Welcome to Trinity School's Primary Languages Page

As a Specialist Language College, Trinity School set up the Primary Languages Project in 2001 in an attempt to spread enthusiasm for foreign languages amongst the younger age group in the local community. Language teachers from Trinity go into a number of local primary schools to help their own teachers to introduce French, German, Spanish and Italian. The project has been really successful. Children enjoy their lessons and make good progress. A feature of the project has been to teach children through stories in the foreign language, both traditional and more modern tales.

PRIMARY LANGUAGES WORKSHOP 2008 - EUROPE'S GOT TALENT!

Following the success of our last two summer schools with the theme of the Eurovision Song Contest, we decided to change the format slightly this year and welcomed 24 children from a range of local primary schools to our two-day workshop on the theme of Europe's Got Talent! The workshop took place at the very start of the summer holidays and was an opportunity for any local children in Year 5 and Year 6 to come along and enjoy languages in a relaxed and fun atmosphere, whatever their previous experience of foreign languages might have been. Children were given the opportunity to improve their skills in two languages, either French and German or Spanish and Italian. Everybody learned how to introduce themselves in both languages and then took part in activities such as singing simple songs, reciting short poems and even telling very basic jokes in their chosen languages. On the second day they created hats to represent a European country and then practised the act that they were going to perform to the other participants. At lunchtime on both days the children were introduced to a selection of European foods which they were very enthusiastic about sampling! After that they played games such as French boules outside. The performances were great, especially considering how little time there had been to learn new language. We watched and listened to songs, puppet shows and even some jokes told by people who had only started to learn that languages the day before. Find out how much the children enjoyed it by looking at their pictures and reading some of their comments:


I thought that the languages workshop was 'fenomenal!' because it was cool and a great thing to do.
The best bit was all of it! (Lucy)

I thought that the languages workshop was 'prima!' because it was interesting and I learned a lot.
The best bit was performing the acts and meeting new friends. (Kiera)

I thought that the languages workshop was 'muy bien!' because I didn't know any Spanish or Italian.
The best bit was making the hats. (Emily)

I thought that the languages workshop was 'fenomenal!' because it was interesting to try different languages.
The best bit was the show at the end of the last day. (Georgina)

I thought that the languages workshop was 'fenomenal!' because it was fun and the people around you were kind.
The best bit was learning more Spanish and Italian and the talent show was amazing! (Ellie)

I thought that the languages workshop was really good because of the food and learning different languages.
The best bit was lunchtime!!! (Matthew)

I thought that the languages workshop was 'fenomenal!' because I love learning languages.
The best bit was the show/food. (Oliver)

I thought that the languages workshop was 'fenomenal!' because you did lots of fun things.
The best bit was being able to try new languages. Thanks. (Tom)

I thought that the languages workshop was spectacular because doing different languages is fun.
The best bit was everything. (Steven)


European Award for Languages

In 2005 we were delighted to be awarded a European Award for Languages. This was awarded jointly to Trinity and Rockcliffe CE Primary School, one of our partner schools, for a German project entitled Märchen und Mehr! which in translation means 'Fairy tales and more!' Fairy tales that the children had worked on include stories written down by the Grimm brothers in their original language, German, such as Schneewittchen (Snow White), Rotkäppchen (Little Red Riding Hood), Der Froschkönig (The Frog Prince) and Die drei kleinen Schweinchen (The Three Little Pigs). Winners of the EAL are encouraged to expand their project into other schools, and children in many of our partner schools now enjoy working on a variety of stories in different languages, in addition to their other language work.
You can find out more about The National Centre for Languages by clicking the above logo.

Local Support Group (LSG) for Early Language Learning

Since 2006 Trinity School has hosted the Carlisle and North East Cumbria Local Support Group for Early Language Learning. This is part of a network funded by the National Centre for Languages (CILT) and provides 5 free twilight support sessions a year for anyone involved in teaching or supporting languages to younger children in any educational sector.

Details of sessions for 2009-2010:
Session 1: 29.09.09 KS2 - Cross-curricular theme (music) 'From the Blue Danube to the Three Bears' Living Room: Ideas for synthesizing KS2 music and language objectives'
Session 2: 18.11.09 - Using a resource from the LSG collection. Teachers will show how they have used an item from the Trinity resources bank in the classroom.
Session 3: 28.01.10 - KS2 to KS3 transition in MFL and the European Day of Languages. Follow-up on initiatives started last year but of interest to all involved in KS2 or KS3 MFL, whether they attended last year or not.
Session 4: 09.03.10 - Responses to frequently asked questions e.g. 'What do I put in a PML policy?' 'What will Ofsted expect from PML?' 'What’s the best way to collate evidence in PML?'
Session 5: 26.05.10 - Cross-curricular theme (literacy) A poem is a poem whatever the language. The benefits of using poetry both for language learning and for linking with literacy.

