ISMLA exists to provide a forum for modern language teachers in independent preparatory and secondary schools to meet, share ideas and contribute to developments in modern language teaching.
We are committed to our principles of advocacy on matters affecting language teachers, support for the language teaching community and collaboration among colleagues.
ISMLA’s activities can be summarised as follows:
- Advocacy: We represent the views of member schools vis à vis government, awarding bodies and other organisations. We have a close working relationship with ALL (The Association for Language Learning), NALA (the National Association for Language Advisors), the British Council and the UCML (the University Council for Modern Languages). A committee member is responsible for liaising with awarding bodies over members’ examinations concerns.
- Collaboration: We publish a half-termly bulletin with news, updates and links to key resources and competitions. We facilitate local partnerships of independent schools’ modern languages departments, and run our own essay competition each year.
- Support: We hold a National Conference every Spring Term (albeit postponed to the Summer Term this year due to Covid-19), as well as conferences dedicated to individual language areas (e.g., German, Spanish). We also offer schools and organisations support for other events, such as regional conferences, performances and competitions.
Members are warmly invited to contact the relevant ISMLA committee member to voice any views they may have about key issues concerning modern language teaching in this country. The Examinations Liaison Officer is particularly interested in issues regarding the setting and marking of public examinations (with accompanying evidence!). Contributions to ISMLA’s termly bulletin are also gratefully received.
You can contact us by email: admin@ismla.co.uk
