A Critical Examination of the Beliefs about Learning a Foreign Language at Primary School

to be one lesson a week. In some schools French is embedded into the
curriculum, in others it appears on the timetable as a separate subject. In most
LEAs there is a mixture Oftimetabled and extra-curricular provision. Although
the report refers to a significant expansion in private out-of-school activities and
private language clubs, it is not Clearwho attends these clubs and Whetherwhat
traditionally has been a socio-economically advantaged group now includes
children of all backgrounds and abilities.

1.6.1.6 StaffingandStaffTraining

CILT reports that 'of the 36 LEAs which provided a response to this question, 35
employed class teachers and 22 employed a mixture of class teachers and
visiting teachers (CILT, 1995: 7). CILT reports that there are 455 'qualified' MFL
teachers with a teaching qualification in Modern Foreign Languages or an
A-Level or above and 410 'non-qualified' teachers. Sixteen LEAs provided
some form Oftraining in methodology and/or linguistic training and 20 LEAs
reported that they received some form of support from outside agencies such as
the French Embassy or the Goethe Institute. These figures suggest that out of
the 53 LEAs who originally responded only 30% provide some form of training
for their teachers. These crucial issues of teacher qualification and competence
will be followed up again in later chapters in the context of evaluating learning
outcomes.

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