These resources aim to inspire pupils to include languages amongst their subject choices for GCSE and A level, and to consider studying them at university. Find out why languages are important, rewarding and useful, and enjoy some taster activities to discover new skills and languages.
'Why Not Languages' is an annual programme of widening participation events and activities for schools (mainly in the East of England) with low participation in Higher Education. These events promote and enhance language learning in schools, and encourage pupils to continue with their language studies at GCSE, A-Level and at university level. We work in partnership with colleagues at the University’s Language Centre and the Faculty of Asian and Middle Eastern Studies to create targeted resources and activities for Key Stages 3, 4 and 5.
In response to COVID-19 and the move to virtual events, this year's programme has been amended to include online resources, available on an ongoing basis for independent use by school teachers and students.
Talk - 'Why Not Languages at GCSE?'
By Dr Stuart Davis, Director of Outreach & Schools Liaison and Senior Lecturer in Spanish at the University of Cambridge
Student perspective: why learn languages at GCSE?
Six of our current languages students at the University of Cambridge reveal why they find that languages gives them enjoyment and advantages.
Talk - 'Why Not Languages at A level?'
By Dr Stuart Davis, Director of Outreach & Schools Liaison and Senior Lecturer in Spanish at the University of Cambridge
Language Taster - Italian
By Dott. Claudia Domenici, Senior Language Teaching Officer at the University of Cambridge
Language Taster - Portuguese
By Felipe Schuery, Senior Language Teaching Officer at the University of Cambridge
Language Taster - German
By Maren de Vincent-Humphreys, Language Teaching Officer at the University of Cambridge
German handout 1 - Teacher Information sheet
German handout 2 - Student handout
German taster video
Language Taster - Arabic
By Farida El Keiy, Language Teaching Officer at the University of Cambridge (FAMES)
Arabic Handout 1 - Oral exercise
Arabic Handout 2 - Arabic script
Arabic taster video
Language Taster - Russian
By Dr Anna Schneider, Language Teaching Officer at the University of Cambridge
Russian Handout 1 - Cyrillic Alphabet
Russian Handout 2 - Dialogue
Russian taster video
Language Taster - Hebrew
By Dr Benjamin Kantor, Leverhulme Early Career Fellow at the University of Cambridge (FAMES)
Hebrew Handout 1 - The Modern Hebrew Alphabet
Hebrew Handout 2 - Vowel Chart
Hebrew Handout 3 - Dialogue
Hebrew taster video
Further language tasters
Take a look at these MEITS language taster videos for Indonesian, Korean, Mandarin Chinese, Catalan, French, Cornish, Persian, Nepali, and more Arabic and Portuguese.
Workshop - An Introduction to Haiku Translation
By Katrina Barnes, translator, teacher and researcher
KS5 Resources - Sample Lectures & Worksheets
French sample lecture: 'Language Shift' - Video / Worksheet
French sample lecture: 'Lexical Borrowing' - Video / Worksheet
German sample lecture: 'Introduction to reading Kafka' - Video / Worksheet
Spanish sample lecture: 'A 21st Century Narrative of the Spanish Civil War' - Video / Worksheet
Italian sample lecture: 'Medieval Visions of Vice & Virtue in Giotto's Arena Chapel in Padova and Dante's Comedy' - Video / Worksheet
Portuguese sample lecture: 'A Translation Challenge' - Video / Worksheet
Student Q&A
Find out what some of our current students have to say about their language choices and their experiences at Cambridge University
Games
Visit MEITS' newly-launched suite of games about languages and multilingualism at worldoflanguages.co.uk, which show that learning languages is fun and easier than you might think.
Click HERE to return to the main Outreach pages to find out about access & participation, events for prospective students, and further resources for students and teachers.