5:15pm Friday 27th April 2007
By Dan Webber
A new course aimed at Urdu speakers who would like to teach the language in secondary schools will be launched in the region.
Horsforth-based Leeds Trinity and All Saints will run a PGCE in Secondary Education in Urdu course from September.
The course has been set up in response to a Government requirement to promote the teaching of a range of non-European languages within secondary schools.
Frances Blow, the college's head of secondary education, said: "The programme is aimed at those who would like to take a career in teaching and who are speakers of Urdu or have studied Urdu as part of their degree.
"There is a real need for a course like this. The Secretary of State for Education, Alan Johnson, has been talking about the need to broaden the range of languages we provide in schools beyond the European languages. As well as Mandarin he referred to Urdu."
Mrs Blow added the college had decided to launch the course after discovering an increase in the take-up of GCSEs and A-levels in Urdu throughout the region.
The college is offering teacher training for Urdu in the 14 to 19 age range within schools. Students often begin studying Urdu from Year 9.
The college is to hold a postgraduate open evening between 5pm and 7.30pm on Wednesday, May 16, for people who are interested in joining courses, including the new Urdu programme.
Contact 0113 283 7123 or turn up on the evening for further information.
© Copyright 2001-2012 Newsquest Media Group
http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk