Latest News

3 March 2026 (Institut français)

Films are a perfect tool to motivate young learners, boost their listening skills, and experience the culture beyond the classroom…

Our screenings in June:

• Goodbye, Children (Au revoir les enfants) by Louis Malle, 1987 | Tuesday 9 June at 11am
• Divertimento by Marie-Castille Mention-Schaar, 2022 | Tuesday 9 June at 1pm
• Eugénie Grandet by Marc Dugain, 2021 | Thursday 11 June at 11am
• French Tech (Les 2 Alfred) by Bruno Podalydès, 2020 | Thursday 11 June at 1pm

Visit the Institut français website for more information or if you'd like to organise a screening at any other date/time feel free to contact us at Education Ifecosse education.ifecosse@institut-francais.org.uk

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3 March 2026 (SCILT)

Discovering China NQ is a project which aims to support GTCS teachers and their provision of Mandarin qualification classes in state schools across Scotland. Online lessons are delivered by one of our GTCS teachers of Mandarin and live streamed into the classroom via Microsoft Teams in Glow.

The programme consists of National 4 & 5, Higher and Advanced Higher online Mandarin classes. All resources for pupils are provided and can work within the confines of your timetable. Teacher attendance at an information session is required, with the next online session taking place 18 March.

Visit the website for more information and to register interest for 2026-27!

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3 March 2026 (Alliance Française)

Term D courses are now open for booking at the Alliance Française Glasgow.

There are courses available for all levels from beginner to advanced, along with conversation and grammar classes.

Visit the Alliance Française website for more information and to enrol.

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3 March 2026 (Heriot-Watt University)

Heriot-Watt University's Multilingual Debate is an annual event that showcases the interpreting skills of students at the university. The event takes the form of a formal debate with two multilingual teams arguing for and against a motion of topical interest in a range of languages. 

Schools can sign up to attend one of the two events being held:

• Online Debate - Wednesday 18 March 1.30pm-3pm
• In-Person Debate - Thursday 4 June 9.15am-3pm

Visit the website for more information and to register.

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26 February 2026 (The Conversation)

There’s a common assumption that if someone starts learning a language when they are very young, they will quickly become fluent.

Many people also assume that it will become much harder to learn a language if they start later in life.

Research into language learning shows that how old someone is when they learn a language does matter, but there is no point at which the ability to learn a language switches off.

While a young language learner can more easily acquire a native accent, adults retain the ability to learn new languages well into later life. Anyone can continue to learn and refine their vocabulary and grammar. Other factors, like motivation, can also play a role for learners of all ages.

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26 February 2026 (University of Edinburgh)

This is the final call for registration for Block 3 of the free online Japanese language courses for secondary schools in Scotland.

Block 3 courses commence 4 March and are delivered on eSgoil in partnership with the University of Edinburgh and Japan Foundation.

Visit the eSgoil website to register.

Course	Day	Time	Start Date	Duration
Beginner 1 (Contents: self introduction, hobbies, weekend activities, talk about favourite food, ordering food at a fast food restaurant)	Wednesdays	3:45pm - 4:45pm	4th March 2026	4 Weeks
Beginner 2 (Same as Beginner 1)	Wednesdays	4:45pm - 5:45pm	4th March 2026	4 Weeks
Continuation Course 1 (Contents: Time, days of the week, birthday, ideal for those who completed Beginner in a last Block)	Wednesdays	4:00pm - 5:00pm	4th March 2026	4 Weeks
Continuation 2 (My hometown: new contents and ideal for those who took the Continuation course in the past)	Thursdays	4:00pm - 5:00pm	5th March 2026	4 Weeks

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26 February 2026 (SCILT)

Following the success of artworks created by pupils from the project’s partner primary schools, the exhibition showcasing the SDLL logo competition has been extended and will now take place at Glasgow City Chambers.

This is fantastic news for pupils of all ages from Cradlehall, Thornwood and West Primary Schools, who created over 100 designs full of colour, creativity and inspiration. Each entry beautifully captured the spirit and values of the SDLL project.

