EDUCATING FOR ALL
Why going ‘local’ could be the future of primary language learning in Scotland (and beyond!)
DAVID ROXBURGH UNIVERSITY OF STRATHCLYDE
Scotland’s ‘1+2 languages’ policy, introduced in 2012, reflects the growing global need for multilingualism. 1 It introduced learning a second language (L2) from age five and a third language (L3) from around age nine, but with different end goals, as summarised in table 1. Table 1. Scotland’s ‘1+2 languages’ policy
appeared in both the questionnaires and interview data around teachers’ self-perceptions. This situation raises an important question: Is our current approach to language learning effective? Or might innovative models, such as L3, offer a more inclusive way to inspire confidence in both teachers and pupils as they navigate their educational journeys? Challenges in initial teacher education (ITE) One significant challenge, in Scotland and beyond, is that many student teachers enter ITE programmes with limited experience of languages, largely due to decline in subject uptake. This issue is further compounded by the actual time available to engage in related ITE modules. With typically around no more than 20–30 hours of modern languages input in many such degree programmes, student teachers often struggle to build the necessary confidence and skills to realistically see themselves as ‘teachers of languages’ upon graduation. ‘Student teachers often struggle to build the necessary confidence and skills to realistically see themselves as “teachers of languages” upon graduation.’ This raises another question: How might issues around lack of time and space be addressed through more innovative ITE inputs?
While progressive, the policy faces challenges in primary schools where research indicates that many teachers feel less confident providing even one additional language, let alone two (Valdera Gil & Crichton, 2018). Through a small-scale study of 38 teachers, this issue 1 Original blog post, published 28 April 2025: https://www. bera.ac.uk/blog/why-going-local-could-be-the-future-of- primary-language-learning-in-scotland-and-beyond
BERA BITES 15 | EDUCATING FOR ALL
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