Greg Horton
@greghorton.bsky.social
A news headline today that some immigrants to the UK will need A Level standard language skills. I thought of @theniceman.bsky.social and wondered if great works of literature, film and social issues will be tested!
October 14, 2025 at 5:32 PM
A news headline today that some immigrants to the UK will need A Level standard language skills. I thought of @theniceman.bsky.social and wondered if great works of literature, film and social issues will be tested!
Does anyone else find it absurd and counter-productive that one awarding body advocates transitions in the speaking test to be announced in English?
October 1, 2025 at 2:28 PM
Does anyone else find it absurd and counter-productive that one awarding body advocates transitions in the speaking test to be announced in English?
I was a bit alarmed to hear from an MFL teacher that speaking opportunities in class are limited because so many students are granted exemption from having to answer questions. Shame on any SLT pandering to this snow flake mentality and ignoring the moral imperatives of education.
September 28, 2025 at 1:06 PM
I was a bit alarmed to hear from an MFL teacher that speaking opportunities in class are limited because so many students are granted exemption from having to answer questions. Shame on any SLT pandering to this snow flake mentality and ignoring the moral imperatives of education.
Interesting to hear that an official scientific study has proven that we speak a second language better after a couple of drinks. I remember having two pints of Holsten before my degree speaking assessment!
September 21, 2025 at 2:39 PM
Interesting to hear that an official scientific study has proven that we speak a second language better after a couple of drinks. I remember having two pints of Holsten before my degree speaking assessment!
One of the most ludicrous educational terms I've heard applied to MFL is 'compassionate assessment'. Exams should be rigorous but fair, not aiming to empathise with candidates. The results should also be fair, but only the banishment of severe grading will achieve that.
August 25, 2025 at 4:30 PM
One of the most ludicrous educational terms I've heard applied to MFL is 'compassionate assessment'. Exams should be rigorous but fair, not aiming to empathise with candidates. The results should also be fair, but only the banishment of severe grading will achieve that.
When I learnt German at school, the Swiss city of Basel was one of those places that changed its name in English. After watching the Women's Euros, it seems to have become Basel in English. I wonder what the reason is. Easier to pronounce than the rather weird Basle?
July 30, 2025 at 6:16 AM
When I learnt German at school, the Swiss city of Basel was one of those places that changed its name in English. After watching the Women's Euros, it seems to have become Basel in English. I wonder what the reason is. Easier to pronounce than the rather weird Basle?
I'll say it again that a GCSE Reading aloud task with no assessment of intonation is absurd. In fact, you can flat-tone your way through the entire speaking test and gain the same mark as a student with natural cadence. Well done, new subject content.
July 5, 2025 at 3:16 PM
I'll say it again that a GCSE Reading aloud task with no assessment of intonation is absurd. In fact, you can flat-tone your way through the entire speaking test and gain the same mark as a student with natural cadence. Well done, new subject content.
A successful ALLSCIOW re-launch at So'ton Uni. 17 in attendance, including one from the Isle of Wight. Thought-provoking presentations, high quality discussion and networking.
July 5, 2025 at 2:08 PM
A successful ALLSCIOW re-launch at So'ton Uni. 17 in attendance, including one from the Isle of Wight. Thought-provoking presentations, high quality discussion and networking.
Things have been a little quiet for the ALL south coast and Isle of Wight branch. Tomorrow is our re-launch workshop at So'ton Uni. Hopefully the start of bigger things.
July 4, 2025 at 12:49 PM
Things have been a little quiet for the ALL south coast and Isle of Wight branch. Tomorrow is our re-launch workshop at So'ton Uni. Hopefully the start of bigger things.
Nice to hear former player John Aldridge saying that the most important thing for Trent Alexander Arnold to do at Real Madrid is to learn Spanish as quickly as possible.
May 5, 2025 at 5:39 PM
Nice to hear former player John Aldridge saying that the most important thing for Trent Alexander Arnold to do at Real Madrid is to learn Spanish as quickly as possible.
The joys of languages. My bi-lingual son was caught by the cops in Barcelona cycling through a red light. He pretended he was English, hoping to escape punishment. However, hearing the cops being rude about him, he involuntarily blurted out '¿Qué ha dicho, cabrón?' He was fined 1000 Euros!!!
April 21, 2025 at 6:09 PM
The joys of languages. My bi-lingual son was caught by the cops in Barcelona cycling through a red light. He pretended he was English, hoping to escape punishment. However, hearing the cops being rude about him, he involuntarily blurted out '¿Qué ha dicho, cabrón?' He was fined 1000 Euros!!!
Disappointing that on Episode 2 of hit Netflix series Adolescence, 20 seconds are devoted to ridiculing the possibility of a teenage boy being able to speak any meaningful French.