The exhibition not only celebrates the SDLL’s values but also highlights the incredible artistic talent and imagination of young people. From bold, vibrant compositions to thoughtful and symbolic designs, the pupils demonstrated impressive creativity and skills.

The artworks, which were first showcased at the University of Strathclyde and are currently on display at the University of Glasgow, will move to Glasgow City Chambers on 9 March. The exhibition will feature all 100 artworks and will run until 7 April.

Join us to admire the creativity and artistry on display!

For regular updates about the project, please visit the SDLL blog.

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25 February 2026 (Times Higher Education)

When we talk about effective teaching, the focus is often on curriculum design, classroom materials and assessment. Much less attention is paid to the role of teaching identity – who we are in the classroom and how that shapes our practice. Yet for educators working in English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL), identity can be central to creating inclusive, engaging learning environments.

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24 February 2026 (ECML)

The latest issue of the ECML's publication is now available to access online.

The European Language Gazette provides a round-up of the latest programmes and initiatives relating to language teaching throughout Europe.

Visit the ECML website to access this edition.

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24 February 2026 (Light Bulb Languages)

Write Away! is a magazine celebrating the writing that primary children do in their language lessons.

Submissions are now invited for Issue 25.

Visit the Light Bulb Languages website for guidance on submitting pupils' work by 19 March.

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24 February 2026 (Consejería de Educación)

Spring term webinars/online seminars for teachers of Spanish offered by Edinumen and MINELE:

• Edinumen webinars - free to attend, focusing on current topics and encouraging active teacher participation
• MINELE - online seminars which explore cross-cutting themes in language education (free for ELEUK members, €5 for non-members)

Visit the Edinumen website for more information and to register.

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24 February 2026 (UK-German Connection)

The German Pupil Courses (“Deutschland Plus”) are open to Year 10 and Year 12 pupils (and equivalent in Scotland and Northern Ireland) and offer the opportunity to spend two immersive weeks in Germany.

Applications for the German Pupil Courses 2026 are open until 23:59 on Wednesday, 4 March.

Visit the UK-German Connection website for more information.

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24 February 2026 (NE Festival of Languages)

It's National Careers Week from 2-7 March and as part of the NE Festival of Languages there are several online events taking place highlighting careers with languages, aimed at different age groups and open to all UK schools.

Visit the Festival website and check the listings under 'Languages and Careers Events and Resources'.

You'll see there are lots of other online languages and cultures events open to UK schools up until the end of March too!

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23 February 2026 (The Herald)

The biggest-ever edition of Seachdain na Gàidhlig (World Gaelic Week) kicks off today (Monday), heralding the start of seven days of celebrations for one of Scotland’s official languages.

More than 200 events are set to be staged by Gaelic speakers, learners and supporters across Scotland and around the world for the 2026 edition – up 15% on last year.

The record-breaking fifth edition of the annual language initiative aims to promote the theme, Use it or Lose it(Cleachd i no Caill i), championing the vitality of Gaelic as a living language.

From bagpiping, folk music and singing sessions, talks and language tasters, to step dance, Highland dance, film festivals, nature walks and storytelling, the diverse programme of events taking place across 24 local authority areas are expected to attract more than 40,000 attendees across the week.

The popular Say a Gaelic Phrase Day will also take place this Thursday, where thousands of people share or try a favourite Gaelic word or phrase and highlight their love of the language on social media.

Related articles:

Song portal launch marks start of World Gaelic Week (BBC, 23 February 2026)

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19 February 2026 (BBC)

Special nurseries are helping the Sámi people in Finland to bring their almost-lost language back from the brink of extinction.

It's -8C (17.6 F) and snowing heavily, but in Inari, a village in Lapland, 350km (220 miles) above the Arctic Circle, that doesn't stop nursery children from going outside to play. Bundled up in colourful warm clothes, they're busy building snow forts and tunnels, as their excited chatter resonates through the cold air.

The words thrown around are in Inari Sámi: an indigenous language that's only spoken in the area of Lake Inari in Finland, and one that was on the brink of extinction just a few decades ago.

In 1995, only two families spoke Inari Sámi to their children, and just four speakers were under the age of 20.

