Assemblies in which children showcase some of the work they have been doing are a regular feature of the primary school week. They offer an opportunity for everybody in the class to be involved in some way. Performing in front of a friendly audience offers a supportive environment in which children develop their confidence in performing and in which children’s contributions can be celebrated beyond their classroom.

Assemblies are also a way of recognising children’s achievement officially, through the presentation of stickers, certificates or other rewards.

The collective singing that is a feature of most assemblies is another good opportunity for embedding languages into the school day.

Questions

- If you are not the children’s class teacher, what opportunities are there for your children to showcase their language learning in front of the whole school?

- How could you collaborate with the music specialist in your school to develop a bank of songs in other languages?

- Is a language-related theme on the assembly calendar for this school year, for example Mother Language Day, International Friendships, Global Citizenship? Are there adults in the school community who might help deliver an assembly on your selected theme?