Volunteers introduce York pupils to foreign languages
Posted on 6 March 2009
Sinead Faherty and Jen Chester, who are both studying French and German in the Department of Language and Linguistic Science, have recruited a team of 17 volunteers who give up their spare time every week to teach foreign languages to children from as young as three to 10.
Five schools have already signed up to the scheme and the free after-school lessons in Spanish, French and German have been running since the start of the Spring term.
Their efforts are just one example of the extensive programme of volunteering activities that students and staff at the University take part in every year.
Jen Chester said: "We both spent time living in France and Germany last year and we found Europeans to be so much more confident when it comes to speaking foreign languages. That’s why we feel it is important that children start to study them from a young age – the younger the better.
"Learning a language should be fun so the lessons concentrate on playing games and on words that people really use rather than just reciting phrases, which is what you often do when you first start learning a language."
The five schools taking part in the scheme, known as Project Babylon, are Westfield Primary, Tang Hall Primary, St Lawrence’s CE Primary, Carr Infant School and St Paul’s Nursery School.
Sinead Faherty said: "If you’re a music student then you can easily transfer that skill into extra-curricular activities, such as playing in bands, but it’s not as obvious when you study languages.
"This is good way of making use of our skills outside of our studies as well as contributing to the local community and hopefully getting more children interested in foreign languages."
Every year, at least 1,000 University of York students and 100 staff take part in volunteering activities. The University also co-ordinates volunteering by the staff of 16 local employers and eight schools.
The long-running York Students in Schools (YSIS) programme currently has more than 500 students providing classroom support and mentoring in 50 schools in the area.
A new project this year has seen 50 students supporting the Castle Museum by running their interactive studios, helping explain exhibitions to visitors and putting on activities for children.
ENDS
Notes to editors:
- More information about the Department of Language and Linguistic Science can be found at www.york.ac.uk/depts/lang.
Contact details
Interview
Listen to Sinead Faherty, Jen Chester and Frances Oke discuss Project Babylon