STUDENTS are turning Japanese in a project designed to boost attainment and broaden horizons.
South Shields School has been awarded a grant by the Japan Foundation to enable students to learn about the country’s language, culture and history.
A specialist teacher Jane Lowe, who lived in Japan for 30 years, is spending 13 weeks delivering the one-hour workshops after school to an enthusiastic audience of 20 Year 7-10 students.
Modern foreign languages teacher Lindsay Morlock said: “The club is the talk of the school and has increased interest in a host of languages.
“Students are really curious to hear from Jane what it was like living in the country. They have been shown how to draw Japanese characters and speak common phrases. There has been a really good response and some students have even asked about doing GCSE.”
The club is considered an important part of the development of the school’s activities programme which improves attainment. Languages have been shown to have a really big impact on students’ learning and be invaluable at broadening horizons.