Explore the reasons behind the persistent gender gap in languages and develop practical strategies to increase boys’ engagement, effort, attainment and uptake. Drawing on classroom experience and research, this highly practical session challenges some of the common assumptions about boys and languages and focuses on approaches that can make a genuine difference in the classroom and at option time.

What this workshop will cover:

• Understanding why a gender gap exists in MFL uptake, engagement and outcomes
• Challenging common assumptions about boys, motivation and language learning
• Creating classroom approaches that give boys a visible platform to succeed
• Practical strategies using performance, competition, challenge and participation
• Building motivation and effort without lowering expectations
• Framing languages effectively at option time to encourage more boys to continue
• Tracking the impact of changes to determine what is actually working

You will leave with:

• Practical strategies to increase boys’ participation, effort and engagement
• Approaches that can be implemented immediately in the MFL classroom
• Ideas for using challenge, competition and performance effectively
• Strategies for improving the appeal of languages at option time
• A framework for evaluating whether your approaches are genuinely making a difference

This session is perfect for Heads of Department, MFL teachers and senior leaders looking to understand and address the gender gap, improve boys’ engagement and attainment, and increase the number of boys choosing to continue with languages.

Presenter Profile

Jonathan Mumford is an experienced teacher, languages consultant and university lecturer, as well as a current GCSE examiner. With 20 years’ experience teaching French and Spanish in mixed comprehensive schools - including eight years as Head of Languages - he brings deep subject expertise and leadership experience to his work.

He is the founder of www.jmumfordteachertraining.com, where he shares a wide range of teaching resources and provides further information about his teacher training programmes. Jonathan has a strong track record of strong leadership in MFL and securing excellent GCSE and A Level outcomes. He is widely recognised for delivering high-quality professional development that raises standards across language departments.

Working with language teachers across the UK and internationally, Jonathan delivers engaging, research-informed CPD on key themes such as student engagement, leadership, formative assessment, behaviour and creativity. His work is focused on improving outcomes and enriching the language learning experience for both teachers and students.

He also leads the Language Links network, a global community that offers support and CPD to language teachers worldwide.

Feedback from teachers on Jonathan's courses

“I can't recommend Jonathan highly enough. If you have the opportunity to invite him into your school, do it.”
Solent Language Network

“Many thanks for coming along and being so inspirational - you had to see the buzz in the office after your CPD session!”
Kingsbury High School, London

“Jonathan is an extremely knowledgeable and engaging deliverer of CPD. He combines his humour with this wealth of experience in the MFL classroom. His CPD sessions are evidenced-based, practical and easily transferable to a classroom scenario, and most importantly enjoyable.”
National Modern Languages SCITT

“We were all really appreciative of your energy and all your amazing ideas - I left inspired to enact some straightaway!”
Chiswick School, London

Cost: £95 per delegate

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