Language learning in the community
'Easy Spanish' project from Playbusters
Young children, some as young as 18 months, have successfully been learning Spanish in some of Scotland’s more deprived areas thanks to an innovative and award-winning community project.
Playbusters, a voluntary organisation based in Glasgow’s East End, has one aim: 'To work towards an East End where all children and young people can realise their potential through structured play, activity and personal growth in a safe environment'. It does this by providing support for over 180 parents and carers to take responsibility for their children's education and personal development.
Aims of the project
Playbusters was originally set up to address the lack of good quality, safe play areas for children and young people in the East End of Glasgow. However, in response to local need and the desire of local parents to take things further, it has developed over the four years since its establishment. In 2005 it introduced the 'Easy Spanish' project to some of its youngest children.
Margaret Layden co-ordinates the project and explains the project background in greater detail.
Project wins awards for languages
In November 2007, at the European Award for Languages, the Easy Spanish Playbusters project won the following awards:
- a European Languages Award
- the Spanish Embassy Language Prize for best project involving Spanish
- the Mary Glasgow Award.
You can find out more on the Easy Spanish with Playbusters website.
| Playbusters Easy Spanish project - What is Playbusters? | |
|---|---|
| Description | Playbusters leader Margaret Layden explains the idea behind the Easy Spanish project. |
| Duration | 2 minutes 17 seconds |
| Windows version |  Windows Media video: Playbusters Easy Spanish project for Early Years - What is Playbusters? Easy Spanish |
| Mac version |  QuickTime movie: Playbusters Easy Spanish project for Early Years - What is Playbusters? Easy Spanish |
| Transcript | Playbusters transcript: What is Playbusters Easy Spanish? |