language at sixth form college and afterwards.

During their four days, Aimee and Emma will be improving their French as well as having the opportunity to take part in a variety of outdoor activities, such as climbing and orienteering.

These outdoor pursuits will, as much as possible, be taken in a foreign language to create an ‘immersion’-type language experience.

Phil Drabble, school improvement adviser at Notts County Council, said: “Both nationally and in Nottinghamshire, we have too few young people studying languages after the age of 16.

“I believe that initiatives such as this one can play an important role in encouraging our students to see the study of languages at ‘A’ level and at university as a preferred choice.

“As a local authority we are very appreciative of the funding we have received from Aim Higher and for the support of the University of Nottingham and Harper Collins, which has enabled us to stage this event.”