"At that point, it was quite a typical opinion that the Inari Sámi language was going to die out," says Annika Pasanen, professor of sociolinguistics at the Sámi University of Applied Sciences in Kautokeino, Norway. "Most speakers were elderly and they didn't have many opportunities to use Inari Sámi, so it was spoken very little."

Everything changed, Pasanen says, when local children began taking part in a novel, immersive language experiment.

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19 February 2026 (BBC)

A contestant on the UK's first British Sign Language (BSL) dating show says he hopes it teaches people about the deaf community - and shows they can "have banter" too.

Oliver Scott is among the first to take part in the new series, Hold My Hand, which follows deaf or children of deaf adult (CODA) contestants as they navigate dating through BSL.

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19 February 2026 (BBC Sounds)

Hear Michael Rosen talking to Sophia Smith Galer about the languages we're losing.

She's found that by the end of this century half of the world’s 7000 languages will be gone, and she's travelled across the world to meet both the people who are experiencing this and those who are fighting to keep the words and the knowledge they hold alive.

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19 February 2026 (TES)

The most recent St Andrew’s Day marked a very important day for Scots and Gaelic - it was when the Scottish Languages Act came into force, which recognises both of these as official languages of Scotland.

The act aims to promote and support Scotland’s national languages more consistently across public life, with a special emphasis on education. These provisions are perhaps most significant for Gaelic, making it easier for parents to request Gaelic-medium education (GME) for their children, but also with an expectation that education authorities promote the teaching and learning of Gaelic, including Gaelic-learner education.

(Note - subscription required to access full article).

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19 February 2026 (University of Oxford)

The Faculty of Medieval and Modern Languages at the University of Oxford runs an annual Flash Fiction competition inviting secondary school pupils to submit a complete story of no more than 100 words, in French, Spanish, or German, for the chance to win up to £100.

The judges are primarily looking for creativity, imagination and narrative flair, as well as linguistic accuracy.

Pupils’ language skills will be considered in the context of their age and year group: in other words, we will not expect younger pupils to compete against older pupils linguistically. Each language competition is divided into three age categories:

• Years 7-9 (ages 11-14)
• Years 10-11 (ages 14-16)
• Years 12-13 (ages 16-18)

Visit the Flash Fiction competition website for more information and to submit entries by 12 noon on 31 March 2026.

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19 February 2026 (British Council)

Modern Language Assistants are speakers of French, German, Irish, Italian, Mandarin Chinese and Spanish. Hiring a language assistant helps your students develop their language skills and understand other cultures. So bring languages to life in your classroom and apply to host a language assistant in 2026-27!

Applications open 25 February and close 30 April (for Chinese Language Assistants the closing date is 1 April 2026).

Visit the British Council website for more information.

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17 February 2026 (Goethe-Institut)

The Goethe-Institut offers a range of opportunities and materials to support the teaching of German language and culture. Follow the appropriate link below to find out more about upcoming initiatives:

• Wuschel - an immersive exhibition for primary schools exploring the creative world of Axel Scheffler. Along the way, pupils will pick up German words, though no prior knowledge of German is required, making the exhibition suitable for all primary schools. The exhibition can be experienced either on-site as a German Day at the Goethe-Institut London or as an exhibition kit directly at your school.
  
• German Days at the Goethe-Institut Glasgow - groups of school pupils can experience a taster day, a workshop on culture and society or a careers event (note a small charge per pupil applies)
• Gimagine Award - offers an introduction to the German language while at the same time promoting global awareness and intercultural skills and can be used as option for fulfilling the Skills Section of the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award (“DofE”)
• Accompanying teacher for the International German Olympiad 2026 - German teachers from UK state schools can apply to chaperone the two finalists for the IDO taking place in Mannheim this July
• German Clubs - discover club materials and support to help you start a German club.

17 February 2026 (BBC)

The BBC's most expensive Gaelic TV drama is to return for a second series, it has been confirmed.

An t-Eilean (The Island), which cost more than £1m per episode to make, was a four-part thriller from BBC Alba centred around a murder investigation.

The show was the BBC's first Gaelic language crime drama and starred Sorcha Groundsell - who grew up in Lewis and Glasgow - and Harrow-born Sagar Radia.

