Language of the Month

 EAL Logo

In the new 2021/22 academic year to celebrate the immense wealth of different languages and cultures that now reside in Knowsley the Team are going to introduce a ‘Language of the Month.’

This will allow us to appreciate the language, customs and religious traditions of a particular language. Hopefully it will enhance student’s knowledge and respect for each other and the wider community.

The team will provide you with information and websites of the different countries each month.

‘No child should be expected to cast off the language and culture of the home as s/he crosses the school threshold, nor to live and act as though school and home represent two totally separate and different cultures which have to be kept firmly apart. The curriculum should reflect many elements of that part of their life, which a child lives outside school.’ Bullock Report (1975)

Why have a “Language of the Month”? There are many reasons why we should know about one another’s languages, including the following:

  • To give bilingual children the opportunity to demonstrate the language skills they bring to school.
  • To enhance the status of bilingual children.
  • To broaden the horizons of monolingual English ­speakers.
  • To show respect for other languages and cultures.
  • To give parents an opportunity to be actively involved in their children’s learning.
  • (English Language Mat for comparison)

In September we celebrated the Arabic language, Arabic Language Mat

In October we celebrate the Bengali language, Bengali Language Mat

In November we celebrate the Chinese language, Chinese Language Mat

In January we celebrate the Polish language, Polish Language Mat 

In February we celebrate the Portuguese LanguagePortuguese Language Mat