Modern Foreign Languages Revival

The use of multi-media technology seems to be providing a catalyst to the revival of MFL teaching in schools. Recent examination results have shown that where schools have invested in multi-media language software programmes results in MFL have improved dramatically.

Merchant Taylors' School in Northwood has now used a multi media languages software programme called Sony Virtuoso for two years now and their A level and GCSE results this year were astounding.

Chris Roseblade, Deputy Head ICT Systems said, "Our results have been exceptional, especially in terms of the enthusiasm with which pupils are now taking up more specialist languages, as well as excelling in French and Spanish. We had a student achieving a top five placing in the UK for German for the examination board AQA. In terms of the many pupils that take GCSE French a year early, results at the very top end have been marvelous, with three of our pupils were in the top five results in the UK for examination board AQA. In Spanish this was even better with 5 pupils meriting the top 5 marks in the UK for the examination board AQA." Head of MFL, Peter Langdale was equally delighted. "At A Level this has meant that there has been a substantial increase in the uptake of languages to the point that we have now had to create a second set for German."

At St. Helen's Northwood where Sony Virtuoso has been established for just a year, head Mary Morris is equally enthusiastic about the two Virtuoso labs now being used by her pupils. "We can see how much more engaged and focused our girls are in learning languages. As an IB school we need to constantly look out beyond the UK to equip pupils with communication skills in other languages. Language teaching has been seen as a difficult option for many years and recent figures from government only highlight this problem. We have found that the reverse is now true.

Numbers of pupils wishing to take up language learning has significantly increased to the point where we have now equipped a second multi media suite and are working to create a multi media teaching environment across the whole school. We have also found that the use of multi media teaching is having a profound effect on the engagement of pupils in other core curriculum subjects: History, English and Classics are just three areas our Sony Virtuoso and Soloist software is finding new and vibrant applications.'

For further information contact:

Mark Stimpfig, MD Boomerang, Sony Virtuoso's European Marketing Agency




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