Scenes were filmed in Lewis, Harris and Glasgow and the first series was aired early last year.

Related articles:

Scotland's first big-budget Gaelic drama greenlit for return (The Herald, 17 February 2026) - Note, subscription required to access full article.

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17 February 2026 (Institut français)

The Institut français d’Ecosse receives numerous requests from French junior and high schools asking to put them in touch with Scottish schools that might be interested in exchanges whether physical or virtual.

As you know, exchanges give concrete meaning to foreign language learning, as learners communicate with their peers, which boosts motivation. In addition, regular interactions (virtual or physical) improve fluency and confidence in speaking. Finally, as part of the Curriculum for Excellence, which aims to develop responsible citizens and confident individuals, school partnerships promote student autonomy, empathy and collaboration, and are a wonderful opportunity for cultural enrichment.

Do you teach French? Do you want to give opportunities to your learners to encourage them with their learning of the language and culture? Why not envisage a partnership with a French school?

For further information, please contact Charlotte HYVERNAUD, Education Attaché at the Institut français d’Ecosse : charlotte.hyvernaud@institu-francais.org.uk

17 February 2026 (DfE)

The DfE has released a recording of a live Q&A webinar on YouTube for any schools considering applying for funding from the Turing Scheme for potential international visits.

• Schools Q&A webinar

The application window portal and supporting guidance is available on the Turing Scheme website. The deadline for all applications is 16:00 on Monday 16 March 2026.

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17 February 2026 (CISS)

A huge thank you and well done to everyone who submitted a poster! We loved seeing everyone’s brilliant designs, and we received so many fantastic entries that the judges had a hard time picking just a few in each age category! We’ve therefore also selected some highly commended entries to recognise the talent and creativity we saw.

View the winning entries on the Confucius Institute for Scotland's Schools (CISS) website.

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17 February 2026 (SCILT)

Virtual Exchange Teachers is an award-winning innovative and international partnership project linking Scottish pupils with postgraduate student teachers from partner universities in China. Scottish schools can now register interest in the next block of the Mandarin Virtual Exchange Teacher programme, beginning w/c Monday 27 April until w/c Monday 15 June. Over eight weeks, classes will be allocated a pair of student teachers who will work with their class to delivery weekly live streamed Mandarin lessons. The project provides classes for beginner level 1, 2, & 3. The courses are suitable as L3 provision for BGE pupils in P5-7, as well as being suitable for Secondary BGE learners.

There will be an online information meeting (with a choice of two dates in February/March), to give an overview of the course and what is required of Scottish class teachers. Attendance at an information meeting is a requirement to participate in the programme, with the exception of teachers who have previously attended an information session and/or taken part in the VET programme within the last year. Teachers who are new to the programme are required to attend the meeting, even if the school has taken part previously.

Interested teachers should fill out the registration form. More information about the programme can be found on the SCILT website, and any questions can be directed to scilt-chinese@strath.ac.uk

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12 February 2026 (The Tab)

Another language has disappeared from a UK university timetable. This time it was beginner’s Czech at Bristol, cut due to “low uptake”. But this isn’t just about one module, it’s about the steady decline of modern languages nationwide, and what that means for the future of a supposedly “global” Britain.

Last summer, first year Russian students at the University of Bristol who had chosen to study beginner’s Czech as an optional unit received an email announcing the discontinuation of the module. The email referred to a “lack of student interest” as the motive behind this decision (the modern languages faculty requires that optional language units must receive a minimum cohort of 15 students in order for them to run), a seemingly permanent cut to the Slavonic studies programme.

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12 February 2026 (SCILT)

Sustainable Designs for Living and Learning (SDLL) is an interdisciplinary research project led by the University of Glasgow and SCILT at the University of Strathclyde. The project promotes creative and multilingual approaches to Learning for Sustainability, underpinned by ethics of Permaculture: Earth Care, People Care and Fair Share.

We are now moving into Year 2 and are looking for a diverse range of 10 primary schools to work with us. Participating schools will:

• take part in professional learning for teachers
• trial arts-based activities with learners to support languages taught and represented in their classrooms
• collaborate to co-create learning framework
• support learners in developing their language skills and global citizenship

Each school involved will receive £5,000 to support their participation in the project. You can follow SDLL’s progress on our blog and website.

