Glasgow City Council Education Services wished to enhance teachers expertise and competence to deliver Spanish and subsequently improve the language offer im the classroom to learners through utilising the European mobility opportunities to meet objectives of the Scottish Government Languages Policy 1 + 2. This had proved successful in other Scottish Local Authorities and Glasgow wished to enhance the competence of its Languages teachers in Spanish though a similar offer and strategy. Originally we also wished to offer job shadows and teaching assignments in Valencia to further develop teacher capacity in delivering Spanish in the classroom. However this became impossible as a result of covid 19 lockdown and travel prohibtion for Glasgow teachers until April 2022. Unfortunately no mobility or physical engagement could take place until April 2022 by which time there were signficant logistical challenges to implementing the three original mobilties. The only mobility possible by that time was the Structured immersion course which we decided to implement and offer to participating teachers and provide some of the enhanced languages professional development which was part of the original rationale in designing the project proposal.
This project was the first Language Immersion Erasmus Plus application to add European CPD in Spanish to the professional development offer for Glasgow teachers. Benefits of engagement in an Erasmus Plus KA1 languages mobility programme had been perceived through looking at evidence presented by the National Languages body SCILT , the impact on the ability to deliver the National Languages curriculum 1 +2 from Local Authorities and from the Erasmus Plus course provider - Languages for Europe LFEE. Education Services through discussion with the Quality Improvement Officer for Languages and the International Education Officer decided to enhance the European CPD offer to MFL staff in Glasgow through a Language Immersion opportunity and training in Spanish , teaching assignments and job shadowing in Valencia. This was done in consultation and discussion with the Director of LFEE, known colleagues in Valencia and the Education Dept in Valencia.