March 22, 2025 at 9:07 PM
Disappointing that on Episode 2 of hit Netflix series Adolescence, 20 seconds are devoted to ridiculing the possibility of a teenage boy being able to speak any meaningful French.
Apparently we don't want an 'enduring peace' or a 'peace that lasts', but rather an 'enduring peace that lasts'. And that wasn't Trump but a politician closer to home!
March 14, 2025 at 6:39 PM
Apparently we don't want an 'enduring peace' or a 'peace that lasts', but rather an 'enduring peace that lasts'. And that wasn't Trump but a politician closer to home!
Pleased to report that we've been working hard to relaunch the ALL south of England and IoW local branch. Planning a Saturday morning free event in June. More details to follow.
March 13, 2025 at 8:11 PM
Pleased to report that we've been working hard to relaunch the ALL south of England and IoW local branch. Planning a Saturday morning free event in June. More details to follow.
I'm thinking not long to go for all those KS4 teachers delivering both old and new MFL GCSE. As the 1970s song aptly goes:
Torn between two specs, feeling like a fool
Teaching both of you is breaking all the rules
Torn between two specs, feeling like a fool
Teaching both of you is breaking all the rules
February 28, 2025 at 9:24 AM
I'm thinking not long to go for all those KS4 teachers delivering both old and new MFL GCSE. As the 1970s song aptly goes:
Torn between two specs, feeling like a fool
Teaching both of you is breaking all the rules
Torn between two specs, feeling like a fool
Teaching both of you is breaking all the rules
I've just found out that putting appropriate stress on sounds is not applicable to the GCSE Spanish Foundation Reading Aloud task. I am utterly flabbergasted.
February 20, 2025 at 3:51 PM
I've just found out that putting appropriate stress on sounds is not applicable to the GCSE Spanish Foundation Reading Aloud task. I am utterly flabbergasted.
Pronunciation cannot be properly assessed without taking into account intonation. Both are essential to effective communication. The nonsense of the new GCSE Reading Aloud task totally neglects the impact of appropriate intonation.
February 6, 2025 at 11:02 AM
Pronunciation cannot be properly assessed without taking into account intonation. Both are essential to effective communication. The nonsense of the new GCSE Reading Aloud task totally neglects the impact of appropriate intonation.
Knowing how crazy wind makes kids, my thoughts are with any schools in northern England with Ofsted in. Given the new 'caring' framework, hopefully HMI used good sense and said that they were unable to travel today.
January 24, 2025 at 12:32 PM
Knowing how crazy wind makes kids, my thoughts are with any schools in northern England with Ofsted in. Given the new 'caring' framework, hopefully HMI used good sense and said that they were unable to travel today.
There is still a liberal progressive majority in the UK but we need to fight to keep it. I really want to take to the streets against populism. Never felt this radical before. Who can organise nationwide protest? March Against Musk seems a good rallying cry.
January 23, 2025 at 6:38 PM
There is still a liberal progressive majority in the UK but we need to fight to keep it. I really want to take to the streets against populism. Never felt this radical before. Who can organise nationwide protest? March Against Musk seems a good rallying cry.
During PMQs the Leader of the Oppo refers to all the supposed damage Labour Education policy is causing. And the source of her allegations ... The Michaela School. Absolutely predictable and pathetic.
January 22, 2025 at 12:21 PM
During PMQs the Leader of the Oppo refers to all the supposed damage Labour Education policy is causing. And the source of her allegations ... The Michaela School. Absolutely predictable and pathetic.
The current debate about Latin in schools is interesting. I recall starting at London Uni as the only one on my German course who had gone to a state comp and not taken Latin. I was right on the back foot and looked down upon. Hopefully times have changed!
January 17, 2025 at 8:32 AM
The current debate about Latin in schools is interesting. I recall starting at London Uni as the only one on my German course who had gone to a state comp and not taken Latin. I was right on the back foot and looked down upon. Hopefully times have changed!
Pre-2026 students find MFL GCSE difficult and get low grades. Post-2026 students find MFL easier and still get low grades. This could be even more harmful for MFL sustainability. SORT SEVERE GRADING!
January 12, 2025 at 6:23 PM
Pre-2026 students find MFL GCSE difficult and get low grades. Post-2026 students find MFL easier and still get low grades. This could be even more harmful for MFL sustainability. SORT SEVERE GRADING!
My view on TL is sometimes misunderstood. I have never advocated 100% immersion, but rather pragmatism. However, our aspiration should always be to make TL pervade our classrooms as much as possible. It disappoints me when I hear any MFL teacher dismissing the importance of our USP.
January 12, 2025 at 11:55 AM
My view on TL is sometimes misunderstood. I have never advocated 100% immersion, but rather pragmatism. However, our aspiration should always be to make TL pervade our classrooms as much as possible. It disappoints me when I hear any MFL teacher dismissing the importance of our USP.