To register your interest, please complete this short form by close of business Friday 27 March 2026.

12 February 2026 (SCILT)

Do you have a story to share with the languages community?

We are currently taking submissions for our spring 2026 newsletter. This is a great opportunity to promote what has been happening in your school or local authority with regard to languages. This is a chance to showcase innovative projects, language learning celebrations or initiatives which have taken place since our last submission date in October. We would love to hear from, or your pupils!

We are looking for articles of a maximum of 300 words, with a couple of colourful photos. The deadline for contributions is Friday 13 March 2026.

Visit our website to read the full submission guidelines, and to view previous editions of the newsletter. Submissions can be sent to scilt@strath.ac.uk. 

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10 February 2026 (The Conversation)

If you’re bilingual, moral choices can often feel more urgent and emotionally charged in one language yet distant and rational in another. This raises an intriguing question: does language merely shape how we express our thoughts, or can it also influence what we judge to be right or wrong?

Our research team has explored this question, looking not just at how moral decision-making is influenced by the language a person uses, but also by their underlying cognitive and emotional abilities.

By examining factors such as working memory and emotional intelligence along with language background, our research moves beyond the idea of a simplistic “foreign language effect” and offers a more nuanced picture of how bilingual minds navigate the balance between emotion and cognition when facing moral dilemmas.

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5 February 2026 (Civil Service Languages Network)

British Council, GCHQ and the Civil Service Languages Network are working together to promote language learning among pupils in UK schools.

Your S2/S3 pupils, who will be choosing their N5s, and S4/S5 students, prior to choosing their Highers/AH, are invited to our open, online events – see dates below. There, they will hear from speakers with different roles across government who have used languages in their career, and how either studying a language in school, or speaking a heritage language, has enriched their life and career. Pupils will have the chance to ask the speakers questions (via their teacher) through a Q&A session.

You can see some example videos here:

Rosemary Pennells (British Embassy Tokyo) S2/S3

Nerys Jones (British Embassy Berlin) S4/S5 Government Languages Outreach talk

The online events are free of charge, and if you are unable to attend the events, there are recordings which you can use instead.

To express interest, and help us keep in touch, please complete the form

We look forward to welcoming your pupils to our events!

Spring term 2026:

S2/S3 - Tuesday 10 February, 09:15-10:15

Summer term 2026:

S2/S3 - Monday 29 June, 09:00-10:00

S4/S5 - Wednesday 1 July, 09:00-10:00

Future events are also planned for both age categories during the Autumn term and into 2027. These can also be seen/selected via the expression of interest form.

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3 February 2026 (Japan Foundation)

Applications for JaLaChamp 2026 are still open! JaLaChamp, or Japanese Language Championship for Young Learners UK, is a contest for primary and secondary school students studying Japanese.

There are two categories with two different application deadlines:

• The Speech Category for secondary school students studying Japanese: Deadline: Tuesday 3 March, 3pm
• The Video Category for primary and secondary school students, including those studying Japanese at all levels and heritage language speakers: Deadline: Tuesday 10 March, 3pm

Visit the Japan Foundation website to find out more about this year's contest and to apply.

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30 January 2026 (SCILT)

Discover the World of Arabic with your P5-P7 class!

Imagine your pupils confidently greeting each other in Arabic, exploring ancient souks through virtual tours, or discovering the fascinating science and stories of the Arab world. This immersive experience is within easy reach for your classroom.

SCILT, in partnership with QFI, have now opened registrations to local authority primary schools for our Discovering the World of Arabic programme in 2026-27. Designed specifically for P5-P7 learners in Scotland, this programme makes introducing a critical world language engaging, effective, and simple for teachers.

Why Choose This Programme for Your Class?

• Engage with a Global Language: Give your learners a solid foundation in the world’s 5th most spoken language, opening doors to future opportunities.
• Truly Interdisciplinary Learning: Our 10-week blocks are more than vocabulary. Pupils explore Arab cultures, geography, history, and arts, enriching your classroom’s global perspective.
• Built for Teachers, by Teachers: All courses are developed and delivered by experienced, fluent Arabic-speaking teachers. We provide the expertise so you can enjoy the learning journey alongside your class.
• Flexible & Supported: Choose a beginner or post-beginner course, and select a term that suits you (Term 1: Sep-Dec or Term 2: Jan-Mar). Live lessons are scheduled on Thursdays or Fridays.

