.Asset Languages for Primary Teachers
If you are looking for a structure for developing languages learning at KS2, Asset Languages can help. Asset Languages is a useful motivational tool to help measure language progression. Asset Languages is not a particular programme of study. It is designed to be used alongside your existing schemes of work.
Based on the Can Do statements of the DCSF Languages Ladder, Asset Languages can provide assessment which rewards learners for their achievements in very small steps, one skill at a time. There is a choice of methods to reward your learners' progression available; teacher assessment and external assessment. Asset is also working with CILT to offer guidance on recording language progression in KS2 against the Languages Ladder.
To find out more about the DCSF Languages Ladder, take a look at the Can Do statements that form the Ladder, against which Asset Languages assessments are measured. The first step on the ladder, called Breakthrough Stage, is the most relevant level for the vast majority of primary age language learners.
Basic specifications covering language purpose and function for each language and stage are also provided. Use the drop down menu on the following page: http://www.assetlanguages.org.uk/about/specs.aspx
Material specifically designed for use with primary age pupils is available for some, but not all, languages and stages.
Teachers are using Asset Languages throughout KS2 to reward their young language learners.
The teacher assessment materials from Asset Languages can be used to demonstrate a progress path for pupils and can be adapted to encourage cross-curricula links. You can programme in your use of the assessment materials when it is convenient to you and when your learners are ready. Your learners grow in confidence and motivation. Learners can be rewarded for their progress with certificates.
You can also use our more formal external assessments to motivate your pupils. These take the form of short tests which can be taken at different times of the school year, in the individual skills of speaking, listening, reading and writing. The option of testing one or two skills in a language builds confidence. Success in each skill leads to a nationally recognised OCR qualification.
The design of both teacher and external assessment material is accessible to younger language learners.
As a starting point, a Teacher Assessment Pack would be a useful item to purchase. (To purchase a pack please click here for the catalogue). This pack provides in class tasks for you to do with your learners in each of the 4 skills. Sample teacher assesment tasks can be viewed by clicking here. On completion of the tasks Grade Award certificates can be bought to reward and motivate your students for their language skills. To buy these certificates we do ask that one teacher in the centre completes the Accredited Teacher Training which is provided as self study material in the Teacher Assessment Pack. Additionally, information about the guidance material jointly produced by Asset Languages and CILT, called Making and Marking Progress, is available at the dedicated page of our website, http://www.assetlanguages.org.uk/primaryprogress.aspx.
If your primary school is thinking about offering languages, our colleagues at the National Advisory Centre on Early Language Learning have created a very useful Frequently Asked Questions document, which you can download from their website.
Responsible for delivering KS2 languages? You may be interested in a training course looking at progression issues being offered as part of the Links into Languages professional development programme starting this October. The course will ‘address progression, assessment, and tracking pupils’ progress. It will provide an overview from Asset, and explore transition across key stages’. For more info, click on the following link: www.linksintolanguages.ac.uk/events/courses.html
Teacher assessment and external assessment can both provide a recognised framework for measuring learners' language proficiency as they move between KS2 and KS3. Results gained through the use of Asset provide evidence of the achievements of KS2 language learners for secondary schools. To find out more about how Asset can smooth transition between KS2/3, read the case studies in the leaflet below.
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