STUDENTS across Norfolk are to benefit from a new football inspired language programme, launching at the Canaries next home match against Chelsea.
The Spanish language project, backed by City's Spanish defender Daniel Ayala, will give students the chance to learn the language via Norwich City themed lessons and workbooks.
The project is being developed by Norfolk County Council and Norwich City's Study Centre, in partnership with the Community Sports Foundation, Routes into Languages and the University of East Anglia and will initially support 20 students from City Academy Norwich to learn Spanish.
Launching at half-time at Norwich City's match against Chelsea on Saturday, January 21, it is aimed at encouraging students to develop their understanding of the Spanish language so that they are encouraged to take it for GCSE. It comes at a time when students studying languages is at an all time low.
Students at City Academy will be the first to take part in the pilot course and have already started learning some Spanish in extra lessons, in readiness for the programme.
Known as the Spanish Double Club, it will see 12 and 13-year-olds take part in two hours of Spanish lessons each week, all themed around Norwich City. One hour will be in the classroom and one will be out on the pitch combining Spanish with football skills.
Daniel Ayala, Norwich City defender and ambassador for the Spanish Double Club said: "I think it's great that local kids will be learning Spanish through the Double Club project. I look forward to saying 'Hola' to them soon and helping them to get started."
The project is being funded by the Routes into Languages East scheme (a Government funded project, led by Anglia Ruskin University, which promotes the learning of languages through innovative projects and partnerships). It has been developed by County Council tutors from the Study Centre, with the University of East Anglia lending its support by providing a Spanish student to teach the lessons.
Alison Thomas, Cabinet Member for Children's Services at Norfolk County Council, said: "We are extremely grateful to Norwich City Football Club for their continuing support of our education programmes and in particular the new Spanish Double Club, which has the backing of people right across the Club from players on the pitch to the chief executive, David McNally.
"We want to inspire young people to learn languages and what better way than linking a language to football. We already know that this works with maths and English and are now confident that it can also help to support students' understanding of Spanish. We know that schools are looking to increase the numbers of students taking a language at GCSE and will be looking for new and exciting ways to encourage learning, so we are hopeful that this project will have lots of support from Norfolk's schools."
Paul Wickens, NCFC Study Centre lead on the project, added: "Spanish is one of the most popular languages in the world, and what better way to introduce local children to the benefits of speaking a new language than through football, a truly multi-cultural pastime. We're very excited about this project and it is a further opportunity for Norwich City to have an impact on the education and welfare of the Norfolk community."
Joe Harvey, Community Sports Foundation's Schools and Education Officer said: "The session we deliver will encompass some of the Spanish learnt during the first hour in the classroom. Our FA qualified coaches will provide a structured hour of skills and techniques that uses football as the tool to support the children's learning."
