NEWS
YEAR 8 BOYS MAKING PIZZAS FOLLOWING A RECIPE IN ITALIAN
ENGAGING SCOTCH BOYS IN LANGUAGES
What motivates our boys to study languages beyond compulsory years ?
Studying a language at Scotch is a popular elective choice among our Years 10 to 12 boys , with 290 boys currently studying a language in these year levels . This is in stark contrast to the national picture , in which only 10 per cent of students study a language at Year 12 ; so we are very much bucking the trend , and of this we are very proud . What is it about our languages programs which is successfully engaging and motivating boys to pursue a language beyond the compulsory years ?
Research in second language motivation and the factors which contribute to the decision to continue with languages study in post-compulsory years indicate that for boys in Australia , the top three factors in order of significance are self-efficacy , interest and enjoyment , and teaching methodology . Essentially it is a combination of positive relationships , targeted curriculum and responsive pedagogy which enables us to create and sustain the engagement and motivation of Scotch boys in the languages classroom .
Our curriculum is designed along a continuum from Years 7 to 12 , under which boys consistently build their language skills and broaden the repertoire of topics with which they are familiar , while developing their intercultural competence . In Years 7 to 9 , the topics are very much focused on the boys ’ personal world , thereby enabling them to understand texts and express themselves on topics which are of immediate interest to them . Lessons are highly interactive ; after all , we want students to communicate confidently and effectively in the target language .
After just one year of learning the language , boys are able to introduce themselves confidently and talk about their families and interests . This rapid growth builds boys ’ sense of self-efficacy . They also engage in and reflect on cultural experiences : for example , Year 8 Italian
34 Great Scot Issue 161 – December 2020