MORE than 300 Year 3 pupils from local primary schools recently spent a 'Language and Culture' day at Tavistock College working with modern language teachers and students. In September, pupils started to learn one of three languages, French, Spanish or Japanese with teachers from the college working alongside primary colleagues to teach basic expressions. The theme of the day for the European languages was Christmas and the children were introduced to Christmas expressions through a variety of activities, including singing carols and songs, hearing about traditions, making Christmas cards and calendars and acting in a French/Spanish nativity. Pupils at the Japanese day made models of Sumo wrestlers and learned to write some Kanji characters, using traditional calligraphy brushes. French, Spanish and Japanese language assistants and ITT students were involved in the activities which helped to bring an authentic feel to the day. The French and Spanish days culminated in the pupils singing and acting out together the carols and Christmas story in the foreign language while pupils at the Japanese day were able to display the models they had made. Staff at the college praised the enthusiasm and good behaviour of the visiting pupils who appeared to enjoy the day.
