Applications now open for European Award for Languages

6 November 2008

The search in on for the UK’s most innovative language projects, as applications open for next year’s European Award for Languages. Schools, colleges, adult education and community projects are invited to apply for the prestigious Award ahead of the deadline on 30 January 2009.

The European Award for Languages is a Europe-wide initiative which recognises creative ways to improve the quality of language teaching, motivate students, and make the best of available resources. To qualify for an Award, language projects must provide an inspiration to others, be replicable, and involve any language other than English.

Shortlisted projects will be visited by a panel of expert judges, who will compile a list of the UK’s most innovative language projects. Winners will receive their Award from the patron of CILT, the National Centre for Languages, broadcaster Sir Trevor McDonald, at a prize-giving ceremony in the summer.

Hayle Community School in Cornwall was one of the winners of the award in 2008. A specialist language and business enterprise college, Hayle was the only school in the South West region and one of only six secondary schools in the UK to win the prestigious Award.

The school, together with the Cornwall Education Business Partnership, organised a “Passport to Export” initiative. The competition combined a business challenge with languages for Year 10 students who were asked to design a product using local materials that would sell well in Spain. Teams of students then pitched their ideas in English and Spanish via a video link to commercial staff at the British Embassy.

Read more about the competition at Hayle Community School.

To apply for a 2009 European Award for Languages, visit the CILT website.