21/3/2008Japanese treat for schoolkids
PRIMARY kids in Glasgow are being inspired by their Celtic heroes Shunsuke Nakamura and new boy Koki Mizuno.
But it's not their footballing skills that's got the youngsters going...it's their lingo.
The Celtic Learning Centre, a partnership between Celtic and Glasgow City Council, have launched a new project to promote language learning across Glasgow by introducing Japanese in some schools for the next academic session.
A primary school taster this week involved 23 P6 and P7 pupils from St Philomena's Primary School in Robroyston.
The youngsters took part in various activities such as learning phrases in Japanese, exercise and Japanese drumming.
A taster session for secondary pupils was offered last week and proved successful with more than 30 students and staff taking part.
Boys, who have been traditionally less engaged with language learning, have been particularly enthusiastic.
It was originally thought students would do stand along language units from the Scottish Qualifications Authority but there is now demand for a GCSE to be introduced.
By the end of the taster session pupils had increased their knowledge of Japanese culture as well as their ability to communicate in Japanese.
St. Philomena's headteacher Claire Harvey said: "We were approached through the International Education Office because we try to encourage our kids to learn about as many international cultures as possible.
"Those that went along were rewarded for all their good work and behaviour this year - one even had tonsilitis and hadn’t eaten anything for two days but he was determined to turn up."
Tony Russell, co-organiser of the event and head of Celtic Learning, added: "Raising awareness of other languages and cultures supports the ethos of Celtic as a club open to all since 1888.
"The message of respect for self, respect for others and responsibility for our own actions permeates all the work we do at Celtic Learning."
But it's not their footballing skills that's got the youngsters going...it's their lingo.
The Celtic Learning Centre, a partnership between Celtic and Glasgow City Council, have launched a new project to promote language learning across Glasgow by introducing Japanese in some schools for the next academic session.
A primary school taster this week involved 23 P6 and P7 pupils from St Philomena's Primary School in Robroyston.
The youngsters took part in various activities such as learning phrases in Japanese, exercise and Japanese drumming.
A taster session for secondary pupils was offered last week and proved successful with more than 30 students and staff taking part.
Boys, who have been traditionally less engaged with language learning, have been particularly enthusiastic.
It was originally thought students would do stand along language units from the Scottish Qualifications Authority but there is now demand for a GCSE to be introduced.
By the end of the taster session pupils had increased their knowledge of Japanese culture as well as their ability to communicate in Japanese.
St. Philomena's headteacher Claire Harvey said: "We were approached through the International Education Office because we try to encourage our kids to learn about as many international cultures as possible.
"Those that went along were rewarded for all their good work and behaviour this year - one even had tonsilitis and hadn’t eaten anything for two days but he was determined to turn up."
Tony Russell, co-organiser of the event and head of Celtic Learning, added: "Raising awareness of other languages and cultures supports the ethos of Celtic as a club open to all since 1888.
"The message of respect for self, respect for others and responsibility for our own actions permeates all the work we do at Celtic Learning."