Participating primary schools will receive:

• Weekly live, interactive online lessons via Glow Teams.
• A loan box of authentic artefacts to bring culture to life in your classroom.
• Asynchronous materials on Glow Teams for consolidation and flexibility.
• Dedicated funding: New schools receive a start-up grant of £1000, and returning schools get continuation funding of £500. Schools can bid for further funding to provide resources and experiences that enhance the language learning and promote a positive experience of Arab cultures.
• Ongoing support from the SCILT Arabic team.

Don’t just take our word for it:

“The materials... were great, the workbooks were very useful. The mix of live and recorded sessions was a good idea.” – Participating Teacher

“We really like the box of resources. We liked learning about the different colours and clothes!” – Pupil Feedback

To secure this unique opportunity for your pupils, please complete our short Registration of Interest Form by Friday, 24 April 2026. Please email us at SCILT-Arabic@strath.ac.uk  if you have any questions. 

Open the door to curiosity, connection, and global skills for your class. We can’t wait to learn with you!

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30 January 2026 (SCILT)

For Secondary Schools: Discover the World of Arabic in 2026/27!

SCILT, in partnership with QFI, has now opened registrations to local authority secondary schools for our Discovering the World of Arabic programme 2026-27. With courses designed specifically for BGE and Senior Phase learners, this programme offers a chance to engage in a truly unique and valuable L3 experience.

Why Arabic? Why Now?

Arabic is the world’s fifth most spoken language, a key to a region of immense cultural, economic, and geopolitical significance. Our programme moves beyond textbooks to develop practical, conversational skills that enhance global awareness and, for Senior Phase learners, boost employability and university portfolios.

Choose what best fits your timetable:

• BGE or Senior Phase Course (Sept-Mar): A deeper, skill-building journey co-created with language specialists.
• Shorter Introductory Course (8 weeks, by arrangement): A perfect taster to ignite interest in Arabic language and cultures.

Participating schools will receive:

• Live Lessons: A dedicated, weekly online lesson with highly experienced and qualified Arabic teachers via Glow Teams, scheduled at a mutually agreed time.
• Engaging Asynchronous Materials: Flexible resources to consolidate learning and encourage independent exploration.
• Dedicated funding: New schools receive a start-up grant of £1000, and returning schools get continuation funding of £500. Schools can bid for further funding to provide resources and experiences that enhance the language learning and promote a positive experience of Arab cultures.
• Future-Ready Skills: Focus on conversational ability and cultural insight, preparing learners for a globalised world.

Our courses are designed for non-heritage, beginner learners seeking to stand out. Whether starting with our Beginner course or advancing with the Post-Beginner level, learners build a solid linguistic foundation while exploring the vibrant diversity of Arab cultures.

To apply, please complete our Registration of Interest Form by Friday, 24 April 2026. Please email us at SCILT-Arabic@strath.ac.uk  if you have any questions. 

Expand your learners’ language skills and build their intercultural competence. Start their Arabic journey with us!

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29 January 2026 (ISPS)

International School Partnerships Scotland (ISPS) are delighted to be working with Challenges Abroad to introduce exciting overseas opportunities for senior phase learners across Scotland. Programmes with Challenges Abroad cover a range of skills development in line with national SDE, Global Citizenship and Language Learning priorities. Placements can include studying with partner schools, working on community action projects, sustainability challenges, teaching and more.

Challenges Abroad offer full support to schools who want to apply for UK Government funding to enable learners with fewer opportunities to benefit from these life changing international experiences. There’s a helpful guide to Turing Scheme funding for 2026/27, covering everything from eligibility to full project management support. Get in touch to discuss how Challenges Abroad can help get your bid in shape before the March deadline! See the Challenges Abroad Turing Scheme website for details.

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20 January 2026 (NE Festival of Languages)

The annual North East Festival of Languages is well underway!

