Learning World

British Council is launching a major new pan-Africa school partnerships programme to facilitate dialogue between young people in the UK and Africa and change their perceptions of one another. The programme will link clusters of schools in the UK with similar clusters in two African countries. Emphasis will be on developing mutually beneficial partnerships designed to help equip young people to live and work in a global society. Sport will feature, building on the already-strong links between the UK and Africa through programmes such as Dreams + Teams. Keep a look out at www.globalgateway.org for more information.

UK- India School Partnerships

A new programme got underway in April, supporting collaborations between clusters of schools working together in the UK and similar school clusters in India. Funding is available for joint curriculum projects and opportunities for professional development and, crucially, to enable staff and pupils from each country to visit their counterparts. The programme is part of a cross-Whitehall initiative to develop long-term partnerships between the UK and India in education and research in schools, further education colleges and higher education institutions. Email ukieri@britishcouncil.org to find out more, or see www.globalgateway.org

Talking football

As World Cup fever hits this summer, Soccerlingua, an innovative UK-based project, will be encouraging young fans to pick up the languages of their favourite players, using products that are designed to be fun and entertaining. Interactive DVD quizzes and football books in Spanish, German and Italian – endorsed by the European Union Lingua programme – can be ordered online at www.soccerlingua.net

ICT Training Workshops

Focusing on the use of ICT in international school projects, workshops have been taking place across the UK, enabling teachers to develop online projects with European partners using the eTwinning scheme. If you are interested in hosting a workshop for teachers in your area, we can help. E-mail susan.linklater@britishcouncil.org

Learn the German way

Would you like an apprentice to talk to a German language class or at a language event about their experience of language study and work-based training in the UK and Germany? The British Council can put you in touch with apprentices who have completed a work-based placement in Germany through the Training Bridge programme and are more than happy to share their experiences. E-mail lara.porter@britishcouncil.org