Mandarin Learners Must Start Young

Manchester High School for Girls has introduced Mandarin Chinese lessons for all pupils aged seven to nine, reports the BBC.

Headmistress Christine Lee-Jones cited the rise of China on the international stage and the vibrancy of the local Chinese community as reasons for the decision.

Some English schools have received media attention after introducing Mandarin courses - and at one, Brighton College, it is compulsory.

However some experts have argued that difficult languages like Mandarin can only be effectively learnt in emersion environments, an impractical proposition in most UK schools. In this sense, it is best the students start young, Lee-Jones told the BBC.

In Scotland Chinese can be taken to Standard Grade level. There is at present no provision at Higher.

In England Edexcel offer GCSEs and A-levels in Mandarin although some have argued that the exams are too tough for non-native Chinese learners. (25th May 2006)

Let Girls “Civilize” Boys, Report Argues

A new study conducted jointly by Glasgow and Strathclyde Universities has found that teaching boys in single-sex classes to improve their attainment may be counter-productive, reports the Herald newspaper.

In 2004 Jack McConnell spoke in favour of greater use of single sex classes during a visit to Glasgow, but researchers report that some state schools which had experimented with single-sex lessons have returned to mixed-gender classes because of a rise in "laddish" behaviour.

While previous research has shown that girls do well when taught without boys, the report found that there was no evidence that boys performed better overall in a single sex environment. "In some instances, boys-only classes exacerbated behaviour problems, heightening laddish behaviour," it states.

Girls have a “civilizing effect” in class, the researchers argue.

The Herald interviewed Brian Miller, rector of Dalziel High School in North Lanarkshire. Referring to his own school’s experience, Miller argued that single sex classes have been effective, at least for middle ability students.

In 2005 the Higher pass rate for boys was 72% nationwide, 2 points behind the figure for girls. (24th May)

Less Scottish Children Read for Pleasure

Fewer children in Scotland are reading books for pleasure as they ditch the traditional after-school activities in favour of going online, reports the Scotsman newspaper.

The Schools Health Education Unit interviewed nearly 500,000 pupils aged between ten and 15 from across the UK for the study. Researchers found that while in the early 1990s, 45 per cent of girls aged 12-13 said they enjoyed reading after school, this has dropped to just 25 per cent today. (23rd May)

Scotland a World Leader in E-Education

3000 delegates will attend the www2006 Symposium in Edinburgh next week, reports the Sunday Herald.

One major topic for discussion will be Scotland’s international profile as a supplier of distance learning and e-
education.

“Distance leaning and e-education has to be one of the expanding markets of the near future,” says Gordon
Thomson, Scottish operations director at Cisco, and a scheduled speaker at the event.

“Scotland is already a world leader in this field, and I can honestly say that there is not a single country that can
claim to be as prepared for this as we are, but there is still work to be done.”

According to research compiled by Frost & Sullivan, the market for distance and online learning has grown at an
annual rate of 21% over the past decade. Estimated to have a value of $2.9 billion (£1.54bn) in 2005, its growth
rate is tipped to double over the next five years. Important international markets include China and India.

Inbox Education provides educational consultancy services in mainland China. (21st May 2006)