Taking place 6 January to 31 March there's a wide range of FREE events and activities available for children and young people aged 3-18. Whilst some of the initiatives are only open to schools based in the North East of England, there are many online activities, competitions and celebrations available to schools across the UK. Design a German Karneval mask, help Ursa Lingua the polar bear escape from a castle, explore multilingualism and migration, open a culture box of Asian and Chinese arts and culture, dive into African languages and cultures, engage with food on film and digital stories from around the world, immerse yourselves in Afro-Ecuadorian fairytales, access World Cup French lessons or Spanish Cinema in the classroom or have fun with Japanese and French Puppet Shows...there's something for everyone! 

Visit the Festival website for full programme details. You can also explore the Festival offerings by age, category or language.

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15 January 2026 (SCILT)

SCILT’s 2025-26 menu of professional learning workshops is available to book throughout the year.

Free to book for groups of primary or secondary teachers working in local authority schools. Sessions are designed and facilitated by our friendly and experienced Professional Development Officers.  

Select a workshop from the menu below, or request a bespoke input tailored to your audience – the choice is yours. Choose your workshop theme(s), pick your dates and submit your workshop request. We’ll confirm arrangements with you promptly.  

These workshops offer a chance for groups of colleagues to dive into professional learning that explores engaging language pedagogies and examples of current practice.  

Requests from professional learning leads in schools, clusters, local authorities and SCIS welcomed all year round.

Primary 

• Developing a multilingual ethos in your primary school
• First steps in teaching primary languages
• Next steps in teaching primary languages
• Assessment as learning in primary languages
• Getting outdoors with primary languages

Secondary

• Teaching Sprints – Small change, big impact
• Developing a multilingual and multicultural ethos
• BYOW: Build Your Own Workshop!
• The Big Question

For workshop descriptors, and to book one or more session for the group of teachers that you support, find the link to the professional learning request form below.

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9 December 2025 (NE Festival of Languages)

Taking place 6 January to 31 March the annual North East Festival of Languages is now open for advance registrations with FREE events and activities for children and young people aged 3-18.

Whilst some of the initiatives are only open to schools based in the North East of England, there are many online activities available to schools across the UK.

Visit the Festival website for full programme details. You can also explore the Festival offerings by age, category or language.

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5 December 2025 (SCILT)

Bookings are now open for four in person workshops for in- and pre-service primary teachers. Taking place at, or close to SCILT HQ in central Glasgow, each workshop focuses on a different aspect of pedagogy. Our experienced Professional Development Officers and enthusiastic invited speakers support you to develop practice related to the home and taught languages in your context. 

Informed by the latest guidance and examples of current practice.

• 24 February - Developing a multilingual ethos in your primary school
• 18 March - First steps in teaching primary languages
• 23 April - Next steps in teaching primary languages
• 19 May - Getting outdoors with primary languages

Registrations for all workshops are open now via the links above. Please also see attached flyer which can be shared with your networks. 

5 September 2025 (SCILT)

SCILT’s ECT Primary Languages Signpost Sessions are online, free of charge and open to newly or recently qualified primary teachers working in Scottish schools and to student primary teachers studying at Scottish universities.

Our Signpost Sessions are for you if are looking for:

• advice on how to support multilingual pupils and their families
• strategies for teaching additional languages
• the chance to network informally with others at a similar career stage from across the country

Each Signpost Session is themed, informal and will point you in the right direction for free resources, up-to-date guidance and practical teaching ideas. Sign up for as many sessions as you like:

• Wednesday 24 September, 16:00–17:00 - Developing a multilingual ethos in your primary class
• Wednesday 26 November, 16:00–16:45 - First steps in teaching primary languages
• Wednesday 28 January, 16:00 -16:45 - Digital tools for primary languages
• Wednesday 25 March, 16:00–16:45 - Getting outdoors with primary languages
• Wednesday 27 May, 16:00–16:45 - Next steps in teaching primary languages

Registration closes two days before each session, and the online link to join via MS Teams will be sent out one day in advance. These sessions will not be recorded.

Register via the link below. Please also find attached flyer which can be shared with colleagues. 