All sessions scheduled to take place 4.15 - 5.45 (refreshments from 4.00) in the Chapman Libraryl.
You can read reports of past sessions on the Primary Languages website (www.primarylanguages.org.uk/link/lsgs.aspx). This website can also give you information about other LSGs and up-to-date advice about all aspects of teaching languages to KS1 and KS2. Information about individual sessions will be emailed to schools in advance of each session with a reply slip. If you wish to register now for any or all of these sessions, simply send an email to the LSG co-ordinator, hke@trinity.cumbria.sch.uk (and make a note in your diary!). Everybody is welcome and refreshments are provided.

Trinity Tongue-twister Challenge!

European Day of Languages logoThe European Day of Languages is held annually on 26th September. On this day all European countries celebrate the diversity of languages spoken around the world. This year, on 26th September 2010, we challenge all pupils, teachers, parents, support staff and governors in primary schools to take part in our tongue-twister challenge!

You can listen to some tongue-twisters here and try them out yourself. Usually the meaning is nonsense, but a guide to what you are saying is given above each one. If you want to try recording yourself saying a tongue-twister in any foreign language, just email it to Mrs Kent, Primary Languages Co-ordinator at hke@trinity.cumbria.sch.uk and we will add the best to this website! Please include the written text of what you are saying. Good luck!

ITALIAN TONGUE TWISTERS

Trentatrè Trentini entrarono a Trento tutti e trentatrè trotterellando
(33 people from Trento came to trento and all of them were trotting)

(slow version)
(quick version)


Sopra la panca la capra canta
Sotto la panca la capra crepa
(On the bench the sheep sings Under the bench the sheep dies)


Tigre contro tigre
(Tiger against tiger)


FRENCH TONGUE TWISTERS

Cinq chiens chassent six chats
(Five dogs chase six cats)


Pauvre petit pêcheur, prend patience pour pouvoir prendre plusieurs petits poissons.
(Poor little fisherman, be patient if you want to catch lots of little fish.)


Trois petites truites cuites
Trois petites truites crues
(Three little cooked trout
Three little raw trout)


Trois tortues trottaient sur un trottoir très étroit.
(Three tortoises were trotting on a very narrow pavement.)


SPANISH TONGUE TWISTERS

El perro de San Roque no tiene rabo porque Ramón Ramírez se lo ha robado
(San Roque's dog has no tail because Ramón Ramírez has stolen it)

(slow version) (quick version)


Tres tristes tigres
(Three sad tigers)

(slow version) (quick version)


El cielo está enladrillado,
¿quién lo desenladrillará?
El desenladrillador que lo desenladrille
Buen desenladrillador será
(The sky is covered in bricks who will take them off? the person in charge of bricks that manages to do it will have done a good job)

(slow version) (quick version)

Donde digo digo no digo digo, sino que digo Diego
(Where I say "I say", I'm not saying "I say" but "Diego")

(slow version)
(quick version)

El que poco coco come,
Poco coco compra
(The person who doesn’t eat a lot of coconuts doesn't buy a lot of coconuts )

(slow version)
(quick version)
Multimedia book Competition

We invited KS2 children in our partner primary schools to illustrate the traditional story The Three Little Pigs. There were lots of imaginative and very individual entries, but congratulations must go to our winners: Lucy Lee from Caldew Lea School, Katherine Hutchinson and Olivia Taylor, both from Stanwix School. Follow the link to see their pictures in a multimedia book and then read the story in English, French, Italian, German or Spanish. You can also listen to the story being read out by native speakers of those languages. A picture book contains a selection of the other entries for you to admire. Well done to everyone who entered!

Click the above image to view the multimedia book!
(You will need the Flash Plugin to view.)

PRIMARY LANGUAGES RESOURCES BANK

We have set up a resources bank in the Chapman Library for the use of local primary school teachers. The collection includes storybooks in French, German, Spanish and Italian and a number of songs, games, CDs and DVDs. A card which allows teachers to borrow resources free of charge will be allocated to each school the first time a teacher from that school visits the library, as long as they can produce proof of association with the school (e.g. a letter on headed notepaper).
The library is open Monday to Thursday 8.30 - 5.00 and Friday 8.30 - 3.30.




 

SPECIALIST LANGUAGE SCHOOL

 

 

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