Seasons Greetings from the Regional Language Network!

In the spirit of good cheer, why not try some continental cuisine this winter?

Sample the best of European Christmas tradition with a festive glass of Glühwein, a warming mulled wine from Germany. Or indulge your sweet tooth and dig into a chocolatey piece of Bûche de Noël, the French Yule log. And for something sweet and spicy, try Pepparkakor, a delicious ginger biscuit from Sweden, perfect for the long cold nights.

Whether you’re celebrating un Joyeux Noël, ein frohes Weihnachtsfest or una Feliz Navidad this year, the North East Regional Language Network wish you all the best this holiday season.

New Occupation Standard
for Intercultural Working

Market visit – Canada
21-28 March 2009

Launched in November 2008, new National Occupational Standards will promote quality in intercultural relations at work. Approved by the UK Commission for Employment and Skills, the standards can be used to enhance the skills, knowledge and understanding required for a multicultural workplace, both in the UK and internationally.

Read more here

Canada offers excellent opportunities for North East businesses. The market is very receptive to UK goods and services with few barriers to market entry. Canada offers good trade and investment opportunities to virtually all sectors including oil and gas, renewable energy, pharmaceuticals, chemicals engineering and consumer goods. Contact the Regional Trade Hotline for more details: 0845 05 05 054 or enquiries@ukti.rito.co.uk

Read more here

Fancy curling up with
the best of world cinema?

Join the Language diploma
debate

Staying in or going out, there’s a foreign film for everyone this Christmas. With screenings of the Italian classic Ladri di Biciclette (Bicycle Thieves) and new French language releases, there’s a European flavour to December at the Tyneside Cinema Or for a multilingual movie night in, check out
our top ten recommendations.

Here’s your chance to have your say on the Phase 4 Diploma in Languages, to be rolled out in 2011. Regional consultations are taking place, with the Gateshead Hilton hotel hosting the North East event on Friday 13th February. Register for an invitation at http://www.qca.org.uk/
qca_19767.aspx

European Award for
Languages 2009

2009 Routes Into Languages
initiative

Entries are still being accepted for the 2009 European Award for Languages. Explain how your institution has made a difference to modern language teaching in an innovative, replicable and effective way by Friday 30th January to be in with a chance of winning the top prize of £2,000. Visit http://www.cilt.org.uk/eal
for more information.

There’s a wide range of activities on offer for students of all ages with the 2009 Routes into Languages programme. Roadshows, taster sessions, masterclasses and other activities encourage young people to continue foreign language learning all the way into Higher Education. For events in the North East,

Read more here

Related Links & Downloads



Regional MFL Events	Luna De Mayo	Winter Reading	Spanish becoming more popular than German in schools
Don’t miss January’s free workshop at the Durham Leadership Centre, Spennymoor, introducing the NVQ in International Business Communications. Combining business and ICT content with communication in a modern foreign language, the NVQ encourages further language learning beyond Key Stage Three. To register interest in this event, contact Ondra Nicholson on 0191 383 1640. Download document here	Take a ‘Journey to the Moon’ this Christmas with Luna De Mayo’s world beats. This Latin and folk fusion band is putting on a festive performance at the Sage music centre, Gateshead, combining Spanish songs with a visual spectacular of movement and dance. From 2pm on Sunday 28th December, tickets are £10. Read more here	The European Commission provide a little light reading for the long winter nights in the form of two new reports. 'Companies Work Better with Languages’details the Business Forum’s recommendations for Multilingualism in business communications, while the Industry and Enterprise Directorate’s recent report on Supporting The Internationalisation of SMEs'encourages the movement of small and medium enterprises towards the international business market.	According to the 2008 survey of Language Trends from CILT, the National Centre for Languages, Spanish is now set to overtake German as the second most commonly taught language in secondary education, while courses in Italian and Mandarin continue to rise in popularity. Innovation in teaching is also having a positive effect, with 32% of schools introducing new modern foreign language courses. Read more here

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