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Calne pupils mind their language
8:09am Thursday 3rd April 2008
A new scheme has been launched by John Bentley School, a specialist language college, to encourage pupils to use their language skills.
Each month the foreign language department will be looking at students' enthusiasm and progress and nominate those who have excelled for the Linguist of the Month award.
The competition is being sponsored by local businesses and will be given to one boy and one girl chosen randomly from the nominees.
This month's winners are Katie Hamilton in Year 8 and Peter Hubbard in Year 10 who received WH Smith vouchers.
Teacher Miss Danielle Masters said: "We have brought the award in as we are keen to raise the profile of the language college, as well as emphasising the importance of good communication and language skills.
"The pupils have responded really positively to the scheme and seem excited at the chance to win the monthly award.
"They are even asking what they can do to improve their chances.
"The purpose of the award is to encourage the pupils to think outside their local area like Calne and even outside the Uk in order adopt a more European outlook.' The award is aimed at students at all levels, not just high achievers.
Anyone who has shown initiative, drive and willingness to succeed will be eligible.
The school is keen to get more local businesses involved in the scheme.
To become a sponsor of the award over the next few months, please contact Miss Masters on (01249) 818100.
Your Say YourGazette
Grumpy, Swindon says...
8:53pm Tue 8 Apr 08
Elfwyn, says...
1:54pm Fri 11 Apr 08
Grumpy wrote:And living in Swindon you know all about the school, of course. My two sons are at John Bentley and have had an excellent education, as have their friends. My elder son got an A* for his English language GCSE and probably writes and spells better than most adults. I do wish people would stop criticising places and people they know nothing about. Be sure of your facts, next time, and don't be so grumpy!
What a complete and utter waste of time and money trying to teach foreign languages to John Bentley pupils when half of them can barely read or write correctly in English.
Grumpy, Swindon says...
11:05am Sun 13 Apr 08
Elfwyn wrote:Good for you and your children - many students have done well at John Bentley. However, that does not alter my opinion of language teaching at the school and the poor standards of written and spoken English demonstrated by so many of the students there. The fact that I now live in Swindon does not mean I know nothing about the school - in fact I know a great deal about both the school and Calne. How arrogant of you to think that you have to live in Calne to have an opinion of the place. Presumably you have no opinions of your own about anywhere outside of Calne. What a small, narrow minded world you must live in!
Grumpy wrote:And living in Swindon you know all about the school, of course. My two sons are at John Bentley and have had an excellent education, as have their friends. My elder son got an A* for his English language GCSE and probably writes and spells better than most adults. I do wish people would stop criticising places and people they know nothing about. Be sure of your facts, next time, and don't be so grumpy!
What a complete and utter waste of time and money trying to teach foreign languages to John Bentley pupils when half of them can barely read or write correctly in English.
Elfwyn, says...
4:13pm Mon 14 Apr 08
The fact that I now live in Swindon does not mean I know nothing about the school - in fact I know a great deal about both the school and Calne. How arrogant of you to think that you have to live in Calne to have an opinion of the place. Presumably you have no opinions of your own about anywhere outside of Calne. What a small, narrow minded world you must live in!>>
I don't think it's narrow-minded and arrogant to make outspoken comments only about something of which you have personal experience - I think it's only fair. As you only gave your location as Swindon, I assumed you hailed from there. I would not dream of criticising Swindon (or London, or Manchester) pupils and schools in such a way, as all I know of them is what I read in the press and hear on TV - hardly the best guide, as such comments tend to be exaggerated (or even, shock horror, untrue) to make them seem more interesting. My personal, current experience of John Bentley is that it is a very good school (as OFSTED have recently confirmed) with a few bad apples - and you'd get that in any school, wherever it was, in state or private sector (and as a pupil, parent and teacher, I have long experience of both!)
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spooks, calne says...
11:16pm Sat 5 Apr 08
unfortunaly most is bad ..lol
www.calnetalk.com