Language learning



Why does Springboard use Esperanto?

  • Esperanto is an ideal ‘apprentice’ or ‘starter’ language. It brings together elements from other languages and has structures and word-building features which are easily accessible to young learners.
  • Its regular structure helps learners to develop a feel for nouns, verbs and adjectives, etc.
  • It is used in some 90 countries round the world and is perfect for learning about other cultures and lifestyles.

I can do it!

Teaching languages is a challenge for many primary schools, particularly those with no access to specialist foreign language expertise. It’s very important to give children that “I can do it!” feeling right from the start.

The Springboard project offers a comprehensive programme of language awareness development and introduction to languages for pupils at KS1 and 2, easily implemented by a non-specialist teacher of languages. By using a regular, phonetic language as a springboard to second language learning the project aims to:

  • increase a pupil’s awareness of language structure generally
  • highlight the links between languages
  • stimulate a love of, and interest in, language-learning through creative manipulation of the language
  • encourage a positive self-image in each pupil as a successful language learner

Springboard builds a firm foundation of knowledge and understanding of foreign languages and helps enrich and consolidate a learner’s knowledge of English.