Communities, Sense of Belonging and Friendships

Communities, Sense of Belonging and Friendships

by Kashmir Kaur, School of Languages, Cultures and Societies with additional material from Nicky Bray and Colin Ryder

A sense of belonging and community are very much part of the University’s 2020-2030 vision. Well, these ideals were first practised at Leeds as long ago as the early 1920s when a Swiss lecteur (reader) Jean-Paul Inebnit had the idea of setting up a programme to help other lecteurs and language assistants settle in the Yorkshire region. So, he gathered a group of colleagues and the Committee (now known as the Committee for Foreign Language Assistants in Yorkshire) was born.

There is no exact record of the actual date when the Committee started but we think it’s about 100 years old.  The Committee is a small voluntary group linked to the University of Leeds whose members are academics from the School of Languages, Cultures and Societies (LCS) and external volunteers, including former members of LCS, retired Heads of Modern Languages from local secondary schools and other individuals with a passion for languages. The Committee runs a programme of support and activities for the language assistants - primarily from French, German and Spanish speaking countries – who are spending their year abroad working in schools across Yorkshire. The foreign language assistants, affectionately known as FLAs, are recruited for schools by a scheme run by the British Council who commend the Committee’s work highly as it’s unique to Leeds University – there is no equivalent programme bringing disparate FLAs spread across a region together in such a community and providing a sense of belonging to the surrounding area. Well, it’s not surprising that this is a ‘Yorkshire thing’ as Yorkshire is renowned for being God's own country.

Over the years, due to the decline in language learning and teaching in the UK and dwindling budgets, the number of FLAs in schools has decreased dramatically - reflected in the numbers enrolled on our programme. Previously, there were over a hundred FLAs who attended the activities and the English Language course provided by the Language Centre but since 2015 the numbers have gradually reduced from 70 to approximately 25-30. It is pleasing to note that the numbers have increased slightly in this year’s cohort. However, one of the benefits of a smaller group is that we can get to know and support the FLAs far more than was possible with larger groups such as with applications for teacher training and teaching jobs and support with seminar/conference presentations. In fact, subsequently this has led to some excellent friendships.

Initially the Committee focussed on social activities but over the years its role morphed. It now convenes academic and pedagogical activities on a Wednesday when the schools generally excuse the FLAs to attend these continuing professional development sessions which comprise of lectures and workshops on pedagogical, cultural and linguistic topics delivered by Committee members, current and former colleagues from LCS and external guest speakers. The advanced English lessons devised and delivered by myself for several years have also adapted to meet current needs and now offers an intercultural experience by going beyond the traditional language course.

The Committee continues to run social activities for the FLAs which include excursions around Yorkshire and further afield – the annual trips to Liverpool and Whitby (includes a walk from Whitby to Robin Hoods Bay which on occasions can be quite spooky with the mist suddenly descending) have become firm favourites. These events help cohere the FLAs into a community which in turn provides a support network.  In many cases the language assistant will be the only language assistant in their school and in some cases their region which can be a very isolating experience. This year we have a FLA who travels from Hull for the sessions.

Over the years there have been some terror incidents which have impacted some of the FLAs personally such as the Charlie Hebdo shootings and the Bataclan concert hall attack in Paris. The Committee and the FLAs community were immensely supportive during these terrible events and it helped to bring the community closer.

During the 2020/2021 Covid-period the Committee’s activities and the language sessions were modified to suit online delivery. They helped to ensure the FLAs were still part of a community. A live baking session of homemade scones was a highlight. However, it was a huge disappointment that we could not taste the freshly baked scones.

There have been many successes which activities of the Committee have impacted by providing a sense of belonging such as FLAs often returning for a second year and some staying in Yorkshire to complete their Post-Graduate Certificate in Education (PGCE). For example, in the past five years there have been 10 FLAs who remained to complete their PGCE and in some cases, find employment as language teachers in Yorkshire schools including one who in September became the Head of Modern Languages at Leeds West Academy.

The Committee has also been integral in introducing the FLAs to undergraduate students studying languages – providing valuable social and linguistic benefits to both groups. The FLAs have also made other contributions to languages at the University, e.g. acting as volunteer delegates at the mock conferences which help to train interpreting students, recording audio for language learning materials, and bringing groups of students from their schools to events at the University such as the students’ annual French play – a huge success with a group from Belle Vue Girls’ Academy in Bradford where many had never been to live theatre before – events such as this benefiting the University’s outreach and widening participation initiatives with local schools.

There needs to be a huge ‘shout out’ to all the present and past - LCS and external - volunteers who have served on the Committee for many years including a retired teacher Colin Ryder who has the longest serving member prize for 51 years of sterling service - 1966-2017 roles included Secretary and Treasurer – amazing! Another long serving stalwart member is Nicky Bray, who has been a member since 2002 and in 2015 took on the role of Honorary Chair, whose enthusiasm and good cheer motivates us all.

We’ve also been exceptionally fortunate with the LCS Head of School more recently Matthew Treherne and currently Emma Cayley, both former English language assistants, for their generosity and support. In recent years we’ve also received an annual donation from a Leeds language alumnus, who has been actively involved in meeting the FLAs, joining us on excursions, and giving talks, also open to Leeds students, about learning languages and his work as a translator for the European Commission.

Each year, we receive very positive feedback from the language assistants who inform us they feel very happy and lucky to have spent their year in Yorkshire and how this experience has positively impacted their lives.  Comments such as:

“I feel really privileged compared to other assistants in the UK who do not have such a Committee!”

“The programme is an amazing opportunity to learn more about English/Yorkshire culture, language teaching and the English language.  It’s also great to meet and get to know the other assistants.”

“The English classes were super interesting! It made me learn tons of new things about the culture, pronunciation and tips for the classroom and how to improve it and myself.”

“I love the language classes and I think they match our level of English well.  I liked all

of the lectures and I can take a lot away from them.”

Current Committee Members: Nicky Bray: Honorary Chair (external), Rachel Greenhalgh: Honorary Treasurer (external) – a role previously held by Wolfgang Keinhorst (LCS) for several years before he retired.

LCS: Kashmir Kaur, Mani King Sharpe, Alessandra Flore, Bettina Hermoso-Gomez & Catherine Kaiserman
Alex Peel (Educational Engagement with responsibility for Arts subjects)
External: Marilyn Heron, Peter Lodge & Dominique Lodge