Modern foreign language student mentoring

Modern Foreign Languages (MFL) Mentoring is a Welsh-Government funded project that supports schools to promote multilingualism and increase the number of learners opting to study International Languages at GCSE.

Launched in 2015, the project partners students from nine Welsh universities with secondary schools across Wales, to deliver engaging mentoring sessions and/or workshops to learners in Years 7-9. The aim of the mentoring isn’t to teach a specific language or to dissect grammar rules, but rather to explore language and culture alongside learners, helping them to see languages as part of their future!

Why does the project exist?

Less than 11% of learners take a GCSE in an International Language. So, our mission and vision is to:

encourage learners to be curious about all languages and cultures
challenge perspectives and assumptions about others
promote a sense of global community
celebrate cultural and linguistic diversity
highlight how languages support careers and wellbeing

Students

What is a Language and Culture Mentor?

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Our Language and Culture Mentors deliver engaging sessions and workshops about language, culture, and identity, rather than teaching a particular language. The ultimate aim is to excite learners in Wales about other languages and cultures and help them to discover how this multicultural mindset will be beneficial to them, whatever they may do in the future.

Mentors are partnered with a secondary school and deliver up to six mentoring sessions with a small group of learners (mentoring) OR deliver up to five one-off workshops to full classes (workshops).

Why take part?

Bursary
Professional development
Classroom experience
Meeting like-minded people
Transferable skills
Mentor training
Professional reference
Accreditation
Transform attitudes towards languages and cultures

Schools

What does the project offer?

Our student mentors work with pre-GCSE learners to consider and transform their attitudes towards International Languages. Learners will enjoy exploring language and culture alongside their mentor and will be encouraged to see International Languages as existing beyond the classroom and as part of their future, not only for their career but also for their wellbeing.

Our work also supports learners to progress towards the four purposes of the Curriculum for Wales; encouraging cross-curricular links and empowering learners to appreciate a wider global perspective.