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“Languages Work” Pupils’ Conferences at RGU. Murray Hill Aberdeen Business School The Robert Gordon University. Overview. Background Conference model “Resource synergy” Example speakers/pupil interaction Media coverage Internal impact 8m video clip > Questions. - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
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LangWorkltsmay2005 1
“Languages Work” Pupils’ Conferences at RGU
Murray HillAberdeen Business School
The Robert Gordon University
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Overview
• Background• Conference model• “Resource synergy” • Example speakers/pupil interaction• Media coverage• Internal impact• 8m video clip > Questions
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“Languages Work” Pupils’ Conferences
• 2 major senior secondary school events hosted by RGU
• Jan 2004 (LWI), Jan 2005 (LWII)• LWI: 17 Aberdeenshire schools• LWII: 12 Aberdeen City Council
schools• LWI: 300 S5 & S6 senior pupils• LWII: 250 S4, S5 & S6 pupils
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Background
• RGU track-record of collaboration in schools’ European Awareness days
• The Gordon Schools, Huntly• (S)CILT Marketing seminars on
promoting languages• Brian called Murray…• Little did I know what I was getting
myself in for…
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Background
• Steering group formed• Conference aims agreed• Resource analysis• Regular planning meetings (8)• Event management…
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LWI Conference Aims
• “To underline the value of the place of Modern Foreign Languages in the school curriculum and the success gained by pupils in Aberdeenshire”
• “To highlight the wide range of employment opportunities available to people with language skills”
• “To celebrate the enjoyment to be gained from learning other languages”
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LWII Conference Aims
• “To take Modern Foreign Languages out of the classroom into the real world”
• “To demonstrate that learning and using MFLs are life enhancing experiences which lead to employment opportunities
• “To explode the myth that you have to know the whole language to be able to use some of it”
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Other Conference Aims
• To achieve maximum event publicity and exposure within the University and beyond
• To sustain initial event impact• To produce marketing materials for
dissemination in schools > CD-rom• To inspire!
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Resource synergy
• What are the collaboration gains from
the perspective of- The schools?- The University?- The exhibitors/sponsors?- The National Agencies
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University provides…
• Access to high quality award-winning campus venue (atrium, lecture theatres, break-out rooms, hospitality base room)
• IT support facilities & recording studios > CD-rom production
• (Linguists), Graphics & Publishing, press officer, photographer, administrators, caterers, janitors, reception staff, car park attendants (event managers)
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University provides…
• Links with business/industry/community > guest speakers
• Graduates > guest interviewees• Ideas• Trusted partners• Consultancy services (LWI > free) (LWII > fee)
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Schools provide…
• Access to potential applicants• Logistical/Transport know-how• Curriculum support group project
funds• Council support staff: administrators,
Graphics & Publishing, press officer• Video recording equipment
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Schools provide
• Links with business/industry/community
• Links with primary feeder schools > Poster display
• Steering group members• Ideas (interactive tasks!)• Pupil talent (LW signature tune >
CD!)
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Exhibitors/Info Providers
• French, German, Italian & Spanish national agencies
• British Council• Socrates/Erasmus • Local companies & sponsors, e.g.
TOTAL (remember Aberdeen is the Oil Capital of Europe) > use of logos!
• CILT, National Centre for Languages
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“Cast of 1000s”
• Pupils, Teachers, VIPs• Guest speakers (& minders)• Exhibitors• University Staff• Student volunteers• Other University users…• Event management!
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Now what do we do?
“All you have to decide is what to do with the time that is given to you”
(Gandalf in The Return of the King)
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Conference Model
• Careful balance / audience pitch• Morning presentations > Euro lunch• Afternoon interactive sessions• Plenary• Link between languages & technology• Video camera recording of event by
RGU and all school teams• Customised record of events • Official RGU CD-rom
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Conference Model
• Short formal presentations from personalities, experienced reps of business & education communities (LWI & II)
• Graduate presentations (LWI) >• University graduate “Question Time”
panel interviews (LWII)• Interactive sessions
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Example speakers (high media profile)
• Aim high!• Berti Vogts, former German national
team footballer/manager of Scotland national football team
• Cameron Stout, “Big brother” personality
• Claudia Schiffer (well, almost…)• Messages of support...
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Example speakers (business community, RGU graduates)
• Experienced & not-so experienced speakers, e.g.
- owner of New Marcliffe Hotel - Director of ACC Education Services• Recent RGU graduates, e.g. - amazon.com (Euro Accounts
manager) - Nokia (User interface designer)
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Interactive Session: New Language Challenge”
• Resource: RGU international student volunteers & local community foreign nationals, c. 20 languages
• “global conference community”• Farsi > Arabic > Japanese> Swahili• Native speaker coached small groups• On stage pupil NLC
presentations/prizes
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Interactive Session: Other examples
• Pupils interview & record guest speakers/graduates (TL)
• Questionnaire: pupils quiz exhibitors (TL)
• Pupils’ buzz groups create new marketing statements promoting languages (TL)
• Buzz par excellence!
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Media Coverage
• Pre-event/post-event• External (local, national)• Internal (University, schools)• Short-term/long-term
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LWI
• Extensive press releases, radio & TV features
• PP messages of support from high profile personalities unable to attend
• “Berti Vogts helps promote languages message at RGU” (RGU-News leader)
• LWI CD-rom (“Oh Dear, she didn’t do a language”)
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LWII
• Herald newspaper, locals*• NE radio station• CILT Newsletter & Journal• RGU Newsletter:“Big Brother’s Cameron Shares
Language Skills”• RGU Alumni Magazine• ACC Enterprise in Education Magazine• TOTAL Courier (front page & feature)
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Internal impact (RGU)
• LW timing generated awareness within University population (staff/students)
• Euro Award > increased prestige • RGU corporate marketing; department
web feature• RGU committee minutes• Increased language module take-up by
course designers
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Internal impact (RGU)
• Follow-up Aberdeenshire schools event hosted by RGU Economics & Law Dept
• Conference pack VIP/participants lists > RGU Industrial Liaison group membership
• Questionnaires/recruitment analysis• Graduates rub shoulders with
employers
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Internal impact (schools)
• Euro Award > increased prestige• Follow-up Euro Awareness events > healthy language options uptake• LWI CD-rom > younger pupils• Increased take-up of languages• Interest in taster days at RGU
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Other spin-offs
• Primary school involvement• Long-term interest in languages?• Posters as resource > potential for
display in Aberdeen Art Gallery (2 year lead-in time!), Shopping Mall, Tourist Board etc
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Room for improvement
• *Local “Press & Journal” featured picture of pupil holding “EFL” book
• Title clearly visible – and sending the wrong message…
• RGU press releases ref “serious FL decline in recent years” unhelpful
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Room for improvement
• Increased demand for RGU presence at school European Awareness days but
• Inadequate University schools liaison support
• University prospectus/information booklets > scant reference to languages, subject not indexed
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Would I do it again?
• Gandalf…• Buzz factor• SCHML website• www.rgu.ac.uk
• Video clip (8m)
• Questions?
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