Teaching of languages in primary schools hampered by staff's lack of training

Published on Tuesday 6 April 2010 20:52

PRIMARY teachers feel isolated because of a lack of training in languages, according to a new study.

Dr Daniel Tierney, a reader in language education at Strathclyde University, also found many who are qualified to teach languages had left the profession due to illness, promotion or retirement, which had led to language education being cut.

Dr Tierney studied the attitudes of pupils and teachers to a languages scheme for P6 and P7s, introduced as a pilot in 1989 and to all primaries after 1993. His research, based on nearly 1,000 questionnaires, found the majority of children enjoyed learning a language.

Most teachers were also positive, but some feared time pressures in a busy curriculum and felt isolated as not all are qualified in a language. Dr Tierney discovered time for languages varied in schools and sometimes lessons were dropped.

Overall he said the scheme had been well received and was motivating, unlike earlier schemes.

But added: "There must be concern over the variation in time and the loss of trained teachers."

In February, a report by local authorities warned primary teachers did not have the skills necessary to teach modern languages to young children.

The East of Scotland European Consortium, which includes 13 councils, claimed Scotland could flounder on the periphery of the global economy within a decade if the problem is not tackled.

It said teachers must be taught language tuition before reaching the classroom.

Jonathan Robertson, policy adviser for the consortium, claimed most primary teachers had skills "not much greater than the children they are supposed to be teaching".

A Scottish Government spokesman said: "The approach to languages under Curriculum for Excellence has a clear focus on quality of learning and meeting the needs of each pupil, rather than dictating how much time schools should allocate."