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4 September 2025 (SCILT)

Language Ambassadors Online is back for 2025-26! Led by students from universities right across Scotland who study a whole range of different subjects, these sessions are designed to promote languages to young people and to encourage them to choose languages as part of their learning experience, whatever other subject areas they may be interested in. In the online workshops, our wonderful ambassadors share their experiences of learning languages and discovering new cultures, answer learners’ questions and generally seek to enthuse and inspire! Sessions take place on the following dates:

• Thursday 25 September 11.00 – 12.00
• Wednesday 29 October 9.00 - 10.00
• Tuesday 25 November 2.00 - 3.00
• Friday 23 January 10.00 - 11.00
• Tuesday 24 February 11.00 - 12.00
• Wednesday 18 March 2.00 - 3.00

All sessions will take place on Microsoft Teams. For more information and to book to bring your class(es) along see our Language Ambassadors Online webpage and book via the Eventbrite link.

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15 August 2025 (SCILT)

Calling all Germanists! Dates for this session’s meetings of the Teachers of German in Scotland (TOGS) network are below and registrations are now open on our eventbrite page.  

• Wednesday 24 September (4.30-5.30pm) 
• Thursday 15 January (4.30-5.30pm) 
• Monday 27 April (4.30-5.30pm) 

TOGS meetings are open to all primary and secondary practitioners who teach – or would like to teach – German in their context. This network offers colleagues a chance to share experiences, practice and ideas to enable German to grow in Scottish schools. Germanists in higher education and cultural institutions are also welcome to attend, so do feel free to come and join us!   

If you have already signed up to our TOGS mailing list, please note that you will automatically receive the link prior to each meeting. 

15 August 2025 (SCILT)

SCILT’s 2025-26 menu of professional learning workshops for groups launches today!

Free to book for groups of primary or secondary teachers working in local authority schools. Sessions are designed and facilitated by our friendly and experienced Professional Development Officers.  

Select a workshop from the menu below, or request a bespoke input tailored to your audience – the choice is yours. Choose your workshop theme(s), pick your dates and submit your workshop request. We’ll confirm arrangements with you promptly.  

These workshops offer a chance for groups of colleagues to dive into professional learning that explores engaging language pedagogies and examples of current practice.  

Requests from professional learning leads in schools, clusters, local authorities and SCIS welcomed all year round…starting now! 

Primary 

• Developing a multilingual ethos in your primary school
• First steps in teaching primary languages
• Next steps in teaching primary languages
• Assessment as learning in primary languages
• Getting outdoors with primary languages

Secondary

• Teaching Sprints – Small change, big impact
• Developing a multilingual and multicultural ethos
• BYOW: Build Your Own Workshop!
• The Big Question

For workshop descriptors, and to book one or more session for the group of teachers that you support, find the link the professional learning request form below.

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25 March 2025 (Civil Service Languages Network)

British Council, GCHQ and the Civil Service Languages Network are working together to promote language learning among pupils in UK schools.

Your S2/S3 pupils, who will be choosing their National Qualifications, and S4/S5 pupils choosing their Highers, are invited to our open, online events – see dates below. There, they will hear from speakers with different roles across government who have used languages in their career, and how either studying a language in school, or speaking a heritage language, has enriched their life and career. Pupils will have the chance to ask the speakers questions (via their teacher) through a Q&A session.

You can see an example of a previous event here: Where will languages take me? | British Council.

The online events are free of charge, and I hope to make recordings available of some of the events. To express interest, and help us keep in touch, please complete the form.

We look forward to welcoming your pupils to our events!

Summer term 2025

S4/S5: Tue June 3rd 2025, 09:15-10:15

S2/S3: Wed June 11th 2025, 09:15-10:15

Autumn term 2025

S4/S5: Wed Oct 15th 2025 09:00-10:00

S4/S5: Tue Nov 11th 2025 09:15-10:15

S2/S3: Thur Nov 20th 2025 09:00-10:00

Spring term 2026

S2/S3: Wed Jan 14th 2026 09:00-10:00

S4/S5: Tue Jan 20th 2026 09:00-10:00

S2/S3: Tue Feb 10th 2026 09:15-10:15