Junior Language Challenge: Aalaya’s story

Last week, we heard from Jackie Gliniecka, a teacher at The Hawthorns School in Surrey, about her experience of the Junior Language Challenge over the last ten years. But how does it feel to take part in the competition? Today we’re sharing runner-up Aalaya Sanjeeva’s story, which begins three years ago… Aalaya I started JLC … Read more

5 reasons to join the Junior Language Challenge

If you’re a regular follower, you’ll have heard us talk in past years about the Junior Language Challenge, our annual competition for primary school children across the UK. This year’s challenge is now underway, and here’s why we want every child who’ll be aged 10 and under on 1st September 2015 to join in: 1. … Read more

Why learn Mandarin Chinese?

In Europe and the United States alike, a growing interest in Mandarin Chinese is leading to big changes in public and private education, with various schools for adults and children now incorporating this language into their curriculum. Many parents are currently encouraging their children, aged as young as four or five, to learn Mandarin, in an attempt to boost … Read more

Toddler Talk: How to Encourage Your Little One to Learn Language

Today’s post was written by guest blogger, Eve Pearce. For most parents, a child’s first word is a huge milestone – the first step in learning communication, language and the beginning of a whole lot of chattering. After the initial ‘mamas’ and ‘dadas,’ a string of other words usually start to flow but this isn’t always the … Read more

The benefits of exposing younger children to multiple languages

Today we have a guest post by Stephen Thomas, on behalf of Pearson PTE, on why it’s important to expose children to other languages at a young age. Why expose children to other languages? Communication is fundamentally part of what makes us unique organisms on earth. The way that we have developed language to exchange … Read more