Motto speaking together | ||
Purpose making a positive difference Website www.shropshirelanguages.org.uk | ||
Shropshire Languages Society (sometimes also known as Shropshire Languages, Shrop Langs or SLS) is a charity based in Shrewsbury which provides specialist education in languages for people in the community.
Contents
Background
The Society, which dates back to around the early 1960s, caters for all people over the age of four and it is comprised from a team of professionals, several of whom are amongst some of Shropshire's most talented, successful and respected linguists. Some specialists actually speak their language as a mother tongue. Its services are free of charge and funding for resources is gained through charitable status and fundraising. Specialist provision in a number of foreign languages for a variety of age groups is coordinated by a professional team and directed by a Board of Trustees. It is sometimes described as similar to Connexions, the careers service for young people.
The Society has led a local initiative for languages since 2009/10. Students aged 14 are encouraged to take a language post the age of 14 and, from 2011, can have their studies at GCSE supplemented by a bridging course from GCSE to AS level. The society has an outreach service and also provides valuable resources which has no statory funding for the local academic community. Since introducing Expressive Arts as a subject which they combine languages with into the enrichment they are able to hold a Drama club. In January 2012, they produced a foreign languages musical which allowed AS/A level language students to combine their studies with Expressive Arts. There is also a Student Union which enables students of foreign languages to come together and share their views and organise events. The Society is also the Shropshire area network of the Association for Language Learning and has in 2014 lead the Primary Languages Hub in Shropshire due to the new requirement for language study at Key Stage 2.
Offerings
Outreach service = a connection with several local schools and colleges which enables students to use the society's services. http://www.localinitiativeforlanguages.org.uk/ LP14 = studies of Languages Post 14. ICT Support = support using ICT when learning languages. LP16 = studies of Languages Post 16. General learning and progression advice related to languages.
Function and activities
The services learners of all ages to find language courses appropriate to their level. It also occasionally supports people in the workplace who suffer from sensory impairments such as deafness or blindness.