Learning World

Language Assistants
We are running a competition designed to celebrate the assistants’ vital contribution to language learning in English schools over the past 100 years. There are prizes for pupils, departments and assistants. For details, please visit the Language Assistant's website.

A Wider Europe
The Leonardo da Vinci programme supports national training strategies by funding transnational partnership projects. You can download a copy of the Leonardo UK National Agency’s February 2005 conference report on the Leonardo website.

For details of opportunities, call Stuart Hobbs on T 020 7389 4910, e-mail stuart.hobbs@britishcouncil.org

Tapping into Africa
You’ve probably heard about the Commission for Africa but did you know there are teaching resources available to enable schools to get involved too?

The Commission was set up in February 2004 by Tony Blair to take an independent look at the challenges facing Africa. It has met several times over the past year and launched a report of its findings, Our Common Interest, on 11 March 2005.

Take a look at the Commission’s website for a copy of the report; teaching activities and lesson ideas for primary and secondary schools; a young person’s version of the report; and a set of colourful posters that draw teachers and pupils towards the issues raised in the report.

The BBC is also presenting a series of television and radio programmes as part of its Africa season.

For more information, visit the Commission for Africa website and the BBC website for Africa.

Wales and the world
Llangollen is set to become the hub of the world this summer with the showcase Wales and the World event on 6–7 July during the Llangollen International Eisteddfod.

The event is aimed primarily at highlighting the breadth of international opportunities available to educationalists from the school, youth and further education sectors.

The Minister for Education has been approached to open the event and it is hoped that a live link-up with every school in Wales will be possible for the Minister’s address. There are also plans to make short films about Wales’s links with various parts of the world.

For further details, contact Andrew Templeton, T 029 2039 7353, e-mail andrew.templeton@britishcouncil.org

Junior power!
There’s an exciting opportunity for secondary schools to put citizenship into practice with the launch of the J8 Global Citizen Programme. It consists of a teacher’s resource pack, developed by the Department for Education and Skills and Morgan Stanley, which contains a framework for exploring issues such as climate change and international development.

There’s also a J8 summit in Scotland in July, mirroring the G8 summit. Schools are invited to enter a competition to win a place at the inaugural event. Visit the J8 website or e-mail info@j8changetheworld.com

Twin with Europe
Why not join the 300-plus UK schools which have already registered to become involved in eTwinning? It enables schools across Europe to work together through ICT, providing a means of communicating with partners and tools for sharing resources and developing new teaching and learning approaches. The scheme was launched at a conference in Brussels in January, which included 23 teachers from across the UK.

We provide support to UK eTwinning schools. We are currently working with the initial group of teachers to develop pedagogical support. Visit the etwinning website to register.

Diary Dates

18 July - International School Award

30 October - DFID Global School Partnerships (reciprocal visits)

15 November - Fulbright UK/US teacher exchange.