Abstract:
The introduction of a revised curriculum for New Zealand’s schools, and more particularly the new learning area Learning Languages, have done a great deal to place additional languages (L2) on the stage alongside other areas of the curriculum. From 2010 all schools must be working towards making an L2 available as an entitlement to all students in Years 7 to 10. Intermediate schools, and other schools with intermediate age students, now have no excuse for not at least beginning to explore options for the introduction of L2 programmes. This paper describes work being carried out in one intermediate school. This school has enthusiastically embraced the challenge of the new curriculum area and may in many ways be viewed as a model which other schools might emulate. This paper tells their story, seen through the eyes of two key individuals - the school principal and the lead teacher for languages.