Pupils say hola! to new course

Students across Wolverhampton will be saying ‘hola’ and ‘buongiorno’ as part of new language lessons at the city’s University.

All sixth formers at Wolverhampton schools are being given the opportunity to learn a new foreign language and experience university life at the same time.

The course takes place at the University of Wolverhampton’s City Campus on Wednesday afternoons and the languages available include Spanish, Mandarin Chinese and Italian.

The course is run by the University’s Languages for You in partnership with Colton Hills Community School in Wolverhampton.

Lynn Leighton-Johnstone, Associate Dean in the University’s School of Law, Social Sciences and Communications, said: “Many students are finishing school with no qualifications in a second language. The courses we are offering lead to a qualification in a new language, enhance skills and ensure languages feature as part of a CV.

“In addition, students selecting these classes will have the opportunity to experience university life, have access to our facilities and be offered support and advice from our staff on how to prepare for university learning.”

Jane Lockley, Deputy Head teacher of Colton Hills, said: “Colton Hills has been a specialist language college for five years. All our students learn two modern languages in the first three years at school and most then continue to take a GCSE in either German or French. We place major emphasis on the learning of modern languages for all our students and want to ensure every student leaves the school with a qualification in at least one language. We also provide opportunities as much as possible for students to gain accreditation within their own heritage language.

“Colton Hills staff have worked extensively in recent years to support language development in local primary schools in the City. Our partnership now with the University of Wolverhampton aims to provide the opportunity for any sixth form student within the city to have access to language accreditation post-16.”

ENDS

For more information please contact Vickie Warren in the Media Relations Office on 01902 322736