The European & External Relations Committee held its conference on the teaching of foreign languages in primary schools on Friday 10 May 2013. The conference featured experts from Europe and at home, who discussed key findings from the inquiry. The Committee published a formal report of these findings, and its recommendations to the Scottish Government, in June 2013.
Video summary and image gallery of the conference
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Christina McKelvie MSP, Scottish Parliament European and External Relations Committee
10 May 2013
Christina McKelvie MSP, EER Committee Convener, opening the Conference on foreign language learning in primary schools.
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Mr Jan Truszczynski, European Commission
10 May 2013
First keynote speaker - Mr Jan Truszczynski, Director General for Education, Training, Culture and Youth, European Commission - speaking at the Conference on foreign language learning in primary schools.
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Mr Waldemar Martyniuk, European Centre for Modern Languages of the Council of Europe
10 May 2013
Mr Waldemar Martyniuk, Executive Director, European Centre for Modern Languages of the Council of Europe, delivers the second keynote speech at the Conference on foreign language learning in primary schools.
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Dr Alasdair Allan MSP, Scottish Government Minister for Learning, Science and Scotland's Languages
10 May 2013
Third keynote speaker - Dr Alasdair Allan MSP, Scottish Government Minister for Learning, Science and Scotland's Languages - speaking at the Conference on foreign language learning in primary schools.
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Q&A with keynote speakers
10 May 2013
The conference brought together the key note speakers, other parliamentarians and those involved in language learning to discuss the key findings of the Committee's inqury.
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Delegates at the Conference
10 May 2013
The conference brought together the key note speakers, other parliamentarians and those involved in language learning to discuss the key findings of the Committee's inqury.
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Funding
10 May 2013
The 1st break out session on 'Funding' looked at how to ensure Scottish and EU funds are used efficiently and effectively to implement the Scottish Government's proposal.
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Skills and Resources
10 May 2013
The 2nd break out session on 'Skills and Resources' explored how existing teaching and learning resources and skills can deliver the 2+1 agenda in the current curriculum, the kind of teaching models that could be used, and the role of Continuing Professional Development and training for existing staff.
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The Importance of Learning Languages
10 May 2013
The 3rd break out session on 'The Importance of Learning Languages' looked at how to develop linguistic skills in Scotland, the role of languages in economic development, and the question of which languages should be learnt.
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Policy and Development
10 May 2013
The 4th break out session on 'Policy and Development' discussed how to implement the Scottish Government's proposal effectively. This included how the proposal might fit into the existing curriculum, links between academia and the business community, continuity and transition between primary and secondary schools, and challenges associated with training teaching staff.